Partnership provides magazines to patients

SANDUSKY — Those representing the Sandusky Library and Firelands Health recently announced a new partnership that expands access to digital library materials for patients receiving care at Firelands-based facilities. Made possible through a $4,000 grant from the Mylander Foundation, patients now have access to Sandusky Library's digital magazine subscriptions during treatment. Through this collaboration, patients at Firelands Health Dialysis Center, Firelands Infusion Center, Firelands Cancer Center and Firelands Regional Medical Center's Inpatient Rehabilitation Center can browse and read digital magazines on iPad tablets provided at each location. Magazine titles offered in this partnership include, among others, Consumer Reports, Good Housekeeping, Food & Wine, Sports Illustrated, Midwest Living, Car & Driver, National Geographic, Lake Erie Living, dogster, People Magazine, Essence, Shape, Bloomberg Businessweek. Each tablet, eight in total, was outfitted with the Flipster app, which gives patients access to more than three dozen popular magazines and thousands of past editions. This initiative reflects Sandusky Library's commitment to serving the community beyond its physical building. "The library is out in the community, not just within four walls," library executive director William Rutger said. "Access to the library isn't limited to our physical space: We are meeting people where they are and connecting them to resources wherever they need us, including in the hospital," Rutger said. He continued: "The project provides a safe, clean and accessible way for patients — particularly those who may be immunocompromised or vulnerable — to enjoy reading materials during treatment. By offering digital access instead of physical magazines, the program reduces paper handling and supports a healthier environment within medical settings." This idea was initiated by Molly Carver, the library's former executive director, who saw a similar program implemented by another library system and recognized its potential benefit for regional health facilities and patients. Carver along with the library's assistant director, Katie Corcoran, developed and wrote the grant proposal for the project. They believed the Mylander Foundation was a perfect fit for the project, given the late George Mylander's strong historical support of both the library and the hospital. The $4,000 grant, received in July, helped fund the initiative. Project expenses included about: • $7,000 for iPads • $300 for protective cases • About $1,800 annually for digital magazine subscriptions The remaining balance of the project costs was covered by Sandusky Library. This partnership highlights the evolving role of the public library as more than a place for books. Sandusky Library continues to connect people with information, entertainment and educational resources — wherever they are. Patients and community members who would like to learn more about Sandusky Library's digital offerings and/or the collection can visit sanduskylib.org.