With a variety of services offered at the Winsted Public Library – at no cost to the patrons – it’s no wonder Librarian Sharon Noerenberg has seen an increase in usage.

“It’s a wonderful thing,” Noerenberg said.

As a Pioneerland Library, the Winsted library has access to statewide libraries, so if the doesn’t have an item in its collection, the individual can request it from another library.

“If it isn’t offered here, we can find it somewhere else,” Noerenberg said.

Patrons can conveniently request material themselves online, and even renew material, as well.

Audio books have become popular checkout items, helping pass time for Winsted’s commuters, Noerenberg said.

The library also provides free wireless Internet.

“You don’t even have to get out of the car,” Noerenberg said, explaining the wireless service can be used outside the library as well as inside.

Noerenberg is a true believer in the benefits of reading to children, making them better listeners and better readers and writers, as well. The library offers a large children’s collection for parents and homeschoolers to choose from, she said. Parents who home school also appreciate being able to order books online, she added.

Library card

In order to borrow items from the library, patrons are required to have a Pioneerland Library card, which is easy and quick to obtain.

During library hours, residents can fill out the application for a card, which is available at the checkout desk. The new card will be processed and ready for use within a few minutes.

With a library card, books can be checked out for 28 days unless the books are in high demand. Videos can be checked out for two days, and audio books for two weeks.

Requests for books or other library items that are not on-site generally take one to two weeks to be filled, depending on the request and where the item is located.

Internet, copy machine, fax service

As well as books and videos, the library offers two computer stations, a copier, and a fax machine. Internet access is free for everyone, but computer time is limited to a half-hour per patron, per day unless told otherwise. Copies are 10 cents each, and faxes are $3.

Story time

The Winsted library also has story time each Tuesday for children ages 3 to 5, from 9:30 to 10 a.m. during the months of October through December, and February through March. Summer story time is during June, July, and August. There is also a summer reading program in the park in July.

The Winsted Library Board

The Winsted Library Board is very active, striving to make the library a vital resource within the community.

Current members are Lisa Ebert, Julie Guggemos, Irene Weinbeck, Karen Salo, and Kim Hausladen.

The board sponsors several activities during the year, which include an annual book sale, conducted during the Winsted Garage Sale Days in May; and a silent auction during the Winsted Winter Festival, benefitting area elementary schools’ accelerated reading programs.

Hours

The library is located at 180 Main Avenue W., and is open six days per week. Hours are:

Monday and Wednesday, 2 to 7 p.m.

Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Friday, 2 to 5 p.m.

Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon

To contact the library, call or fax to (320) 485-3909. The library can also be contacted by e-mail at sharonn@winsted.lib.mn.us.

Librarian Sharon Noerenberg is ready to help the patrons of the Winsted Public Library find what they are looking for.