MEDINA, Ohio - Thinking about traveling overseas in the new year? Now is the time to get your passport - and your local library can help.
The Medina County District Library has offered passport services at the Medina and Brunswick branches for several years. Now, they are adding the Lodi Library for the convenience of patrons who live in the southern part of the county.
"We received training and began processing passports late in 2016 so we would be ready for the rush in January and February," said Lodi Library Manager Eric Lucius.
Beverly Henry of Brunswick gets her passport photo taken. The Medina County District Library offers passport services at the Brunswick, Medina and Lodi libraries.
The winter months are typically high demand, as people begin planning Spring Break and summer vacation trips.
The libraries are a one-stop shop for taking your passport photo, filling out your passport application and mailing it out.
Library customer service staff members typically process several passport applications a day, with Sundays at Medina and Brunswick being the busiest times of the week.
To apply for your passport, bring proof of citizenship, a state-issued identification card and payment fees to the library, and they will do the rest. All forms can be obtained at the library.
Passport services are available up until one hour before library closing.
For more information, visit www.mcdl.info/passport or www.travel.state.gov.
Snuggle Up and Read
The MCDL will be collecting new children's books and pajamas starting Jan. 3 for its annual Snuggle Up and Read event.
Library members and county residents are invited to drop off books and pajamas through the end of the month in bins at each library location.
"The program is aimed at all children, even teens, so it would be perfectly acceptable to donate a board book and sleeper set or a men's size large pajama pant and a book from The Fifth Wave series," said Ann Plazek, MCDL outreach manager.
The collection is a partnership with United Way of Medina County.
Teen volunteers from the Buckeye Library will sort and organize the donations and United Way volunteers will deliver the books and pajamas to local agencies.
To learn more, visit www.mcdl.info/SnuggleUp.
Adult winter reading game
Looking forward to spending long winter nights cuddled up with a good book? Why not double the fun by participating in the Adult Winter Reading Celebration Jan. 3 through Feb. 25.
The game - "Every Reader is Unique" - lets readers earn a chance to win a prize for every book, eBook, audiobook, downloadable audiobook or Playaway they read in January or February.
MCDL will be giving away more than 80 gift cards. Play online or in your local library. Follow MCDL on Facebook and Twitter for more chances to win.
The game is sponsored by the Friends of Medina County District Library. For more information, visit www.mcdl.info/WinterReading.