CHARLEMONT — The Tyler Memorial Library welcomes Charlemont and Hawley residents for an open house, in honor of National Library Week, on Saturday, April 29, from noon to 2 p.m.

The open house is a chance for patrons to ask questions about services, and for library staff and members of the Friends group to discuss the wide selection of material patrons have access to through the library exchange program, Central/Western Massachusetts Automated Resource Sharing (CW MARS).

“If you have a Tyler card, you have access to all of the libraries of central and western Massachusetts,” said Tyler Memorial Library Director Kim Gabert.

Aside from physical books, patrons can also access Hoopla and other online resources to download e-books directly to residents’ devices.

“For every person that is using online resources, there are a couple people who don’t know about it,” Gabert explained. “We are trying to spread the word.”

If people want to look through Tyler Memorial Library’s physical selection, Gabert pointed out the library has magazines, DVDs, and children’s and young adult fiction, among other materials. The library also has a selection of adult science fiction and mystery books, the most popular genre it lends out.

Saturday’s open house was created by the newly formed Tyler Memorial Library Friends group, which formed after residents suggested making one at Annual Town Meeting. The group is still forming, finishing writing its bylaws and achieving 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.

Tyler Memorial Library has struggled with attracting people to the building since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The library has not hosted any events since 2020, but that is starting to turn around. Along with Saturday’s open house, the library is hosting a Birds of Prey show at Hawlemont Regional School on June 10, at 3 p.m. featuring the group “Wing Masters” based out of Leverett. That event is sponsored by the library and the Charlemont-Hawley Cultural Council.

Along with books, the library also hopes to feature other items that can be checked out, including a telescope, museum passes and local historical documents.

The library has attempted to appeal to a wider audience by shifting its hours. While it is only open 12 hours a week in all, it is open on Thursday evenings and on Saturdays to better accommodate patrons’ work schedules.

For more information about Tyler Memorial Library, visit charlemont-ma.us/p/25/Tyler-Memorial-Library.

Bella Levavi can be reached at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.

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