YCL E-NEWS December 2023

YCL E-NEWS December 2023
Have a Look at What’s New for York County Library!

Totally Cool Winter Reading Challenge
December 11, 2023 – January 31, 2024 • Register Online Now

This winter, we're challenging York County to read at least 2 million minutes for a chance to win "totally cool" prizes! The Winter Reading Challenge starts December 11 and is open to all ages. Participating is easy! Simply register online or at any YCL location and track your progress with our fun, interactive Beanstack service as you read or listen to anything you want.
 
After reading just 5 hours, you'll get a fun prize and enter our Grand Prize Drawing! Earn another chance for every 5 hours you read, up to 5 entries. Visit yclibrary.org/wrc for full details, and check the Events Calendar for all of our winter and holiday events — including these fun scavenger hunt programs below! Happy Reading, York County!
 
Winter Reading Scavenger Hunt: Friday, Dec. 1, – Friday, Dec. 29, Clover Library. Friends ages 11 and under can join Clover Library's Winter Scavenger Hunt to solve a winter riddle and enter to win a grand prize!
 
Gingerbread Scavenger Hunt: Monday, Dec. 11 – Friday, Dec. 29, Main Library (Rock Hill). Gingerbread people are loose in the library! Help find the missing cookies! Pick up a clue sheet in the Main Library Children's Department. The final clue will lead you to a prize!

Help Spread Kindness This Holiday Season

YCL Food Drive: Now through December 29, All YCL locations will accept donations of nonperishable food and canned goods. Donations will benefit local area charities within the community they are donated. And don't forget our furry friends — we'll also collect pet food!
 
Mitten Trees: Help decorate our mitten trees and warm the hearts of those in need with your gifts of new gloves, hats, scarves, and mittens at participating YCL locations through December 29. All donations go to York County shelters.

Book Donations: Support your local libraries! Donate your gently used books, CDs, audiobooks, puzzles, and other media to the Friends of the York County Library. Donations can be dropped off at any YCL branch. Proceeds benefit York County Library. Learn more about donating and other ways to support at yclibrary.org/support-the-library, and join the Friends at yclibraryfriends.org.

'Tis the Season for Holidays on hoopla!

Celebrate a season full of joy and wonder with the festive holiday collections for kids on hoopla! From enchanting Christmas adventures to the radiant glow of Hanukkah traditions, hoopla has the perfect mix to keep young minds engaged and spirits high throughout the holiday season. Visit YCL's Virtual Library to access hoopla now, and find over one million audiobooks, eBooks, comics, movies, TV shows, and more!

Extra Holiday Borrows: As a gift from us to you, our loyal patrons, hoopla checkouts have increased from 10 to 13 for the holidays! Borrow up to 13 Instant Titles per month through January 2.
 
New Year's Eve Party Music: Ring in the new year with fantastic party tunes! Enjoy the New Year's Eve music collection and more on hoopla!

New Teacher Resource: The Mailbox® Plus

Great news for teachers and parents! The Mailbox® Plus is our new go-to classroom and activity resource, with more than 54,000 fun and engaging ideas, activities, and worksheets for Pre-K through 6th grade. All content is teacher-created and is planned and edited by a team of former teachers. New content is posted each month, with skills and topics right when you need them. Visit our Virtual Library to try The Mailbox® Plus now!

Indie Author Project: Expert Sessions

Whether you're an experienced, beginning, or soon-to-be author of any genre, you'll want to check out Indie Author Project Expert Sessions. This informative webinar series features indie authors, industry professionals, and compelling content covering a wide range of writing topics, including marketing, the writing process, indie publishing, editing, and more. You can check indieauthorproject.com/expert-sessions for up-to-date news on upcoming Expert Sessions, and be sure to check out December's Session:

The Benefits of Kirkus Editorial & Kirkus Indie: Thursday, Dec. 7, 3–4 p.m. Learn how to give your book professional polish and exposure! In this webinar, experts from Kirkus will discuss Kirkus Editorial and Kirkus Indie, with an overview of Editorial pricing, the different editing tiers, and having your manuscript professionally edited and formatted. You'll also learn the basics of Kirkus Indie reviews and how to use them to catch the attention of editors, booksellers, librarians, and readers.

York County Library Hours & Closing Notices
All Locations: Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m.–7 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Main Library (Rock Hill), Fort Mill, & Lake Wylie: Saturday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Clover & York: Saturday, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.

Christmas: All York County Library locations will be closed Saturday, Dec. 23, through Tuesday, Dec. 26.
 
New Year's: All YCL locations will be closed Saturday, Dec. 30, through Monday, Jan. 1.
 
Friends Books on Main: Shop a huge selection of books, DVDs, CDs, and audiobooks for all ages at the Friends of the Library bookstore, open to the public at 206 E. Main St. in Old Town Rock Hill, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, from 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
 
*During our holiday closings, the book drops at our Rock Hill and Clover locations will be closed; only the book drops at our Fort Mill, Lake Wylie, and York Libraries will remain open for returning library materials. No fines will be charged for overdue items during these times. Visit yclibrary.org for more information about our Fine-Free Policy.