By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
The Wood County District Public Library will stay the course as the county moves into level three on the state’s COVID-19 alert system.
The library had just expanded its hours when the county moved into the red zone. Given all the efforts the library has made to keep patrons and staff safe, Library Director Michael Penrod told the Board of Trustees Monday that he’s comfortable continuing operations as they are.
Unlike some other libraries, the WCDPL has not offered story times. It has not been renting out the Carter House for gatherings, or otherwise serving as a place for people to congregate.
Given that, he said, the library is unlikely to be “a nexus” for a COVID-19 outbreak.
Trustee John Fawcett questioned whether library staff should consider checking the temperatures of patrons entering the building as they do for county buildings.
“That’s going to be a big staffing push,” Penrod said.
Trustee Becky Bhaer also questioned the effectiveness of such checks, since asymptomatic carriers of the virus would not have a fever.
The library staffers do check their temperatures daily either at work or at home. Penrod said he bought some thermometers for staff members who did not have them to use at home.
So far, he said, the library has not been overwhelmed with patrons.
Assistant Director Michele Raine said the numbers might not be representative. “Those first two weeks we extended the hours it was 70 degree weather and people were taking advantage of the last gasp of fantastic weather. So, I don’t know that we have a good picture of what our usage will be when they start to feel more shut in.”
Even before it extended hours, the library had increased to an hour the amount of time patrons could be in the building.
Patrons have been largely cooperative about wearing masks, Raine said. If they say they cannot because of a medical condition, they can access library materials and services using curbside pickup and other means.
Penrod said this policy was cleared by the county prosecutor’s office.
Penrod said that if the county moves to level 4, the purple zone, his preference would be to close the library and only have curbside pickup. He would, however, consult with the trustees before making that decision.
“Right now, it sounds like we’re doing what we need to do,” said Trustee Ken Frisch. “Staying open is important.”
He said he feels good when he sees people walking out with stacks of books or picking them up at the curbside.
“The service we provide is critical,” he said.
One of the losses for the library because of the pandemic was its Novel Night fundraiser. Last year, the event which was a successor to one held previously at Schedel Gardens, raised $140,000.
This year no one could gather so a No-Show Novel Night was held. Penrod said the final tally was $103,235.
This money all goes into the library’s materials budget.
Penrod expressed his appreciate for that support as well as for the passage of the library levy with 73 percent of voters approving.
