Portage Public Library

We have great news! Our doors are opening on Wed., March 17 for browsing, computer access, copying, printing, faxing, and reference assistance! (Please read to the bottom for library hours). Curbside access for borrowing, copies, fax, and printing will remain available for anyone requesting it and for those unable to comply with the mask requirement. Please see what we are requiring to help continue to keep our community safe, as directed by the CDC, PA Department of Health..., and the Portage Public Library Board of Directors: 1. Do not enter the library if you have symptoms associated with COVID-19, have tested positive for COVID-19 and are in the isolation period, are waiting on a COVID-19 test, or have come in contact with someone with COVID-19 and have been told to quarantine. 2. Wear a mask fitted over your nose and mouth at all times as directed by the CDC (face shields can only be worn if accompanied by a mask fitted over nose and mouth). More information on this requirement can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov//prevent-get/about-face-coverings.html 3. Maintain 6 feet apart from others. 4. Respect the 1-hour time limit for computer use or alert the staff if you anticipate needing more than an hour for your business. 5. Limit your overall time in the library to the best of your ability. 6. Use library seating for computer use only. 7. Honor occupancy limits when directed by staff (10 patron occupancy). 8. All under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. 9. Return all items in the library book return outside. Library Hours: Tuesday and Thursday: Noon - 6 PM Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday: 10 AM - 2 PM

Could you or someone you know use assistance paying for internet service? The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB) enrollment is open. Eligible households can enroll through an approved provider or by visiting https://getemergencybroadband.org. The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program will provide eligible households with discounts of up to $50 a month for broadband service. It also will provide a one-time discount of up to $100 on a computer or tablet for eligible households. Click the link for more information and to view eligibility requirements. #DigitalDivide #BroadbandForAll

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and Director at the library, thank you, Portage Chevrolet Buick for helping fuel the library with their April fundraiser! YOUR local library forges onward in a positive, bright present and future of library service because of community support like yours. Thank you, thank you. Pictured here is Devonie McCabe, Library Board of Trustees President and Phil (the Real Deal Phil) of Portage Chevrolet Buick.

The Library is a polling place for the May 18, 2021. This means the library will not be open for normal library business. There are several polling places for the Portage area. In order to find your polling place location, you can type in your address at: https://www.vote.org/polling-place-locator/

Available for purchase right now at the fire hall on Main Street.

There will be another food distribution this Saturday!

Community safety is the Library's biggest priority. As a result and with much regret, we announce the suspension of our Call Ahead, In-Person computer access. We will continue with our outdoor pickup for all other services, including printing, copying, faxing, and borrowing. Free Wi-Fi is available outside the library with the network Homework Hub. You can reach a librarian during normal library hours via phone, email, or Facebook messenger. We will continue to evaluate our operating status and bring in-person service back online as soon as it is safe to do so. For more information about our services, please see our post: http://cclsys.org/portage-public/portage-curbside-services/

Do you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine? Join us tonight (1/12) at 7 pm on Zoom or here on our Facebook page for COVID Questions: Vaccines. You'll have... an opportunity to ask your questions and get accurate, trustworthy answers from two expert scientists at Pitt-Johnstown. Dr. Jill Henning, Associate Professor of Biology at UPJ, answered a few of our submitted questions ahead of the forum tonight. Don't miss this chance to learn more about the COVID vaccine! https://www.facebook.com/events/1122671564852697

We can all help stop the spread of misinformation on social media. It’s even more important when news is coming at us quickly, as happened Wednesday. This infographic comes from the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.

Pitt-Johnstown, the Tribune-Democrat, and In This Together Cambria are partnering to hold the second in the virtual series COVID Questions on the theme of vaccinations. The virtual town hall will be held January 6, 2021 at 7:00 pm. Participants can take part through Zoom at https://pitt.zoom.us/j/96997632528, and the presentation will be livestreamed over In This Together Cambria’s Facebook Page, Humans of Johnstown, at http://www.facebook.com/inthistogethercambria. Chip ...Minemyer, editor of The Tribune-Democrat, will moderate the virtual town hall with two members of the Pitt-Johnstown faculty with expertise in this area: Jill Henning, Ph.D. an associate professor of biology at Pitt-Johnstown, and Matthew Tracey, Ph.D., an assistant professor of chemistry. The public is invited to submit questions about COVID, in particular those related to vaccinations, at [email protected]. COVID Questions is an ongoing series featuring various experts to answer questions, dispel myths, and confirm how others are doing their share to curb the pandemic. The series is part of a larger effort in partnership with In This Together Cambria, an all-volunteer organization of local residents partnering to make Cambria County a better place to live, The Tribune-Democrat, and Pitt-Johnstown See more

The Portage Area Historical Society collects donated Christmas decorations for their Christmas in July fundraiser at the Chatterbox. This is an important fundraiser to them. To find out where you can take your donations, check their post below.

Due to weather-related circumstances, the Library will be closed today. We apologize for the inconvenience.