March is Reading Month! Click here for a calendar with literary activities that your child or teen can complete to participate in our March is Reading Month challenge!

Boost Your Digital Skills for Free!

This March, the Alma Public Library is offering two free tech classes! Each class is two weeks long and will help you use your phone to connect to the digital world safely and confidently. Sign up today online by clicking here or with the help of library staff!

Sponsored by Friends of the Alma Public Library, in collaboration with Alma College AmeriCorps.

Alma Public Library is pleased to announce that we are partnering with United Way to offer free income tax assistance through their Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program! VITA provides free assistance to individuals and families with a household income of less than $67,000 per year.
Call 989-463-3966 to schedule an appointment - space is limited.

Please bring the following to your tax preparation appointment:

• Social Security cards for taxpayer, spouse, and dependents listed on your return
• Photo ID for taxpayer and spouse
• All income statements: W2, 1099, 1099-R, Forms 1095 (ACA statements), Social Security Benefits statements, etc.
• Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit
• Statement from childcare provided (if applicable)
• Copy of last year's tax return (if available)
• Any other tax documents

We are thrilled to announce that our newspaper digitization project is now publicly accessible!

In 2024, the Alma Public Library applied for a newspaper digitzation grant offered annually by the Clarke Historical Library at CMU, and we were incredibly fortunate and honored to have been among the 2024 grant recipients! This grant allowed us to start the process of digitizing our collection of microfilm reels containing issues of the Gratiot County Herald dating all the way back to 1889 through 1906. Through fundraising efforts thanks to our amazing community, we have been able to secure funding to continue digitizing reels containing issues through 1945! We anticipate that these reels will be available digitally by the end of the summer in 2025.

We hope to keep the momentum of this project moving to eventually create a digital archive of the Gratiot County Herald through the year 2000 that will benefit the community and maintain accessibility to the rich history of our local area. If you are interested in supporting the efforts of this project, please contact the Alma Public Library for more information!

Use the following links to access and learn about how to navigate the newspaper portal!

DigMich Newspaper Tutorial

Clarke Historical Library DigMich Newspaper Portal

It's time to get those peeps contest entries ready! We will be accepting entries from March 31st through April 7th.

Voting will take place April 8th through the 16th. The entry with the most votes in CHILDREN (0-12), TEEN (13-17) and ADULT (18+) categories will each win a $50 cash prize!

Winners will be contacted April 17th.
 

Unfortunately, we are out of COVID-19 at-home test kits, but don't worry, there are other routes to get tested! The MDHHS Library partnership for At-Home Test Program has been extended, but we are not sure when our next resupply of at-home tests will be.

Until then, either scan the QR code on the left or visit https://covidtests.gov/ to order more FREE at-home test kits. If you are in urgent need of testing, scan the QR code on the right or visit the Michigan government website to find COVID-19 testing sites near you.

We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience. Stay healthy this winter!

Storytime will meet on TUESDAYS at 10 a.m.! Beginning on January 10th of the new year, there will be an additional storytime on Fridays at 1:30 p.m.!

Please keep an eye on our facebook page for cancellations

Join us for the following FREE movie! Popcorn will be served!

Friday, March 28h at 4 p.m.:

The Garfield Movie

Sony Pictures, PG, 101 minutes

Join Miss Jessica while we learn through singing, dancing, and stories! Aimed at babies and toddlers, open to children of all ages and their caregivers.

Join us on the fourth Thursday of the month at 4pm for Teen Craft Night! We'll have a different craft each month, with all materials provided. Grades 7-12.

Join us on the fourth Tuesday of the month for a special craft day just for our middle grade friends! Totally free, all materials provided! Grades 4-6.

We are excited to introduce Storytime Take Home Craft Kits! These include supplies from various storytime crafts and are great for those who missed storytime or need a fun activity to keep your little ones entertained.

Supplies are limited, but new craft kits will be added periodically as they become available.

Join us every other Monday at 4pm for LEGO Club! We provide the LEGOs and a building prompt, all you need to bring is your creativity! After you finish your creation, it will be on display at the library until our next LEGO Club meeting!

Log into Hoopla with your library card

With Hoopla you can instantly borrow digital e-books, audiobooks, comics, movies, TV and music with your library card! 

Here's how in 3 easy steps: 

Announcing the launch of our 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program!

Alma Public Library has WiFi Hotspots to check out!

What is a hotspot?

Hotspots are portable, easy-to-use devices equipped with high-speed 4G LTE technology that can connect WiFi enabled devices to the Internet anywhere there is a strong cellular signal. Up to ten devices can be connected to the hotspot at one time.

Borrowing a HotSpot

• You must be at least 18 years of age and hold a valid Alma Public Library card in good standing
• Check out is for 2 weeks (14 days) with no renewals Temporarily 4 weeks during Stage 1 curbside-only service
• Households are limited to one hotspot checkout per month (one month between checkouts)
• Hotspots are checked out first come first serve ; no holds or reserves  Call library to check out hotspots during Stage 1
• Hotspots must be returned to the circulation desk inside the library ; fees charged for hotspots returned to book drop  Call library for drop-off instructions during Stage 1

Responsibility and Fines

• The overdue fine is $5.00 per day
• Overdue hotspots will be deactivated within 24 hours of due date
• Patrons returning a hotspot more than 5 days late will forfeit use of hotspots indefinitely
• Patrons are financially responsible for loss or damage to hotspots/accompanying materials (hotspot $80.00/charger $30.00)
• Excessive data usage not permitted (e.g., moderate use of movie and music streaming)
• The library is not responsible for information accessed using this device or for personal information that is shared over the Internet. Internet content filtering is NOT provided through library-issued hotspot devices. Parents/Guardians are responsible for monitoring what their children access while using the hotspot. The library is not responsible for any computer viruses that may be transferred to user-owned devices.

Using a Hotspot

1. Charge the hotspot, if needed, before use.
2. Turn the hotspot on and wait for it to establish a connection.
3. On your WiFi enabled device, locate the hotspot device, select it, and supply the password. The hotspot device name and password are on a card inside the case.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Keep the hotspot unplugged after it is fully charged. Failure to do this could damage the battery. Do not allow the hotspot to stay in a hot car.