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The board wanted to find a way to get information to book store customers, volunteers and other residents in the community. The answer is NewsFlash, and email blast to enrolled residents providing the latest information not only on the book store but other Friends activities.
By the Friends board meeting Oct. 8, 147 names were collected for the NewsFlash, according to Irene Nathanson, board member.
“I will hold off with the first blast until we have a reopening date for the book store,” she said.
To be added to the email blast list, email IreneorRena@cox.net.
In addition to book store information, the NewsFlash, to be sent monthly, will include items concerning book store specials, author highlights, events and other relevant alerts.
Friends officials during the summer took the stance they would wait for the Maricopa County Library District officials to open facilities before determining a date to reopen Books Around the Corner, 16828 N. 99th Ave. While library officials opened facilities, including the two Sun City branches — Sun City, 16828 N. 99th Ave., and Fairway, 10600 W. Peoria Ave. — for “pop-in pick up” services, to get items put on hold, they are not open for full patron access.
Sun City pop-in pick up branch hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday. Fairway branch pop-in pick up hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
However, Mary Anne McDonald, book store manager, and a few volunteers are in the store for short periods preparing it for an opening, according to Sue Blechl, Friends board president.
“We are in the final stages of preparing a volunteer handbook,” she said.
She is pleased the libraries were able to add some services and hours, but admitted it is hard to maintain patience while waiting to reopen the book store and resume Friends activities.
“I struggle every day to keep our pandemic situation in perspective\ and to count my blessings,” she stated in a message in the Friends newsletter. “We know that many people are frustrated, but the library and the Friends board realize that our small space and our at-risk volunteers and customers make for an unsafe situation for a while longer.”
Rusty Bradshaw News Editor | Sun City &
Sun City West @SunCitiesEditor
Rusty Bradshaw is a 40-year veteran of community journalism, having worked at newspapers in Wyoming, Oregon and Arizona. He has been with Independent Newsmedia 15 years.
Rusty earned a junior college certificate from Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming and a bachelor of science degree from Eastern Oregon University in LaGrande Oregon.
An avid football fan, Rusty also enjoys photography, reading, spending time outdoors and enjoying life with his wife. He also authored three books of fiction, “The Rehabilitation of Miss Little,” “Moist on the Mountain” and "Gorge Justice." Visit www.rustythewriter.org.