Our local libraries are busy these days. Here are some things to be aware of.
Illumination Learning Studio is hosting free sessions of its “Little Movers” toddler music class from 10:30-11:15 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, and 10-10:45 a.m. Friday, Dec. 9, at the Greenwood Library, 8016 Greenwood Ave. N. Each class is free but registration is required. Call the library at 206-684-4086 or register in person.
Little Movers is an introduction into the world of music for children ages 15 months to 3 years old. With 20 years of experience, Michael Piper from Illumination Learning teaches participants about echo and sequence, rhythm and movement.
“Hour of Code,” an introduction to computer science that is designed for anyone to learn coding basics, is from 2-3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11, at the Broadview Branch, 12755 Greenwood Ave. N, for anyone ages 8 and up. It’s free, but registration is required. Call the Broadview Library at 206-684-7519 or register in person. Drop-ins welcome if space is available.
The library is hosting free movies for all ages at many libraries in December, including the Greenwood Library. No registration required. “Finding Dory” (PG) at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20; and “The Secret Life of Pets” (PG) at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27.
Two organizations have joined Seattle Public Library’s Museum Pass Program, which now offers free admission to 16 Seattle museums for Library cardholders. Seattle Public Theater and Seattle Architecture Foundation Tours have been added to the list, which also includes: The Burke Museum, The Center for Wooden Boats, EMP Museum, Henry Art Gallery, The Living Computer Museum, The Log House Museum, Museum of Flight, Museum of History & Industry, Nordic Heritage Museum, Northwest African American Museum, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Aquarium, Seattle Asian Art Museum and Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience.
You can reserve a free pass to an individual museum once every 30 days, and may use one pass per week. All passes are good for up to two people — some passes even include free admission for kids ages 17 and under. Just go the Museum Pass webpage, enter your library card number and PIN, choose a specific date, and print the pass.
Library patrons also can now set their checked out items to auto-renew. The auto-renewal system is through Library Elf, a free online service available that helps track holds and due dates.
Library Elf has recently added an automatic renewal feature. Patrons can set up a free Library Elf account and activate Auto Renew, and Library Elf will attempt to renew items on their behalf when the items are getting close to the due date. Eligible materials will automatically be renewed according to standard renewal limits. Most items can be renewed twice if no one is waiting for them.
The frequency and timing of Auto Renews will depend on what a patron has chosen in the “Advance Notice” settings of their Library Elf account. Patrons can sign up for email notifications that will note if items were renewed or not renewed, or log into their Library account to check their current due dates.
Library Elf also provides notifications for holds waiting, pre-overdue materials and overdue materials for multiple Library accounts in one message. This service is especially useful for families trying to track multiple Library accounts. The service can even combine accounts of other participating library systems, including KCLS.
The Seattle Public Library will continue its existing notice services separate from the Library Elf service, including pre-overdue and holds waiting notifications by email.
Patrons wishing to reserve a library meeting room can now do so online, for dates beginning March 1, 2017. Create a free “Spaces” account to make, edit or cancel meeting room reservations. Reservations can be made up to 120 days in advance, and you can book up to 10 hours of meeting room use per month. The “Spaces” service is available at all branch libraries, except the Central Library and the NewHolly Branch.
