At the library: Appreciation of library grows

The depth and breadth of my appreciation for the Washington Public Library continually increased through the past months as the waves of a viral enemy invaded our lives. I missed entering the sunshine of welcome from the staff for myself and fellow library users. The staff always wanted to know how to assist us. When our household computer went down, I discovered internet access was available.

All our days emptied of the fullness that the library offered our community. No longer could we reserve a study room for two adults to learn Spanish or English or for youth to share their classroom learning. Absent was the conference room where our Fortnightly Writers group met monthly.

How unfortunate it was that the Monday gathering of people with genealogical expertise, who assisted anyone with questions about their Washington County ancestors, could not occur. The monthly in-person group I joined that discussed biographies had to end. We missed the educational displays and art. We longed to hear the piano played and the musical concerts! Losses!

Joy came when the library staff announced they would accept patron requests to check out books, picking them up by appointment. The books are sanitized on return. More joy when word came that the staff could arrange for a book to come through interlibrary loan. We appreciate seeing the smiling faces of the library staff and their greetings again. It is a privilege to have books for free through the work of the Washington Public Library staff.