She said she “checks out” up to 20 books at a time. She can only listen, but she goes through far more books than most people can.
When you’ve been losing your sight since your 20s, to the point where you’re almost totally blind, entertainment options are scarce.
Eileen Atkins, a longtime Hattiesburg resident, is one such person impacted by the scarcity. Eileen is 83, and her husband, John, is 86.
Sometimes, John helps Eileen play music on the record machine or CD player, but mostly she listens to books. She gets them from the Mississippi Library Commission, which offers a free public library service for eligible Mississippi residents who are unable to read standard print for a variety of reasons.
When Eileen needs more books, she sends back the USB-equipped data stick, selects what she wants to read, and the library sends her more.
Books in many genres are available. Eileen prefers popular fiction. What fits on the storage device depends on the length of the book.
“Some books are shorter, so they can fit easier,” she said.
She previously used CDs and tapes before that, but she far prefers the data stick format.
“With the tapes and CDs, you have to keep changing them all the time,” Eileen said. “There might be six or eight CDs for one book, and you have to keep changing them.”
You don’t have to be blind to use the Talking Book Services platform. Other qualifying factors include not being able to hold a physical book due to permanent or temporary disabilities, or not being able to see standard size print. People interested in the service can call the commission at (800) 446-0892.
For some people, like Eileen, books in alternative formats have been essential for years.
But in a time of reasonable (and required) social distancing, books have become requisite – even more so than they were before – and more people are looking for ways to enjoy them without visiting a physical library.
Book lovers and bored people in general are seeking alternatives, and electronic books continue to grow in popularity.
The Library of Hattiesburg, Petal and Forrest County “already had a pretty robust electronic system, even before the (COVID-19) pandemic,” said Sean Farrell, director of the library, noting that the library system is “especially promoting our digital offerings,” including books, videos and audio.
“Obviously, (the pandemic) has been a huge challenge for us,” Farrell said, but he added that the library has access to hundreds of thousands of books and other materials, all in digital fashion.
Those materials are offered through services like Hoopla, RBdigital, Axis 360 and Tumble Book Library, which is geared toward children’s books.
A library card is required to use the various services.
“We’re still offering curbside service. This is especially important for people who are uncomfortable coming inside the building, or who may be particularly susceptible,” Farrell said. “We sanitize the books, put them in a shopping bag and meet them outside.”
The branch is open to the public in a limited fashion.
Anyone aged 2 and up must wear a mask, and the customer population is limited to 50 people.
They also require hand sanitizer and have cut down on seating.
One feature that allowed the Hattiesburg library to open is unique: “We’re a large building, and we have incredibly high ceilings,” Farrell said.
Currently, the Hattiesburg branch is open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, from 11:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, and 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
The change in hours from day to day is specifically to allow people who work until 5 p.m. to get to the library before it closes. The library is closed on Sundays.
At the Petal branch, the hours are different, partially because it’s a smaller building: Monday, noon until 4 p.m. and Tuesday, 8 a.m. until noon.
Only 10 customers are allowed in the building at a time.
In Lamar County’s four public libraries, a digital system has been in place for years and continues to grow, said Terry Lajaunie, assistant director for the library system.
That system’s branches, which are located in Lumberton, Oak Grove, Purvis and Sumrall, are also open but with a limited capacity.
Their hours have been changed: 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, allowing people to “come in and browse the stacks,” he said.
Anyone aged 3 and up is required to wear a mask, and wear it properly, he said, and they are limiting access.
The various digital resources available through the system include Overdrive, Freading and Tumble Book Library.
Like most other library systems, the Lamar County system requires that people have a library card to access their digital materials.
VISIT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY
LIBRARY OF HATTIESBURG, PETAL AND FORREST COUNTY
System Website: hattlibrary.org
Hattiesburg Library
329 Hardy Street in Hattiesburg
10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday
(10 a.m. until noon Monday for vulnerable population)
11:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
(601) 582-4461
Petal Library
714 South Main Street in Petal
Noon until 4 p.m. Monday
8 a.m. until 12 p.m. Tuesday
(601) 584-7610
LAMAR COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM
System Website: lclsms.org
Lumberton Public Library
106 West Main Avenue in Lumberton
10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
(601) 796-2505
Oak Grove Public Library
4958 Old Highway 11 in Hattiesburg
10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
(601) 296-1620
Purvis Public Library
122 Shelby Speights Drive in Purvis
10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
(601) 794-6291
L.R. Boyer Memorial Library
121 Poplar Street in Sumrall
10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
(601) 758-4711
