Dear Library Patron,
We at The Indianapolis Public Library hope you are safe, healthy, and observing recommended social distancing in support of our community. The Library sends this email to share an update on how we are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

1. We are extending our closure indefinitely, until further notice.
We hope that life can get back to normal soon, but rather than setting a date and then extending it again, at this time it seems best to plan to remain closed until local and state health officials deem it appropriate to reopen public gathering places. We hope that our next all-patron email contains good news, and will share updates as they come.

2. Online resources and materials at indypl.org are widely available.
Many of our vendors and partners have made e-materials more accessible, and we have moved funds from our print materials budget into our e-materials budget to help meet the needs of our patrons while our doors are closed. Additionally, we are working with schools and through our website to support e-learning initiatives for students, parents, and teachers.
Bookmark this link to our website's blog section. This is where we will continue to create a series of blog posts for patrons and parents to make the most of the Library's online materials and resources such as e-books, streaming movies, kids storytime videos, tutorials, and off-screen activities like science experiments, knitting patterns, games, DIY projects, and cooking. We will be updating with new posts regularly!
Follow us on social media where we will share these blog resources as they are posted, as well as numerous items from other community organizations, authors, and more. We are collecting as many relevant resources as we can using our Activities to Do at Home Pinterest Board as a hub, and will share items regularly on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

3. All in-person Library events are all postponed or canceled, through early May.
Unfortunately this includes several important and exciting events including our McFadden Memorial Lecture featuring Kadir Nelson; the grand opening of our new Martindale-Brightwood Branch; groundbreaking for the construction of our new West Perry Branch; upcoming author talks with Nikki Grimes and Sarah Urist Green; Indy Library Store book sale; multiple Census help days; and all of our in-branch activities such as workshops and storytimes.
We know that our patrons, staff, and volunteers care deeply for our free public activities, and we are very disappointed to cancel them without a clear idea of when we might be able to reschedule. We are actively working to adjust our summer reading program so that it can continue despite the challenges of all this uncertainty.

4. Due dates for checked-out physical materials will continue to be extended until we reopen.
Please keep the Library items that you have checked out, and plan to return them after we reopen. Do not worry about accruing any late fees during this time - we will be exceptionally forgiving during this difficult time.

5. You can contact us if you have questions.
- Use the form on our Contact Us webpage: indypl.org/contact
- Leave a voicemail and get a call back: 317-275-4184
- Text a Librarian: 317-333-6877
- Library cards can be obtained or renewed online

On one hand, these decisions have been difficult to make because we are so committed to providing open access to our community. On the other hand, the decision is made easy because it is clear that this is ultimately in the best interest of public well-being.

Please keep yourself and others safe, continue to monitor your health, check for updates at the Indiana State Department of Health website, and consider our online materials mentioned above to help fill the time. We look forward to seeing you again when we reopen.

Jackie Nytes, CEO