Fairfield library launches new website

The Fairfield Public Library’s new website went live Tuesday. Not only does it give the library a new look, it offers new services the old website didn’t have.

Fairfield Public Library Director Rebecca Johnson said the library created a new website for a couple of reasons, one of which was to make the site easier to navigate with a cellphone. Another reason is that the old website was difficult to edit, and often required library staff to contact the website vendor to make changes to it.

Johnson said the new site has exciting new services, too, like a tab to access the film library Kanopy, a streaming video platform with more than 30,000 films and documentaries. Library patrons can watch videos on the platform by putting in their library card information. Johnson said the card has to be current for it to work. Cards must be renewed annually in person at the library. Johnson encourages patrons to renew their cards because that gives government authorities an accurate picture of how many patrons the library has.

Another important new feature on the website is a tab that allows patrons to support the library financially. For instance, patrons can “adopt an author” by paying a discounted price for titles written by a specific author. When that author publishes a new book, the library will contact the donor to ask if they wish to purchase that book for the library. Johnson said the donor is free to decline if they don’t wish to purchase that particular book.

“Those donations allow us to stretch our materials budget,” Johnson said.

Thus far, 29 residents have adopted an author at the library. Patrons can also “adopt a magazine” by paying for a magazine subscription of their choice.

The new website educates patrons about how they can make an endowment to benefit the library and how to make a memorial donation.

Those who wish to assist the library through volunteering can do that, too. The website includes a form for patrons to fill out. Johnson said the library relies on volunteers to help with special events like the “When the Lights Go Out” program on Halloween, to help with book sales and to assist with odd jobs. For instance, one volunteer used his pickup truck to deliver a reupholstered piece of furniture to the library, and others have helped with the landscaping outside the library.

To explore these and other features, visit the library’s website at fairfield.lib.ia.us/