Oshkosh Public Library partners with Evergreen for west-side materials drop-off

A partnership between the Oshkosh Public Library and Evergreen will make it more convenient for residents on the city’s west side to return library materials.

A drive-through book return, similar to the units located outside the downtown library building, has been installed in Evergreen’s circle driveway at 1130 N. Westfield St. Any member of the public can drive up and deposit Oshkosh Public Library materials –books, DVDs, books on CD, magazines, music CDs - in the drop box. Evergreen will transport materials to the library daily, with the exception of holidays and other days that the library is closed.

The new drop-off service is an effort to make library use more convenient for west-side residents, which has been an issue since budget cuts forced OPL to discontinue its bookmobile service in the Festival Foods parking lot in 2007. Partnering with Evergreen allows the library to offer convenience to west side residents without reducing services at the downtown library.

“We often hear from people on the west side that they want to use the library, but don’t have time to come downtown on a regular basis,” says Jeff Gilderson-Duwe, Oshkosh Public Library Director. “We hope that by offering west-side residents a more convenient opportunity to return library items, it will be easier for them to take advantage of our resources and fit the library into their busy lives.”

Ken Arneson, President and CEO at Evergreen, sees the library drop-off service as a win for his residents and the surrounding community. “We’re happy to partner with the library to offer a service that benefits the general public, as well as the residents of Evergreen,” he says. “Our location is convenient for folks who live and work on the west side, but it makes it easy for anyone who travels in our vicinity to drop off items that need to go back to the library.”

Oshkosh Public Library users check out more than 1 million items annually. More than 420,000 people visit the downtown library each year to check out materials, attend programs and events, do research and gather with friends and colleagues.

For more than 45 years, Evergreen has provided extraordinary living options, programs and services to those ages 55 and older.

For more information about the Oshkosh Public Library’s book drop at Evergreen call 236-5203.