Library re-opens, a wee bit

Walter Sprague
Art and Culture Reporter
 
“It’s been seven long weeks,” Brenda Ayres said about the Weston County Library closing during the COVID-19 pandemic, “But we’ve been given the all-clear to start opening again.” 
A release order has been given for the library to begin opening again. The opening started on Monday, May 11. Ayres said the library had been working on an opening plan for a while in conjunction with the library board, the county health office, and the Department of Homeland Security. 
The library building itself will not
be accessible to the public, but checking out books will be available via a
curbside table.
“We prefer for there not to be people walking up and asking for books,”
Ayres said.
However, books can be reserved in advance in two ways. Ayres said patrons can reserve a book by calling the library at 746-2206 or, better yet, by going to the online card catalog at www.westoncountylibrary.org. Once the item is reserved, it will be placed in a plastic bag and available at the curb. The hours for the partial opening are from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Any books that were checked out before the shutdown started can still be returned and not considered late if they are brought back by May 15. Those returns and all recently checked-out materials can be placed in the book drop. From there, they will be quarantined for 72 hours and then cleaned with a bleach solution, as per the guidelines.
Ayres said the library is operating from a phased reopening plan.
“All plans are contingent on current health orders and the advice of the county health officer,” she said, “But I wish people to know that they have been very positive in regards to the library closure. We appreciate the community’s patience very much.”