This year we will be celebrating National Voter Registration Day, Tuesday, September 20th! Click on the link below to see if you are ready to vote in this year’s Midterm Elections.

 

Voting flow chart 2022 with QR codes

 

 

Tutor.com provides on-demand tutoring, homework help, test preparation, and writing assistance for students in grades K-Adult in over 60 subjects. No appointment is needed. Tutors are available from 3:00 pm – 10:00 pm. You can also use their drop-off reviews, practice quizzes, video lessons, and The Princeton Review SAT®/ACT® Essentials to study 24/7.

Click here to try it out today!

CSB2 STEM Ecosystem school and library access to Tutor.com is made possible by a PAsmart grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Wolf, Governor.

Gov. Tom Wolf has recorded a special message inviting Pennsylvanians to connect with their local public library’s SummerQuest program.  In it, he also reads a popular children’s book I Just Like You by Suzanne Bloom (Boyds Mills Press, 2018).  Bloom’s book uses pencil and watercolor artwork of young animals to communicate a message of tolerance and acceptance.

Applications for CARES financial assistance for renters and homeowners will be
available June 29; application submissions can begin July 6

phfa-caresfundingavailable-final-06172020

PA Housing Finance Agency

 

The library administration is carefully working through the guidance from the Department of Education, Office of Commonwealth Libraries to provide a safe environment for staff and the public. The library will continue to offer the WIFI DRIVE-IN ZONE, READBOX, ONLINE CARD APPLICATIONS, PHONE REFERENCE, AND SCHEDULED CURBSIDE PICKUP.

Additionally, as part of a progressive strategy for opening the Altoona Area Public Library, the following services will be added
beginning Monday, June 8, 2020: APPOINTMENTS FOR LIBRARY COMPUTER USE AND APPOINTMENTS FOR MATERIALS BROWSING. Please see the attached PDFs for the procedures to schedule appointments.

Book Browsing Appointments

Computer Appointments

As part of the strategic reopening plan for the Altoona Area Public Library, the following limited services will be offered beginning Monday, June 1, 2020.

 

WI-FI DRIVE-IN ZONE

The library will continue to offer free Wi-Fi with a limited range outside the building. The parking lot parallel to 17th Street (Youth Room parking lot) is the designated DRIVE-IN ZONE.  Patrons may use the Wi-Fi from the convenience of their vehicles, using their own devices. We ask that all patrons remain in their vehicles while using the Wi-Fi and that all vehicles are parked in a parking spot. Any vehicles parked alongside the building will be required to move.

READBOX

The library will be providing a READBOX, a shelf stocked with books, puzzles and other materials, Monday – Friday between the hours 10am – 3pm.  Community members are encouraged to browse this collection and borrow as needed, and return items in the book drop at the front door when they are finished with them.  The READBOX will be clearly marked and stationed at the main door, 5th Avenue entrance.

ONLINE CARD APPLICATIONS

In order to provide access to our digital collections and databases, the library will be issuing library cards via phone and online application.  Please call the library 946-0417 ext. 125, Monday – Friday between 8:30am – 4:30pm to request your card.  Patrons may also visit https://altoona.sparkpa.org/eg/opac/register to apply online for a card. It is very important to provide a valid phone number so that library staff can provide you with your card number. Once the card has been activated, patrons may access CloudLibrary (eBooks and eAudio), Newspaper Archive, POWER Library, and other resources.

PHONE REFERENCE

Staff is available to continue to provide reference services via the phone.  Please call 946-0417 ext. 161, Monday – Friday between 8:30am – 4:30pm.

SCHEDULED CURBSIDE PICK-UP

The Library is trying to do our part in making it easier for people to stay at home and promote social distancing by offering an individualized, scheduled curbside pick-up service during the closure.

Below are the guidelines for scheduling a curbside pick-up.

  • All books requested must be currently available at the Altoona Area Public Library. (Books from other locations are unavailable)
  • Materials may be requested by phone, 946-0417 ext. 125, or by email at requests@altoonalibrary.org . Please include in the email:
    • First and Last Name
    • Phone number
    • Library card number, if possible
    • Please include as much information about your selections as possible
  • Incomplete information may delay your email request.
  • You will be notified when your items are ready for pick-up
  • Items ready for pick-up will be located on a shelf next to the Youth Room door, along the 17th Street side of the building. Items will be bagged with the patron’s first name and last initial stapled to the outside of the bag.
  • Due dates for all materials will be on a receipt, included in the bag.
  • Instructions will be included about how to return materials when you are done with them.
  • Staff will not be available to assist during pick-up.
  • All materials will be sanitized before they are lent out and after they are returned.

 

Please feel free to call the library if there is anything else that we may assist you with while continuing to follow the social distancing guidelines.

The library is teaming up with Lightning Bug Gifts in Hollidaysburg to sell t-shirts.  For every shirt sold, Lightning Bug is donating $10 back to our library! Child sizes are also available.

Click here to order.

The Altoona Area Public Library is very excited to welcome back our patrons. Currently we are planning for a structured and tiered reopening.  Administration is reviewing the guidelines from the Office of Commonwealth Libraries for reopening the facility and serving our community. The health and safety of our staff and patrons is our top priority.  Please continue to check our Facebook page and website for our reopening status.