What's happening at YOUR library!
February 2021

The library will be closed all day on Monday, February 15th in observance of Presidents' Day.
 
 
Hello 2021 ... Goodbye Overdue Fines
 
Washington County libraries have eliminated overdue fines. We will no longer charge for overdue materials, and if you had overdue fines – they have been removed from your account.
 
We have made this change because WCCLS libraries are for everyone – our libraries’ mission is to serve all residents of Washington County – equally, affordably and with easy access. Studies have shown that overdue fines most severely impact communities of color and/or with lower incomes, and don’t significantly promote the timely return of library materials.
 
So, this change was an easy, logical, happy choice for our libraries.
Here are answers to some questions you may have about this change:
 
1. If I have overdue fines, what does this mean for me?
If you have overdue fines on your account, those fines have been removed and you can use your WCCLS library card online or at any Washington County library location. If you have replacement/damage charges, you will still need to arrange for payment. If you need help, please contact us.
 
2. Will there still be due dates? Will this increase my waiting time when I want to check something out? Will people keep things longer?
Due dates and checkout times will remain the same. We will continue to encourage timely return of materials and consideration for others through our automatic notice system. Libraries across the country who have already done away with overdue fines haven’t seen a difference in whether patrons return materials on time, nor have they reported an increase in late returns. We continue to charge for items that are lost or damaged, and accounts with more than $20 in lost items will be blocked from further checkouts.
 
3. Will this decrease libraries’ budgets?
Overdue fines are a very small percentage of WCCLS libraries’ budgets. Additionally, it costs libraries money and staff time to collect fines, a large portion of which will no longer be necessary.
 
Introducing our new
Personal Browsing Service! 
 
Want to read or watch something new, but not sure what? Let us know what type of materials you would like by trying out our Personal Browsing Service, and library staff will pull a selection of books or movies just for you.
 
Choose from a preselected list of Quick Pick options available now on the shelves at the Aloha Community Library, or let us make a Personalized Selection of items customized to your interests. Just fill out the form online or give us a call at 503-259-0185 to start your request today. Once you have been notified they are ready, your items will be available during our holds pickup hours. 
 
We look forward to browsing for you!
 
Donation Drive! Saturday, February 13th
 
Have you been holding on to books and movies that you’d like to donate? Here’s your chance! We’ll hold a donation drive on the second Saturday of the month in February and March from 1–3 pm.

Bring your boxed or bagged donations to the Community Room entrance (facing Subway). You will place your donations on a table at the door. Staff will move the donations to a quarantine area. Due to safety precautions, we will not be able to assist with unloading or bringing donations to the door.

We appreciate you wearing a face covering, since physical distancing may be difficult. Staff will wear masks and gloves to help keep you safe.

Your donations will be used for book sale fundraisers to support library operations and to provide free books to children and adults in our community. Our goal is to get books into people’s hands! Thank you so much for your donations!
 
Adult Programs
Love Notes from the Library
 
It’s February, and love is in the air! Join the library’s talented staff throughout the month as they share a series of videos featuring songs, stories, or poetry celebrating love in all its forms. A new video will be uploaded every Friday at 4 pm, so be sure to subscribe to the library’s YouTube channel to catch every one!
 
Dial-In Book Excerpts
All month
 
For adults.
 
Feeling stir-crazy and ready to read something that takes you far away? We’re temporarily dedicating a phone line to book excerpts! Dial us up at 971-245-7734 to hear a brief reading of an excerpt from a book that’s set somewhere else. If you enjoy it and want to read more for yourself, you can leave us a message after the end of the recording, and we’ll be happy to help you request a copy to check out.
 
We’ll be posting new recordings frequently for you to listen to, so call back regularly to travel someplace new!
 
Kanopy Film Club
Wednesdays, February 3rd and 17th at 6:00pm
 
For adults.
 
Twice a month, we host a Zoom discussion of a movie that is available through Kanopy, the movie streaming service that is free with your library card (wccls.kanopy.com). We announce each title the week before on our Facebook page so you can watch it ahead of time, and live discussion starts at 6:30 pm at bit.ly/ACLfilms! Or, join the discussion by phone at 253-215-8782.
Meeting ID: 910 9294 1385
Passcode: 523403.
 
Coffee with the Director
Thursday, February 11th, from 3:00 to 4:00pm
 
Bring your beverage of choice and join Library Director Terri and other staff for discussion of all things library. Ask questions or just chat!

Join us on Zoom at bit.ly/ACLcoffee
Meeting ID: 833 9695 9436
Password: 338133
Join by phone at 253-215-8782.
 
Teen Programs
WCCLS Teen LitFest
Wednesday, February 10th from 6:00 to 7:00pm
 
For teens.
 
Teen LitFest is an annual event sponsored by WCCLS. Teen library staff recommend a featured speaker; this year’s featured speaker is Adib Khorram, author of Darius the Great is Not Okay. Learn more and register to participate at https://www.wccls.org/teenlitfest.
 
Teen Art Contest
February 15 through March 19
 
For teens.
 
Calling all artists in grades 6–12! Enter for a chance to have your artwork featured during the 2021 Summer Reading Challenge at select Washington County libraries and a $100 first place, or $50 second place prize! From Monday, February 15 through Friday, March 19, submit your artwork representing the 2021 Summer Reading theme, “Reading Colors Your World” by email. For more details and information on how to enter check alohalibrary.org.
 
Children's and Family Programs
Messy(ish) Arts and
Crafts Take & Make
Monday, February 1st through
Saturday, February 6th
 
Is everyone ready to get (a little) messy this month creating your own scratch art? You’ll do every part of the process! Use crayons to color your background in your favorite colors and patterns, get messy covering your paper in black paint, and once it dries, use scratching tools to create whatever image you like! 
 
Pick up your DIY scratch art kit during holds pickup hours, Monday–Wednesday, 3–6 pm, or Thursday–Saturday, 10 am–1 pm while supplies last.
 
Virtual Family Storytime
Tuesdays from 10:30 to 11:00am
 
Family Storytime is a fun filled live program for all ages with stories, songs, and rhymes geared toward getting kids hooked on reading. Come read, sing, dance, and play with us on Zoom here. We cannot wait to see you!
 
Virtual Pajama Storytime
Fridays from 10:30 to 11:00am
 
Wear your comfiest pajamas and join librarians Katie and Jesse every Friday at 10:30 am! We’ll see our friends Narwhal and Unicorn, read and sing together, and look for Little Mouse. Use this link to access the meeting on Friday. We hope to see you there!
 
STEAM Take & Make
Tuesday, February 16th through
Saturday, February 20th
 
This month, STEAM is for the birds! We’ll provide you with everything you need to become a bird watcher from your living room window. First, you’ll make bird feeders from recycled materials, then hang them up outside and use our “backyard birds” guide to identify who stops by for a snack!
 
Pick up your bird watching kit during holds pickup hours, Monday–Wednesday, 3–6 pm, or Thursday–Saturday, 10 am–1 pm while supplies last.
 
Princess Storytime
Saturday, February 27th from 2:00 to 3:00pm
 
Join us online for a magical storytime with a very special someone! Dress up as your favorite royal and get ready to read, sing, and craft along with Princess Belle live on Zoom at bit.ly/ACLprincess. Please, be our guest!
 
An accompanying activity kit will be available starting Monday, February 22 during holds pickup hours. Stop by for your kit Monday–Wednesday, 3–6 pm, or Thursday–Saturday, 10 am–1 pm while supplies last.
 
LEGO Challenge:
What Do You Love?
February 21 through February 28
 
For kids.
 
We are pausing the prizes for the LEGO challenge for now, but we still hope you’ll participate! This month, the library has been putting together Love Notes on our YouTube Channel, sharing stories, songs, and poems about things we love. Now we want you to share the things you love with us! Using as many LEGO bricks as you’d like, create something you love! It can be a person, a food, an animal – whatever you want! Once you’re done, please share your creation with us! Have an adult take a picture and email it to info@alohalibrary.org or tag us on social media.
 
building hours & location   |   holds pickup   |   programs & events
       
Aloha Community Library
alohalibrary.org
503-259-0185
The Aloha Community Library Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
We invite you to make a donation today in support of library operations.