Stonington — The Stonington Free Library plans to open a bimonthly branch at the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center beginning Jan. 25.

Library Director Belinda de Kay said the branch is an effort by the borough-based library to widen its reach and give neighborhood center users a way to access the library’s books and digital collections.

“It will be just like coming here except we’ll be going to them. It really is like a branch of the library. We’ll be able to offer everything we offer at the library,” she said. “We’re very excited to start this.”

de Kay said that the library has donated books to the center in the past, but this effort is much greater.

She said two volunteers will be at the neighborhood center from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. every other Wednesday, ending just before the center’s lunch is served.

The volunteers will bring a selection of books, DVDs and audio books that they think people may enjoy. de Kay said people taking advantage of the program also will be able to tell the library volunteers what they would like to read in the future so they can bring those items in upcoming visits.

She said they are especially looking forward to issuing library cards and showing those who are not so comfortable with computers how to access the library’s digital collection. She pointed out that the library card allows users to access the collections of public libraries across the state as well as the nearby Westerly Public Library.

“I just feel like this is something that will grow,” she said.

Neighborhood Center Executive Director Vicki Anderson said that while the center’s van transports seniors to medical appointments, the supermarket and pharmacy, the library has not been a stop on the route.

“So this will be an excellent opportunity for our people to learn more about the library,” she said, adding that over the past decade, libraries have changed dramatically in terms of their offerings.

She said that the center does have a collection of donated books that people can check out.

“But now they’ll be able to have a rolling library with a different choice of books” that will be tailored to their interests, she said.

In addition, Anderson said the library will have Kindles people can check out on loan to read books in large digital type.

“This will introduce them to the new kind of library and the people who work there,” she said. “I’m so glad Belinda considered us for this. It’s a great idea.”

j.wojtas@theday.com