Mystery Packs allow readers to explore genres during curbside pick up

Avid and casual readers alike may be missing the in-branch experience of discovering new titles and authors while the library buildings are closed to due to the government mandated lockdown. Kingston Frontenac Public Library (KFPL) has launched a new service to help recapture that feeling.

Mystery Packs are a random assortment of books from a selected category. Library patrons can log on and request one from the KFPL’s Request a Mystery Pack page. Choose your curbside pick up location, and then wait for the library to let you know it’s ready to go.

“We really wanted to get this service out to our community because of the provincial lockdown,” Nichole Charles, director of Branch Experience, told Kingstonist. “The serendipitous find is a big part of what people love about coming to the library. We’ve tried to simulate that with Mystery Packs!”

There are twelve categories to choose from: Large Print, Science Fiction, Romance, Westerns, Horror, Cookbooks, Mystery, Fiction, Children’s Picture Books, Children’s Board Books, Junior Fiction, Teen, and DVDs.

“We’ve selected very broad categories,” Charles went on to explain. “Items are randomly selected in lots of 3, 5, or 10. If people are looking for something more specific to their tastes, we also offer May We Suggest where we can really help you decide on what to read based on your interests.”

What if something comes in your Mystery Pack that you don’t like? Simply return it to the library at your earliest convenience. When the library branches are open to the public again, Mystery Packs will continue, and patrons will have the ability to browse the pack the library staff have put together for them, leaving behind items that may not be of interest.

Our writer, Jessica Foley, ordered a Mystery Pack for herself. Check out what she thought here: https://www.jessicafoley.ca/familyfun/mystery-packs-quick-turnaround-kfpl/

To reserve your Mystery Pack, visit https://www.kfpl.ca/c/mystery-packs.