Du Quoin Library looking at 'soft' reopening in July
The Du Quoin Public Library will turn on the lights and open the doors to the public again sometime in July, but it won't quite resemble business as usual, said Library Director Kristina Benson.
Instead the library will limit the number of occupants to around 20 inside at one time, including staff, Benson said. Since there are usually two staffers on duty at once, that means about 18 patrons, including children, will be able to come inside.
Wearing masks, she added, will be key.
"We want to make sure we can do this in an environment that everyone feels safe, and welcome," Benson said.
The library will not resume its popular programs, since there are frequently many more than 18 people who partake.
In related news, on July 6 the Du Quoin library will resume taking orders for the inter-library loan service. The Illinois Heartland Library System had put a moratorium on inter-library loans until the roughly 16,000 items that had been "out" when the stay at home order was announced were back to their home libraries.
Now, Benson said, Du Quoin has gotten all of its borrowed material returned to its rightful owners, "and we've received most of our items."
She said patrons can start putting holds on loan material on July 6.
Material coming into the library from patrons will be quarantined for 72 hours before it can be re-loaned, Benson added. Material coming from other libraries in inter-library loans will already have been quaratined and can go right out.
Meanwhile, the library's curbside pickup and delivery system continues, and is working well, Benson said. She estimates the library is doing about half of its usual business.
Inside the library, the computer stations are being reconfigured so as to be socially distant and with new countertops. Once finished the library will have six stations instead of the previous eight, but Benson said that is in line with normal computer usage.
She said people using the computers will not be limited. She and her staff at first discussed putting a time limit on computer usage but in the end decided against it.
"With how difficult it has been to apply for jobs and apply for unemployment, we decided we couldn't make people get off," Benson said.
Meanwhile, the library wanted to add a sneeze guard to the circulation counter. When plexiglass didn't work, the librarians devised an alternate system involving poster board.
"Never underestimate the crafting abilities of librarians," Benson advised.
Once open, the library will resume its regular hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.