Every month, library staff spend hours selecting and delivering books from the Orange City Public Library’s collection to residential retirement communities and care facilities. Based on the reading preferences of the residents, Andrea Miedema selects books and audiobooks for each center individually.

Most of the titles come from our collection of Large Print materials, although regular print fiction and non-fiction are also popular selections.

Hundreds of books are checked out, boxed, and delivered to community rooms at Landsmeer Ridge, Prairie Ridge, Heritage Estates, and the Pioneer Home. Residents are then able to browse and select materials they would like to read.

Books are checked out for one month, or until the next visit. At Prairie Ridge, Miedema and library director, Sue Kroesche, visit individual residents in their rooms with a cart full of books and books on CD. Selections are made specifically for each resident based on their interests and requests. Completed materials are returned and new books checked out from the comfort of their room. Library staff have been known to offer help on downloadable audiobooks and ebooks, as well as general tech support on mobile devices owned by residents. Special trips to residents who have exhausted their selections before the next visit are not unheard of either.

Homebound Delivery is one of the most important outreach services offered by the library. Many residents are not able to make a trip into the library, especially during the cold winter months or times of illness. These deliveries ensure that residents are able to spend their time enjoying a good book. If you are interested in supporting this service, the Orange City Public Library is looking for volunteers to select and/or deliver books on a monthly basis.

Please contact Amanda Vazquez or Andrea Miedema for more information. amanda.vazquez@orangecity.lib.ia.us andrea@orangecity.lib.ia.us