October Newsletter

News @ the Library CreativeBug Online The air is starting to turn crisp and leaves are starting to fall. Autumn is almost here and it’s time to start crafting for the season at hand and the holidays ahead. Check out https://www.creativebug.com/lib/gmplibrary to get your creativity going. Remember... you're more creative than you think! 2020 Census Information Have you completed the 2020 Census yet? The deadline for submitting your response is now extended to October 31. While census data is important in helping determine how many representatives each state will have in Congress, it also informs federal funding decisions for local community programs and services. Computers and assistance are available at the Library if you still need to complete this vital task. Absentee Voting Absentee ballot applications are available at the Library anytime. If mailing an absentee ballot application, the Lorain County Board of Elections must receive this request by noon on Saturday, October 31. Absentee ballots must then have a postmark no later than one day before the General Election on Tuesday, November 3. In-person absentee voting begins at the Lorain County Board of Elections on Tuesday, October 6 at 8:00 am, and runs until Monday, November 2 at 2:00 pm. Summer Lunch Thank You! Despite shortened hours and the ongoing pandemic, the library successfully took part in its annual free summer lunch program for children. The Boys and Girls Club of Lorain County, in collaboration with The Children's Hunger Alliance, provided the Library with shelf-stable lunches. Darla Strah from Our Lady Queen of Peace supplemented the lunches with fresh food and weekend meals for those days the Library was not open. We are very grateful for the community effort that allowed us to serve over 600 lunches this year. We look forward to serving hot lunches again next summer. Midview Schools Collaboration In March 2020 when COVID-19 closed most businesses and schools, our Director, Adele Infante, heard that many students at Midview schools were having difficulty completing homework due to a lack of internet accessibility. Since GMPL loans internet hotspots to patrons, we investigated the possibility of providing additional hotspots through Sprint to the schools. With monies from our endowment fund, GMPL purchased an additional 18 hotspots for students to use during the crisis. All hotspots were barcoded and placed in protective containers and taken to Frank Major, Director of Education at Midview Schools. The schools teamed up with GMPL and supplied laptops with the hotspots. By collaborating with Midview Schools, the library was able to help kids without a reliable internet connection to complete their required online coursework. We BELIEVE in Human Kindness Kindness is FREE! Spread it around by doing good deeds and earn a chance to win a kindness-themed gift tote full of prizes! Beginning October 1, visit our website at www.gmplibrary.org and click on the "Good Deed of the Day" link. Complete the form and let us know the wonderful, kind things you are doing! You may fill out the entry form as many times as you like but please only enter one good deed per form. We are drawing our prize tote winner on Monday, November 2, and displaying the deeds at the Library for all to see. Good deeds DO make a world of difference! "Be Kind" Tote Kind Mug "Be Kind" T-shirt Three kindness books including "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio "Love With Owl of Your Heart" blank journal 3 mini kindness pins Book light Prize basket includes: 2