Archive | 2020

Winter Reading Club

We’re trying something new this year and holding a Winter Reading Club challenge! As we did in the summer, this will be held 100% online through Beanstack.

How It Works

Adults and kids have the same Winter Reading goals: read 4 books to complete the challenge and win your bag of goodies! (Some of the goodies were made in our own Makerspace!)

Audiobooks and ebooks count as well as physical books, so be sure to check out what’s available on Hoopla and OverDrive/Libby to find your next read.

If you want physical books, you can still check books out using our Curbside Pickup service by either reserving the books you want using our online catalog, or calling us at 812-285-5630 and letting us know what you’d like to reserve.

Both the Adult and Youth Winter Reading Clubs run from December 10, 2020 – January 31, 2021 on Beanstack.

Get the app

Starting this Winter, our patrons can use Beanstack’s mobile app to make tracking reading even easier!

  1. Download the Beanstack Tracker App for your iOS (iPhone) or Android device
  2. When asked “Does your School, Library, or Bookstore use Beanstack?” tap Yup!
  3. Tap the search bar to “Find a Site” and search for “Jeffersonville Township Public Library”
  4. Sign in with your Beanstack account or sign up if you don’t have an account yet

Need Help?

If you forgot your Beanstack password or need any help using the site or app, call us at 812-285-5630 or use our Ask A Librarian online form and we’ll help you out!

Now open for Curbside Service ONLY

The Jeffersonville Township Public Library locations are now offering enhanced curb-side services.

Both buildings will remain closed to the public, but patrons will have access to library collections starting Tuesday, December 1st by using curbside service.

This service will be available at both the Jeffersonville and Clarksville locations Mondays 10:00 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Tuesdays through Fridays 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

If you miss being able to browse our shelves, give us a call and we’ll try to put together a grab-bag of books just for you to match your reading preferences. 

To help combat the “winter slide” for kids, we will launch our first Winter Reading Club on Beanstack on Thursday, December 10, as well as launching new take-home craft kits for families to enjoy together. More details about the Winter Reading Club are coming soon.

As always, anyone with a valid library card is able to use any of our remotely accessible online resources. You can view the full list here, as well as all kinds of media available to download or stream for free with your library card.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does curbside hold pickup work?

  1. Put an item on hold either using our online catalog or by calling the library
  2. We’ll give you a call when your items are ready
  3. Drive up to the library, give us a call to let us know your name and you’re here to pick up holds:
    • Main Library: call 812-285-5630, press 3
    • Clarksville Branch: call 812-285-5640, press 2
  4. Library staff will bring items out to you
  5. Go home and enjoy!

What should I do with materials I already have checked out?

Our book drops are still open, so you are able to return your materials at any time and then take advantage of our curbside pickup service to place items on hold and let library staff bring those out to you!


What can I do while the library is closed?

Our WiFi is still available from outside the building 24/7 and you are welcome to bring your own devices to use it. We just ask that you remember to maintain social distancing by keeping at least 6 feet apart from others.

Your library card gets you FREE access to all kinds of great online resources available from home. Here are just a few:

There’s plenty more on our Online Resources page, just look for anything with this symbol:  

The Indiana State Library has put together a great page with information on everything from activities for kids to tips on working from home for the first time.


What if I don’t have a library card?

You can sign up for a temporary library card online by filling out this form. That number will let you use services like Hoopla, Libby, Freegal, and more. Just remember to bring your photo ID and proof of address once the library is open again so we can get you a permanent card, otherwise your card will expire in 6 months.


What if I forgot my library card number?

You can contact us through the Ask A Librarian form or our chat widget – located in the bottom right corner of the screen on our website – and we can look your card number up.


What if I forgot my PIN?

Your default PIN is the last four (4) digits of the phone number you used when registering for a library card. If you don’t remember what that was, ask us and we can reset it for you.


Stay in touch

For up to date information regarding the library and our status, please follow us on Facebook @jefflibrary or on Twitter @JTPLtweet. Library staff will be on hand to answer your questions on social media.

Library closed until further notice

Due to insufficient staffing levels, both locations of the Jeffersonville Township Public Library are closed until further notice. The Clarksville Branch Library closed at 11 a.m. on Monday November 23 and the Main Library will close effective Tuesday November 24.

“We never like to close our buildings but at the same time we need to be able to operate safely and this is the most responsible thing we can do right now both for the public and for our staff ,” said Director David Seckman. JTPL is a fine free library, so no fines will accrue on items returned past their due date because of the building closure.

During the closure, book drops will remain open at both locations. Patrons are also encouraged to use our online resources and services during this time. The public can still get a library card to use our online resources by visiting our website at https://jefflibrary.org. Residents in the JTPL service area have access to our digital materials such as Hoopla, OverDrive, Freegal, Flipster, RBdigital magazines, Inspire, and the list goes on. We have made special provisions at this time to allow patrons to check out up to 10 items on our OverDrive database, rather than the normal limit of 5.

For a short time, library cardholders interested in family history can take advantage of Ancestry Library Edition from home. This resource is ordinarily available only on the library premises. To access Ancestry Library Edition, users must start on the library local history pages: https://jefflibrary.org/local-history/. On the far left, click the words Ancestry Library Edition with the little library card symbol. You will be prompted to enter your library card number, after which you can enjoy the resources from home.

To learn more about the services offered at the library check out the library’s website at jefflibrary.org.

And the winner is…

DUCK!

With 39% of the vote, kids have elected Duck to be president! Pig was the runner up with 25% of the vote.

Thanks to everyone who voted!