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Library book sale Thursday-Saturday

Posted at 3:08 am March 7, 2024
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Public Library is pictured above on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Friends of the Library Book Sale is in the Oak Ridge Public Library Auditorium on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

The sale starts 5-7 p.m. Thursday for members only, with memberships available at the door.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Books, Entertainment, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge Tagged With: book sale, Friends of the Library, Oak Ridge Public Library

Library announces check-out changes

Posted at 2:38 pm July 1, 2023
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The new outdoor book drop is pictured above at the Oak Ridge Public Library. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

Ten days after celebrating renovations, the Oak Ridge Public Library has announced changes to its check-out procedures and policies that take effect on Saturday, July 1. Among the changes:

  • The library will no longer charge overdue fees for materials that are returned late (interlibrary loans are an exception).
  • The library will automatically renew eligible items that have not been returned if the item does not have a hold. However, there is a limit to the renewals, and library patrons will still be charged for lost or damaged items.

The City of Oak Ridge described the new check-out procedures in a press release.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Education, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: check-out procedure, Oak Ridge Public Library, overdue fees, renewal

Oak Ridgers celebrate library renovations

Posted at 6:53 pm June 20, 2023
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Public Library Director Julie Forkner, right, talks to a standing-room-only crowd about renovations to the library’s East Wing on Tuesday, June 20, 2023. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A standing-room-only crowd attended the grand re-opening celebration of renovations to the East Wing of the Oak Ridge Public Library on Tuesday.

The renovations include a brand-new Children’s Room and bathrooms that meet Americans with Disability Act standards.

The projects were made possible through a combination of funding from the City of Oak Ridge, a Support Grant to Local Governments, and the Friends of Oak Ridge Public Library administering a bequest (a personal property gift) on behalf of Jerry Kinnamon.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, Government, Government, Oak Ridge, Slider Tagged With: Children's Room, east wing, Julie Forkner, Oak Ridge Public Library, Oak Ridge Room, renovations

Oak Ridge Public Library East Wing grand reopening set for June 20

Posted at 6:15 pm June 6, 2023
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Renovations of the East Wing of the Oak Ridge Public Library include a brand-new Children’s Room and bathrooms that meet Americans with Disability Act standards.

The library will celebrate with a June 20 grand reopening.

The projects were made possible through a combination of funding from the City of Oak Ridge, a Support Grant to Local Governments, and the Friends of Oak Ridge Public Library administering a bequest (a personal property gift) on behalf of Jerry Kinnamon.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Children's Room, Julie Forkner, Oak Ridge Public Library, renovations

Library restrooms will be renovated

Posted at 10:00 am January 23, 2023
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The restrooms at the Oak Ridge Public Library will be renovated starting February 1.

The renovations are expected to be completed by June 1.

The renovations will result in increased accessibility under Americans with Disabilities Act, cleaner restrooms, and new fixtures, a press release said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge Tagged With: Oak Ridge Public Library, renovations, restrooms

City offices closed for Christmas, New Year’s

Posted at 1:25 pm December 20, 2022
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Municipal Building is pictured above on Tuesday evening, May 5, 2020. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

City of Oak Ridge offices will be closed for Christmas and New Year’s Day.

City administrative offices and Oak Ridge City Court will be closed from Friday, December 23, to Monday, December 26, for Christmas.

They will also be closed on Monday, January 2, for New Year’s Day.

Offices and the court will re-open on Tuesday, January 3, a press release said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge Tagged With: animal shelter, Centennial Golf Course, Christmas, New Year's Day, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Civic Center, Oak Ridge Public Library, Oak Ridge Senior Center, Scarboro Community Center, Waste Connections Convenience Center

Library will be renovated during holidays

Posted at 10:24 pm November 30, 2022
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Public Library
The Oak Ridge Public Library is pictured above.

The Oak Ridge Public Library will be renovated during the holidays, and the library will be closed several days around Christmas and New Year’s Day.

The restrooms will be completely rebuilt, and the Children’s Room will be “getting an all-new look that will help everyone discover new ways to read, learn, and play,” a press release said.

The library will be closed for the Christmas holidays from December 23 to 26 and for the New Year’s holiday from December 31 to January 2, the press release said.

“Over the few days immediately before Christmas and in between Christmas and New Year’s, the library building will be closed to public traffic,” Oak Ridge Public Library Director Julie Forkner said. “However, patrons will be able to check out materials through our curbside service. Mobile printing will be available, and library staff will be available via phone and email. Patrons needing a wireless connection can place a Hotspot on hold with their library card or use the library’s public Wi-Fi, which extends to the plaza and into the library’s parking lot.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Julie Forkner, Oak Ridge Public Library, renovations

City of Oak Ridge accepting nominations for poet laureate

Posted at 1:52 pm December 17, 2021
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Public Library is supporting an initiative to select and name a poet laureate for the City of Oak Ridge.

The Oak Ridge Poet Laureate Committee is seeking a poet of excellence, who has lived in Oak Ridge for at least one year and is inspired to represent the city and all it strives to be, a press release said.

“Anyone can nominate someone they believe is best fit for the role and self-nominations are accepted as long as they can continue to live in the city throughout the appointment,” the press release said. “They must have significant publication history including books (excluding self-published and vanity presses), and in a variety of journals, and/or media. They must have received recognition in the field and have demonstrated literary excellence.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Entertainment, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories, Writing Tagged With: City of Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Poet Laureate Committee, Oak Ridge Public Library, Pat Hope, poet laureate

COVID-19 city updates; Oak Ridge Library re-opens June 1

Posted at 1:44 pm May 26, 2021
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Public Library
The Oak Ridge Public Library is pictured above.

City government facilities are returning to normal operations after more than a year of trying to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, and the Oak Ridge Public Library will return to normal operating hours on Tuesday, June 1.

However, not all Oak Ridge municipal departments and services have returned to full capacity, a press release said.

Here is a COVID-19 update provided by the City of Oak Ridge on Friday:

Departmental services are continuing. City officials strongly urge citizens to conduct their business electronically, over the phone, and by mail whenever possible. Financial transactions can be handled electronically and via mail. If you need to reach a department, call the number listed below for each department or click here for a list of all departments. You can also reach a department by email or social media.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: COVID-19, Front Page News, Government, Health, Oak Ridge Tagged With: City of Oak Ridge, COVID-19, COVID-19 update, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Public Library

Friends of Library Book Sale returns

Posted at 10:26 am May 21, 2021
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Friends of the Oak Ridge Public Library Spring 2021 Book Sale will be Friday, May 21, and Saturday, May 22. Pictured above are FOL President Nancy Hardin, right, and Treasurer Jan Pierce sorting books from a previous year. (Submitted photo)

The Friends of the Oak Ridge Public Library Spring 2021 Book Sale is returning after more than a year.

The Book Sale is Friday, May 21, and Saturday, May 22. It will be a smaller sale at a different location because the Oak Ridge Public Library is not yet fully open to the public, a press release said.

“But we are ready to have a sale to share with you the many items we have received since our last sale in March 2020,” the press release said.

The sale will be held in two rooms on the lower level of the Habitat for Humanity ReStore building in Grove Center. The entrance is on Robertsville Road.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Community, Entertainment, Front Page News, Slider, Top Stories, Writing Tagged With: book sale, Friends of the Oak Ridge Public Library, Oak Ridge Public Library

Oak Ridge Library to re-open in phases starting March 29

Posted at 4:03 am March 10, 2021
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Public Library
The Oak Ridge Public Library is pictured above.

After a year of the coronavirus pandemic and renovations to the building, Oak Ridge Public Library will re-open on March 29. The library will re-open in two phases, the city said in a press release.

The first phase, from March 29 through May 29, will allow patrons to browse the main library and Children’s Room, use public computers, and enjoy the newly renovated library space, the press release said. Library hours will be limited to Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Curbside pickup will continue during this first phase. Curbside hours, however, will change to Monday through Saturday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., the press release said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Children's Room, Julie Forkner, Oak Ridge Public Library, Oak Ridge Room, re-opening

Library returning to curbside service due to COVID spike

Posted at 1:35 pm November 25, 2020
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Public Library
The Oak Ridge Public Library is pictured above.

The Oak Ridge Public Library will close to the public and return to curbside pickup only after the Thanksgiving holiday due to the dramatic increase in local COVID-19 cases, a press release said.

Curbside hours are Monday through Saturday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Starting Monday, November 30, library users can place holds on books, movies, music, and audiobooks through the library’s catalog at http://orpl.ent.sirsi.net/. Patrons will be notified when their items are ready to be picked up. Look for the reserved parking spaces in the library’s parking lot, call the number on the sign, and library staff will bring your items to your car. If you need help finding items to read, watch, or listen to, you can call (865) 425-3455 for assistance placing holds.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: COVID, COVID-19, Oak Ridge Public Library

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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