Looking to read your favorite magazine or a new book but can’t find it in print? The Timberland Regional Library system has new iPads available for use at its locations.
According to Tenino Timberland Library Manager Linda McKinnie, every library within the Timberland system received the tablets.
“We here at Tenino got two, but our larger libraries obviously got more. They’re intended to be used inside the library. People can check them out and use them mainly to access our magazine collection but also any of the other online resources that are there,” McKinnie said.
While kids are allowed to use the iPads while their parents browse, McKinnie said there is an iPad designated to the children’s area. That ensures iPads can be reserved and used by adults while the little tykes have their own.
The children’s area iPad is preloaded with age-appropriate games and learning materials, she said.
The libraries also offer Playaway Launchpad tablets for kids. The Launchpads were introduced within the last year, according to McKinnie. While none of the iPads can be taken out of the library, children are welcome to check out Launchpads and take them home.
“It’s essentially a tablet but does not require internet access that’s preloaded with educational games,” McKinnie said. “They’re on a variety of topics so you can check out different Launchpads that focus on different things whether it’s early stuff like learning the alphabet or for ages 8 to 10. They can get deeper subjects like science and that kind of thing depending on which Launchpad they check out.”
She added anyone with a valid library card can check out two Launchpads at a time.
McKinnie said the Tenino Timberland Library will also roll out new extended access hours sometime in January.
The Tenino Timberland Library is normally open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The extended hours will be from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will even provide opportunities to access the building on the days when the library is typically closed, according to McKinnie.
“We’re in the process of implementing it here at Tenino so it hasn’t begun quite yet. But when we do, it’s a program that people with library cards who opt-in, will be able to participate and that will allow them access to the library even when we’re closed from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week,” McKinnie said. “Of course, we’ll still be staffed on our regular hours and days.”
McKinnie said the idea to add extended hours came after the library district did a survey in 2021.
“We’re really looking forward to being able to meet the needs of some of our community members who may be commuting and that the library’s hours are not convenient for,” McKinnie said.
Tenino Timberland Library isn’t the first library in the Timberland district to extend hours, according to McKinnie, with the McCleary Timberland Library being the first. Aside from McCleary, the Hoodsport, Naselle, Ocean Park and Packwood Timberland libraries also offer extended access.
McKinnie said many people don’t know that extended access hours exist.
While not all Timberland libraries offer extended access hours, McKinnie encouraged library visitors to ask at their local libraries about the program.
“They don’t know to ask for it,” McKinnie said. “I don’t think I would’ve thought, ‘oh the library hours aren’t working out for me, maybe they can just let us in beforehand,’ I don’t think that would’ve occurred to me. I haven’t had people specifically asking for it, but I think that might be because they just haven’t heard of it as an option. Everybody I’ve mentioned it to has been excited.”
She also thanked the City of Tenino for its support in helping implement extended access hours at the library.
To use the expanded access hours, one must be at least 18 years old, have a valid Timberland Regional Library card, agree to the expanded access hours terms and conditions and read the patron agreement form, which can be found online at content.trl.org/EAH%20Patron%20Agreement_0.pdf.
For more information on the Timberland Regional Library’s expanded access hours, visit www.trl.org/how/expanded -access-hours.
