By Barbara Lockard
Imagine getting a visit from author James Patterson, or welcoming Brad Pitt into your home!
Thanks to the Ada Public Library, countless authors and actors are available through their books and movies and even “escorted” right to your front door!
The library’s Homebound Delivery Program makes materials available to Ada residents who aren’t able to visit the library, yet want to check out books, CDs and DVDs. Library Director Rhett Grant delivers the materials and will help select topics of interest or honor requests for certain authors and genres. Participants can keep the items for a month and there are no late fees.
“We actually started this program in 2017 and I revised the form in 2018,” said Grant. “I want to remind people that it’s available as a service of the Ada Public Library.”
Currently, Grant delivers materials to residents of Vancrest and is willing to talk with long term care facilities or groups regarding their needs. The library offers LYNDA, a free online service featuring courses on hundreds of subjects and those with a smart phone or iPad can download the SEO Library app and receive digital books. Still, there are those who prefer printed books, and DVDs over streaming video.
Participants in the program complete a form that allows them to specify their areas of interest; whether they would like large print books, and if they don’t want materials with strong language or violent content. Grant and his staff make every effort to comply with requests.
Director of the library since 2017, Grant is a former social studies and physical education teacher. He returned to school to earn a master’s degree in library science when he decided to change careers.
He served as the first teen librarian at the Highland, Michigan Public Library and as adult librarian in Clarkston, Michigan. Originally from Alabama, he took a break from libraries for a few years, but wanted to get back into the field. A friend told him about the open director’s position in Ada in 2017 and he applied for and was offered the job.
Ada residents who want to sign up for the Homebound Delivery Program can call the library at 419-634-5246.
