Peabody Township Library board members and staff continue to make upgrades at the library, changing the way many residents have used the facility for decades.

In addition to technological advances and more interactive learning and activities for children, the library is ramping up security as it begins to meet the challenges of Internet use and social networking.

“Beginning in May, the library will issue new plastic library cards to all patrons,” librarian Roger Charles said. “The library has used cards printed on heavy paper in the past, but not a card like we are preparing to issue.”

Once the cards have been issued to all current library patrons, several policy changes will take place. The most dramatic will be the necessity of using the cards to check out library computers.

In the event that law enforcement officers are investigating an issue involving library computers, individual records can be accessed without compromising the privacy of other library patrons.

In addition, patrons will need to make certain all fines and fees associated with their card are current before they are allowed to use the computer services.

The new cards are free, but if they are lost, replacement cards will cost $2.

New patrons who are 18 or older will be required to present a valid photo-id to open a new library account.

Patrons younger than 18 will need a valid parental library card to be issued first. In addition, parental permission to use the library’s equipment and services must be on record before minors can obtain their own library cards.

Another change at the library will be an increase in charges for printing and copy rates. Black and white single-sided copies will increase to 15 cents each and one-sided color copies to $1 each.

The April new books display includes several on arts and crafts, greeting cards, and home decorating.

New books for May will include new titles from Dee Henderson including the complete series, “True Honor,” “True Valor,” and “True Devotion.”

Also coming soon are the first two books of the “Hunger Games” trilogy.

For more information about the library and its services, call (620) 983-2502.