Our Response to COVID-19

To our Sutton family, friends, neighbors, and patrons:

Sutton’s motto of “Enter Here to Be and Find a Friend” is a reminder of the very characteristics that create and encourage a deeper and more meaningful sense of community; the Sutton Free Library (SFL)  is very much the epitome of this as it is a place for gathering, education, learning, sharing, playing and meeting. In light of what has been happening with the Coronavirus (Covid-19) on a world-wide scale, our goal is continue to support all that makes our community great, while also taking measures which safeguard the health and well-being of every one of us.

It is with this in mind that we’d like to share with you that we are closely monitoring COVID-19 advisements and protocols, and following guidance from local, state and national health authorities as well as national library organizations. As we all know, the situation with COVID-19 is changing daily. Given that it is impossible to predict what will happen in the coming weeks and even months, we want to assure you that we will continue to adapt as the situation develops. 

Out of an abundance of caution, we’ll be postponing all regularly scheduled programming and closing our doors, effective immediately, until further notice. While we always love to see our patrons, SFL’s highest priority is the health and well-being of library patrons, staff, and volunteers.

Use the Library Without Stepping IN to the Library

While our doors will be closed, the library WILL still be ‘open’. We’re committed to continuing service to our patrons and will be offering the following options:

  • As usual, WIFI is available 24/7. Patrons can always utilize this free service from their cars.
  • Reserve or renew items from home; call 927-4927 or email at suttonlibrarian@gmail.com
  • Curbside service. Give us your order, and we’ll bring it out to your car! Don’t worry, we’ll wear gloves and all materials entering and leaving the library will be cleaned with disinfectant wipes 🙂 Call or email to schedule a time during open hours, or just call us from the parking lot and let us know which specific item you’d like (or ask for recommendations). Don’t forget, in addition to our many fabulous fiction and non-fiction books, we also have audio books and movies! For your convenience, we’ll be creating regular posts on Facebook and Instagram about items that you might want to check out. (links below)
  • Not comfortable getting items from the library? No worries, you can still read ebooks and magazines or listen to audiobooks without leaving the comfort of your house with Overdrive/Libby. Don’t have the app yet? Call during open hours and we’ll walk you through it with your library card number and password. nh.overdrive.com
  • Disappointed about missing story time every week? Us too! Fear not, Miss Kristin and I will be creating story time videos for you to watch with your little ones at home. Keep an eye on our website, Facebook page and Instagram feed for a link to our first video (coming next weekend). In conjunction with Online Story Time there will be a weekly Take & Make Craft. Here’s how you can create your own special storytime at home:
    • Stop by the SFL parking lot for curbside pick-up. Call 927-4927 to let us know you’re here.
    • Bring home your weekly Take & Make Craft (one per child per week, craft will be geared toward preschoolers but available to all elementary aged students).
    • Head home and watch the weekly story time video, then enjoy the craft together.
    • Remember to write, read, talk, sing, and play every day. We hope to see you in person again very soon! 
  • Have other ideas of how we can still service our patrons while maintaining the health and safety of the Sutton community? Please share your ideas with us!

Our Commitment to Keeping You Safe

SFL will track and follow guidance from public health officials to keep our staff and community safe and to help slow the spread of this virus. We will continue these safety measures until a decision has been made by the Sutton Free Library Board of Trustees that the spread of Covid-19 has abated (in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services). 

In the meantime we encourage you to keep yourself informed. Misinformation spreads fast, we recommend visiting the following reliable resources frequently for up-to-date information about COVID-19: (click on blue links below or copy and paste link into your search bar)

Worldwide:
World Health Organization – www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Nationwide:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
Johns Hopkins Medicine, Coronavirus at a Glance – www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus

Statewide:
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services – www.nh.gov/covid19

Local:
Kearsarge Regional School District – https://www.kearsarge.org
Town of Sutton – https://www.sutton-nh.org

Please feel free to contact us at any time with questions, concerns or suggestions.
(click on blue links below)

603.927.4927 suttonlibrarian@gmail.com

   Sutton Free Library         SFL Facebook Page                 SFL Instagram Feed

We thank you for your cooperation and understanding as we face this health emergency together. If you find yourself stuck at home, remember, there’s nothing like the company of a good book to pass the time! 

We wish you and your family good health,  

Elizabeth Geraghty ~ Sutton Free Library Director
& the Sutton Free Library Board of Trustees