Curbside Service
Curbside Service Hours
Mon-Sat1—5pm
Starting Monday, May 11th, we will once again be offering curbside service during the afternoons. Patrons are encouraged to use their accounts through the Galion Public Library online catalog or the Consortium of Ohio Libraries (COOL) mobile app to search for materials and place items on hold.
Once your requested items have been pulled from the shelves for you, we will call to let you know that your items are ready. Please call the library before you arrive and a staff member will leave your materials at a designated spot outside for you to pick up.
Please check that your location is set to Galion Library when searching for materials. Other libraries within our Consortium may not be operating yet, and deliveries may not be happening, so unfortunately we are not confident that we can offer interlibrary loan service yet. We will post further announcements here as more information becomes available.
For help setting up a Galion Library or COOL account, please contact the library. If you do not have access to the Internet and would like to request library materials, please also contact the library at 419-468-3203, during our afternoon Curbside Service operating hours.
When Women Became People
Kimberly Hamlin will be hear to speak to us.
Overdue Notices, May 2020
If you have recently received an overdue notice from our automated system, please ignore it for now, with our apologies for any confusion. We are currently still closed. You will not be expected to pay any overdue fees as a result of this crisis. We do hope to start providing curbside service again soon. Watch this space for more details.
Ancestry Library Now Available Remotely
I have just been informed that our state-provided subscription to Ancestry Library, no longer requires you to be in the library to access the service. You can access it from home using this link.
Imagine Your Story: Summer Reading 2020
[teenager reading, on a grassy lawn] Individuals who have finished 6th through 12th grades can participate in our teen summer reading program! This year, all you have to do is play BINGO! Anyone who completes at least 1 BINGO will win a book and a prize. Prizes will be available beginning July 20. Each BINGO will also earn you an entry into a gift card drawing at the end of the summer.

You can pickup your BINGO sheet at the library or download the bingo sheet here. If you print your BINGO sheet online, please register. Please put your age in the "library card #" box.

Teens are also welcome to request/download the adult summer reading packet and participate in any of the weekly tasks, but instead of being entered in the adult prize drawings, they will earn entries into the teen gift card drawings.

Mr. Puppet
Join us for a virtual show with the fabulous Mr. Puppet! Four short sketches will be available to view June 10-July 31.

Enjoy a song from Diego Dragon and Mr. Puppet!

Take a trip to the zoo with Mr. Puppet and Stinky!

Mr. Puppet and Diego the dog sing "How Much Is That Doggy in the Window?"

Enjoy a magic trick with Mr. Puppet and Wow Wee the Rabbit!

If you prefer to watch via Facebook, sketches will appear at 11 am, 12 pm, 1 pm, and 2 pm on June 10. These videos will be available to watch through the end of July. A huge thank you goes out to the Friends of the Library and the Galion Community Foundation for sponsoring this show! Wed, Jun 10th.
Science Tellers present Dragons
Join us for a video party as the Science Tellers present Dragons! This event will be hosted through Zoom. If you were unable to attend and would like to watch the recording, please visit this link.

The password is: science20!

A huge thank you goes out to the Friends of the Library and the Galion Community Foundation for sponsoring this event!

Wed, Jul 8th at 2pm.
Storyteller Lyn Ford
All ages are invited to join us on Zoom as storyteller Lyn Ford "throws stories!" If you missed the live event and would like to watch the recording, please visit this link.

The password is: 7d#472.+

Wed, Jun 24th at 2pm.
Imagine Your Story: Summer Reading 2020
[Imagine Your Story: June 1 through July 31] Summer reading runs June 1st through July 31st for all ages. See Adult Summer Reading, Teen Summer Reading, or Children's Summer Reading for details.
Adult Summer Reading
[imagine your story] [woman reading, on a park bench] Adults of all ages are invited to participate in our Summer Library Program.
All adults who register will receive an Imagine Your Story reusable bag. You can download the weekly activities packet and BINGO boards, or you can call the library to sign-up and pick up your activities packet.
If you decide to print your activities packet and BINGO boards at home, please register here. Be sure to include your phone number so we can contact you about picking up your bag, activities packet, and any prizes you win! Winners of each weekly drawing will be announced on Saturdays, beginning June 6th.
Imagine Your Story: Summer Reading 2020
[Several children sitting on a sofa with their mother, reading a book together.] Children ages 0-12 are invited to participate in our Summer Reading Program! Get a reading log at the library or print one here. Children who complete at least one "operation" will receive a book and goodie bag. Prizes will be available beginning July 20th. You can download page one and page two of the summer reading log here or call the library to pick up your copy. You can also get three Mad Libs: Choosing New Books, Here, There Be Dragon, and Fairy Tale Forest. If you pick your reading log up at the library, you will also receive magic beans to grow and scales to decorate for our dragon, which will help with two of your tasks! If you print your reading log online, please register your child. Please put their age in the library card # box.
Book Chat
Note that these book chats are held off-site.
Yoga on the Lawn
Book Donation Day
The Friends will be taking donations of used books in good condition on Saturday, June 20th from 1-3pm. Bring your used books directly to the library storage building (along the alley between the library and First Federal bank), and the Friends will store them for a future used book sale.
Book Drop Open: Please Return Your Items
If you have library items out that are overdue, now is the time to return them. If you can't make it in during our limited hours, we have 24-hour book drops by both entrances. Because of the pandemic, we have been waiving all overdue fines since March; but the temporary fine amnesty will come to an end soon. Please return your overdue library items.
Book Bingo
Anime Club
Join us for anime, manga, cosplay, and Japanese culture. Teens in grades 6-12 are welcome. You do not need to register for the anime club: you can just show up.
Games Club
Join us for board games and card games. Bring your own game or play one of ours. Grades 6-12 are welcome to attend. Refreshments are provided. No registration is needed.
Teen Board Meeting
Teens in grades 6-12 are invited to participate in the library's Teen Board. The Teen Board meets monthly to plan teen programs and select materials for the YA collection. Teens do not need to register before attending.
Limited Opening
Starting July 1st, we will be opening the building to the public on a limited basis, with some restrictions.
  • Only the downstairs entrance will be open. The historic front entrance will remain locked.
  • Hours will be 9:30am-5pm Monday through Friday, and Noon-4pm on Saturdays.
  • The library asks that all children be accompanied by an adult.
  • The wearing of masks or face coverings is strongly encouraged, and we ask that everyone adhere to social distancing guidelines and maintain a minimum 6-foot distance from others.
  • Limited computers will be available (due to distancing requirements and space limitations). Computers will be booked for 30-minute time slots starting every half hour, and will be wiped down after each use. We encourage you to call ahead to reserve a time slot, so you don't have to wait for a computer once you arrive.
  • There will be a limited number of people permitted in the building at any given time, so we ask that everyone keep your visits brief when possible, to allow for others to have a turn.
  • Curbside service will also remain available. If you are not comfortable coming into the building, you can continue to pick up books and movies at the door and return them in the book drop. In fact, it's encouraged.
Thanks for bearing with us during this crisis.
Now Hiring: Student Shelver
We will be taking applications for a student shelver position until July 31st.
Yoga on the Lawn
We are excited to offer the Yoga on the Lawn program again this year. Oasis Yoga Studio was planning to hold sessions each Tuesday at 5:30 PM throughout August and September, weather permitting, but these sessions are now postponed until further notice.
We do ask that you bring your own mat or towel to use to each session. Registration is requested, but not required. Participants are asked to maintain social distance during the event.
Grab-N-Go Craft Kits
A new craft will be available every other Monday and will include craft supplies and instructions. Call the library to reserve a craft kit, or simply stop by the main desk to pick one up.
Family Learn and Play Monday
Play, build, and manipulate open-ended materials into any creation you can imagine. This program is for families. Adults are requested to stay and participate with their children. You do not need to register for this program: you can just show up.
Outdoor Book Sale
[Friends of the Library logo] Weather permitting, there will be a used book sale on the library's east lawn.
  • used books, magazines, tapes, and CDs
  • lots of kids' books, arts and crafts books, and novels
  • materials will be laid out on tables on the lawn
  • all materials will be by donation
  • masks and social distancing required
  • event will be canceled if there is inclement weather
  • your generous donations support our library
Sat, Sep 12th, 10-2pm.
Story Time Show & Tell
Join Miss Nancy on Zoom for a Story Time Show & Tell! Each participant may share up to 1 book and 1 toy with the group. Click here to join the meeting! Thu, Sep 17th, 10:30-11am.
Pumpkin Carving Party
[pumpkin carving party, 1pm Oct. 24] Please call or stop by the library to register in advance if you want to attend this program. We will have 20 socially distanced carving spaces set up on the lawn for each session. The library will provide pumpkins, carving tools, and stencils at each station. Tools will be sanitized between sessions. Sat, Oct 24th, 1-2:30pm and Sat, Oct 24th, 2:30-4pm.
Harding Way A to Z Hunt
Individuals and families of all ages are invited to participate in a photo scavenger hunt. We have taken 26 photos, one for each letter of the alphabet, and you need to identify what business or organization they are from. Completed answer sheets should be returned by October 31st at 4pm. Two individuals will be randomly chosen from these entries to win a prize package including gift certificates and local merchandise. Forms can be picked up at the library or printed during the month of October. All photos can be found along Harding Way between Liberty and Union. Each photo is of a letter taken from the name of a business or organization.
Dino Design Contest
Design a dino and send us a photo of your creation by Saturday, November 21. Then invite your friends to stop in on Facebook or Instagram and like your dino. All ages (children, teens, and adults) are invited to participate. Online voting will occur November 22-30. You may also vote in person or over the phone if you do not use social media. Photos may be sent to us via Facebook messages or emailed to galionlibrarykids@gmail.com. Three winners will each receive a Super Dinosaur Enecylopedia and a T-rex Fingerling.
  • Tue, Nov 17th
  • Wed, Nov 18th
  • Thu, Nov 19th
  • Fri, Nov 20th
  • Sat, Nov 21st
  • Sun, Nov 22nd
  • Mon, Nov 23rd
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  • Mon, Nov 30th
Tree Decorating Contest
Individuals, families, organizations, and businesses are invited to enter our tree decorating contest. Trees may be submitted November 30 through December 5. The public may vote for their favorite tree once daily from December 7-12. The 3 trees with the most votes will win prizes. Requirements: Trees must be under 2 feet tall and able to stand up on their own. Living trees may be used, but must be in a pot or base. Trees may be created by someone else (artificial trees or craft base) but decorated by the entrants, or the entire tree may be handmade by the entrants out of any materials they choose. You may decorate using any theme you would like, but please keep it family-friendly.
  • Mon, Nov 30th
  • Tue, Dec 1st
  • Wed, Dec 2nd
  • Thu, Dec 3rd
  • Fri, Dec 4th
  • Sat, Dec 5th
  • Mon, Dec 7th
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  • Wed, Dec 9th
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  • Fri, Dec 11th
  • Sat, Dec 12th
Dinovember
In the Children's Room, November is Dinovember! Join us for an obstacle course, weekly dino hunts, and dinosaur adoptions. Check out Facebook and Instagram, too, for our daily dino exploits! Ages 8-12 are also welcome to pick up and take home a dino excavation kit. All ages are invited to participate in our dino design contest.
  • Tue, Nov 17th
  • Wed, Nov 18th
  • Thu, Nov 19th
  • Fri, Nov 20th
  • Sat, Nov 21st
  • Sun, Nov 22nd
  • Mon, Nov 23rd
  • Tue, Nov 24th
  • Wed, Nov 25th
  • Thu, Nov 26th
  • Fri, Nov 27th
  • Sat, Nov 28th
  • Sun, Nov 29th
  • Mon, Nov 30th
Circulation Policy Changes Q and A
Changed policies at Galion Public Library: books and many other items now have no overdue fines; long-overdue items and replacement costs can block you from checking out; replacement fees for lost items can be canceled if the items are returned within six months; existing overdue fines are being wiped; and renewals are now automatic, as long as nothing blocks them. Read on for details.
Why is Galion Public Library getting rid of most of the overdue fines?
Our goal is to make sure our patrons can enjoy all the books and services the library offers. Overdue fines can prevent some patrons, especially children, from checking out books and other materials.
However, there are a few items that will still have fines associated with them:
  • new movies, in both DVD and blu-ray format; this includes the 3-day movies upstairs and also new juvenile movies downstairs
  • videogames
  • mobile wireless hotspots
  • equipment, activity kits, and (coming soon) board games
These items will all retain their fines (one dollar per day for movies, video games, most equipment, activity kits, and board games; two dollars per day for mobile wireless hotspots).
What is the library going to do to get patrons to return borrowed materials?
The library will still impose fees for lost or damaged materials. If an item is not returned for 30 days past its due date, it automatically becomes lost, and the patron is charged a replacement fee.
Additionally, patrons who have materials out that are more than a week overdue, or $10 or more in fines and fees (including replacement cost for lost or damaged items) will have their library card blocked, which stops them from checking out any more physical items until the situation is resolved.
What happens if my card is blocked because of a long overdue item?
Patrons with blocked cards will not be able to check out any physical materials until the overdue items are returned or until the fines and fees for replacements and for missing or damaged items are paid. However, patrons with blocked cards can still check out electronic books and can use the public computers and other library services. The replacement costs for lost items can be taken off the account if the items are found and returned within 180 days (which is about six months).
Does this mean my current overdue fines will be wiped away?
Yes. However, this is for overdue fines only. Fees that have accumulated due to lost, damaged, or missing items will not be wiped away, except when lost items are found and returned within 180 days.
What are auto-renewals?
In addition to getting rid of most overdue fines, the Galion Public Library is also implementing automatic renewals. This means that checked out items will be automatically renewed on the due date, unless an item is needed for a hold or has reached its maximum number of renewals (which in most cases is 3 times). If your account is set up for email or text message notification, you may get an automatic notification when this happens.
When do these changes take effect?
We have stopped charging overdue fines on most borrowed items as of 2020 November 1st. As noted above, this does not include new movies, video games, wireless hotspots and other equipment, activity kits, or board games. The other changes are being phased in over the course of November of 2020.
Closed
[CLOSED] The library will be closed in observance of the holiday.
Weather Closing
The library will be closed all day due to winter weather. Tue, Feb 16th.
Library Board Meeting
Library Board Meeting
  • Mon, May 18th
  • Mon, Jun 15th
  • Mon, Jul 20th
  • Mon, Aug 17th
  • Mon, Sep 21st
  • Mon, Oct 19th
  • Mon, Nov 16th
  • Mon, Dec 21st
  • Mon, Feb 15th at 4pm
  • Mon, Mar 15th at 4pm
  • Mon, Apr 19th at 4pm
  • Mon, May 17th at 4pm
  • Mon, Jun 21st at 4pm
  • Mon, Jul 19th at 4pm
  • Mon, Aug 16th at 4pm
  • Mon, Sep 20th at 4pm
  • Mon, Oct 18th at 4pm
  • Mon, Nov 15th at 4pm
  • Mon, Dec 20th at 4pm
  • Mon, Jan 17th at 4pm
  • Mon, Feb 21st at 4pm
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