At the Leighton Township Library, patrons can read a magazine, rent a DVD, do research for a school report, or just relax with a good mystery novel.

Now, they can also buy stamps or mail a package.

On Aug. 1, the building became the first library in the country to be designated as a "village post office," according to U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Representative Sabrina Todd. Most village post offices are located inside pharmacies, grocery stores, or other businesses.

Todd said the postal services at the library will supplement, not replace, the services at the existing Moline post office branch.

In the past few years, she said, the agency has had to close down a number of smaller post offices for financial reasons. People are using e-mail and instant messaging instead of sending letters, and the traffic has dropped significantly.

In May, the Postal Service announced that it would be reducing hours at many of the small offices, in order to keep more of them in operation.

The Moline Post Office branch at 1229 144th Ave. received notice that its hours would be cut from eight hours to four, Monday through Saturday.

Current hours at that location are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, with Saturday hours from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. After Sept. 4, Saturday hours will be extended until 2 p.m.

The Moline office does not have a postmaster. Greta Gonzales is one of two employees, and serves as officer in charge. The office does not deliver mail; instead, patrons must come to pick it up at a post office box.

Leighton Twp. Library Director Andrea Estelle attended a community forum with USPS officials earlier this year. They were considering whether to close down the Moline branch.

Estelle voiced her hope that the branch would continue to operate, but suggested that the library might offer some postal services to improve service to patrons.

The idea was approved by the Library Board, and Estelle then was notified that the USPS wanted to implement the plan.

The library now offers the sale of stamps and pre-paid envelopes, a USPS drop-off box, and flat rate boxes for packages.

Staff members received training for performing their USPS duties. The library is paid $3,800 per year for its participation in the program.

"We really feel strongly about the community in the area and felt that this

would be a benefit to them," Estelle said.

"The library is a beautiful facility with a fine collection and helpful staff, and we thought this service would be useful and convenient for those in the community.

"The benefit to the library is that perhaps somebody who wants to buy a book of stamps will come in and see how wonderful the library is, and decide to get a new library card or check out some books, movies, or Wii games, or come attend a library program."

The village post office will operate during library open hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.