The library schedule will change a bit over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Please note these changes:

WEDNESDAY November 22: Open from 9 AM to 5 PM

THURSDAY November 23: CLOSED, Happy Thanksgiving!

FRIDAY November 24: Open from 9 AM to 1 PM

SATURDAY November 25: CLOSED

Before the holiday weekend is the time to stock up on reading and listening material for the whole family. Make sure your library account is current and in good standing, so you have full access to Libby, hoopla, and Flipster, our digital services, as well as resources from the State Library. Our drop box will be available for returns.

Looking for something to do over Thanksgiving? Brush up on your trivial knowledge.

The library is going to hold a Trivia Night on Friday January 5, 2024. We will be giving out more details in December, but start thinking about your team and plan to join us for a fun time. 

Call us at 785-336-2377 to reserve your table. We will need to know the team captain and their phone number. Maximum of 8 people on a team.

Space is limited, so don’t delay!

Watch for announcements for our next Cooking With Kids class, probably in December, we’ve scheduled them for Thursdays after school this year. This event is for children ages 8~11, space is limited and sign-up required. So, keep an eye on our Facebook page and put us on speed dial, our number is 785-336-2377.

Deb Haverkamp is teaching the class this year. So far they have made Apple Crisp and Quesadillas! The library smells SO good on Cooking night, everyone leaves very hungry. Deb teaches different skills each class and includes the art of clean up

We have put out a collection box for the Nemaha County Christmas Bureau. Donations must be in by December 1. There is an application process and through this, the organizers know what is most needed. The following items are acceptable donations: NEW toys (especially for children ages 7 – 10), hats, gloves, socks, towels, blankets, toiletry items (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, etc.), practical kitchen items, small kitchen appliances, and stocking stuffers. If you would like to make a monetary donation, please make the check payable to Nemaha County Christmas Bureau and send it to 702 Main Street, Seneca, KS 66538. 

 

 

The November Food Pantry Highlight is laundry detergent, or laundry products. What do you like to use? It’s likely someone else will find it useful also.

This is a service we offer the community. The Food Pantry is staffed by volunteers and is open one day a week. Rather than having to remember what day and hours they are open, you just need to remember that you can drop your donations by the library and we will deliver them for you. We highlight different items to donate, just to give you some direction. When everything is needed, it can be helpful to have some guidance. We are happy to deliver them to where they need to go.

If you have large donations it is best to deliver directly to the food pantry. We can help facilitate a drop off time if needed. Call us during regular business hours at 785-336-2377.

FYI The Pantry is closed the second Wednesday of the month.

Paper goods and personal hygiene products are always needed also.  Thank you!

Here is a full list of items each family receives, each month:  1 breakfast item, 4 cans of vegetables, 1 can beans, 1 package of rice, 1 pasta and sauce, 1 jar of peanut butter, 1 box of crackers, 2 cans of fruit, 1 can of tuna or chicken, 2 cans of soup, 1 dessert, and a pound of meat.

 These items are always needed at the Food Pantry. We focus on particular items each month as a way to bring attention to the need:  Paper products [toilet paper, paper towels, Kleenex], personal products, boxed cereal, oatmeal, pancake mix, syrup, canned vegetables, rice, pasta and sauce, peanut butter, boxed crackers, canned fruit, canned tuna, canned chicken, boxed tuna and chicken helper, canned soups, jello and pudding mixes, cookies, cake mixes and frosting, pie mix, etc. They also accept laundry detergent, dish soap, shampoo, bath soap.

Opened and outdated products are not accepted at the Pantry.

The board and staff of Seneca Free Library say thank you for your service to all veterans in our community. “How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our Heroes and She-roes!” -Maya Angelou.

Hoopla is a free service offering audio books, eBooks, movies, TV shows, music, comics, and more! We have added information for you to get the most out of the app below. We hope this helps and you get the most out of this new-to-you app!

Libby is another free app giving you access to eBooks and audiobooks. You will need to set up an account and pin with us, so call 785-336-2377– before you begin– between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm weekdays.

Here is a really quick look at how to use the online shared catalog. There is so much more than the video offers, but this will get you started. If you forgot your password, or are having trouble logging in, please call us.

Here is a quick intro to Flipster, our free online source of magazines. You use the same credentials that are needed to access our online shared catalog.

Below is a  link to  YouTube videos from Robin at our Regional Office in Lawrence about Learning Express:

Learning Express videos

The library has personal WiFi Hotspots for circulation! For our rural patrons who have trouble with internet access, these devices will be great. If you are traveling for vacation and don’t want to use all of your data, a hotspot can save you some headaches.

The hotspots can only be checked out to Seneca Free Library patrons over the age of 18, whose accounts are in good standing. They check out for two weeks with no renewals allowed. We don’t charge fines for any overdue items, except for these WiFi hotspots.

Fees begin the day after the due date. The hotspots must NOT be returned in either the outside or inside dropbox. They are to be returned to library staff at the circulation desk; devices not returned in this way are subject to a flat fee. For all the information on the WiFi hotspot and how to get one, talk to the librarians. 

Patrons will have to sign a user agreement, and there will be fines imposed if patrons do not follow the usage rules for these devices. They are expensive and the user will pay replacement costs, if need be.

Seneca’s Night Out (formerly known as Ladies Night Out) will be Saturday, November 11 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.. Jeepers! It’s going to be a real murder mystery right here on Main Street! Do you have what it takes to be an ace detective?  Can you figure out who did it, why, and with what weapon? Travel between businesses to interview suspects, gather clues, have some snacks and drinks, and register for prizes. The victim is Beauty the Parrot, and you can read about the life of this real pet at the library. Dressing in period fashion is not required but will add another layer of fun. Put on your best 1949 duds and don’t be a fuddy-duddy. Tickets are 25 clams and can be purchased ahead of time or the day of the event. Check in begins at 4:00 at the Chamber Office, 523 Main. Grab some friends and have a swell time!

Do you want to open an account at Seneca Free Library and join the NEXT group [our shared catalog system that includes over 40 libraries] of Libraries? Having a library card means so much more than just checking out books and movies, it means access to digital resources Flipster, HOOPLA and Libby! Be sure to ask about these when you open your account.

To open an account in the NEXT system at the Seneca Free Library, you need to be at least 9 years of age,  have a photo identification and proof of current residential address. Yes, that is two separate forms of ID. Proof of address could be a utility bill, insurance papers, or tax papers with your current address printed on it.

We do check to make sure people are not already in the shared catalog system. You do not need a new account if you are moving here from another system library. If that account is not in good standing, fines due or long overdue books, the patron will need to settle with that library before they we can update the account and check out to them.

Children between the ages of 9- 18 children need to have a parent or guardian present to give permission for them to get a card and be guarantor for the account. When the parent has an account, we attach the child’s account to theirs. The parent’s account must be in good standing.

When you sign for your child to get a library card, you agree to be responsible for replacement fees for lost or damaged materials.

Once you have your library card, please bring it with you each time you come to the library. You receive 2 library cards, the smaller one can be placed on a key ring, if you wish.  Our patron base is online with more than 50 other libraries, we are sure to check out on your account if you have your card.

If you do not have your library card, a photo ID will need to be presented.