By Maureen Neeley
Belmont Heights is library-rich, surrounded by the Bay Shore Branch on 2nd Street, Alamitos Branch on 3rd Street, and Brewitt Branch on Anaheim at Belmont. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, business is NOT as usual. The BHCA caught up with Cathy DeLeon, MLS, LBPL’s Manager for Branch Services, to find out the scoop on services.
Budget Impacts - Furlough Schedule
First, the good news: Our Mayor and City Council made sure there were no cuts to hours or funding for our library department when they passed the 2020-2021 budget; but, the bad news is the budget included adopting City-wide furloughs, which means library services are closed every OTHER Friday in alignment with all City departments.
What services are available at LBPL during the pandemic?
Although all library buildings are closed to the general public, patrons can still check out books, DVDs, CDs, and audiobooks through LBPL To-Go, a contactless pick-up service. Reserve online, call or check the library’s website to make an appointment, and pick up your order at the following libraries: BJK Main, Michelle Obama, Mark Twain, Bay Shore, El Dorado, Los Altos, and Harte.
Online access with your Library Card
Stream movies, eAudiobooks, download music, take online courses, learn a language, read eMagazines, and more.
Reference Services are just a phone call away
Patrons can still call the library for advisement on all the usual topics. Your professional librarian can find your trusted information on thousands of queries. Remember, unlike Google, librarians evaluate sources.
Bay Shore News
Ch-ch-changes. Long Beach Public Library says a good-bye to long-time Bay Shore Senior Librarian, Debi Vilander. Over 30 years ago Debi began her career with LBPL as a clerk. She then attended graduate school to get her Masters in Library Science (MLS), and eventually found her way to Bay Shore in 2009 where she’s been a constant resource. She retired at the beginning of October 2020. However, don’t despair. Bay Shore has a new Senior Librarian: Anna Dress - most recently assigned to the Brewitt branch - now heads up Bay Shore. Anna is fairly new to the Long Beach system, though not librarianship. Some residents may know her if they patronized the nearby Westminster branch in Orange County Public Library where Anna was children’s librarian for 11 years. Welcome, Anna. You’re going to love The Shore.
<< Debi Vilander Retires; >>Anna Dress appointed Senior Librarian
Questions? Just Ask!
Call 570-7500 - the library’s main number. Your call will be handled there or transferred as needed. Or log on to www.LBPL.org.
