At the library: Programming to remain virtual

By Bryna Walker, Washington Public Library Director

With the Covid Pandemic becoming a difficult part of our everyday living, we are doing all that we can to offer book and digital services, but being cautious while doing so. At the Washington Public Library, our staff is doing an amazing job with curbside service, summer reading via Zoom, virtual programs and activities, and copying/faxing/and computer service.

We are always getting new books through Bridges as well. So, as much as we'd like to let the doors fly open and everyone to come back to their place at the library, we are carefully looking at studies of social gathering, the demographics of gathering in the library between children and elderly, and the virus longevity on books based on peer-reviewed medical journals.

As a director, this has been difficult to make monthly decisions on what steps to take to enhance our services to the community safely. We are taking small steps to reopening based on the research we are getting from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and State Library of Iowa.

Next week, I will be issuing the next phase of reopening for the end of July and beginning of August for the library. Some things we know for sure are that programming will continue to be virtual for the near future, curbside pickup will be the safest mode of circulating books so they can properly quarantine when they come back, and the days of 'hanging” out and sitting on furniture as a respite from daily life is far down the line, unfortunately.

We really urge people to continue using curbside service until the pandemic subsides. We thank you for your continued use of the library via the services we offer. We are always available for questions on digital collection resources and curbside selections. Please call 319-653-2726.