On Sunday, March 8, 2020, the main topic of conversation for patrons and staff at the Warwick Public Library was the spread of the then-still mysterious coronavirus. Five days later, on Friday the 13th, the library - and much of the country - was
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On Sunday, March 8, 2020, the main topic of conversation for patrons and staff at the Warwick Public Library was the spread of the then-still mysterious coronavirus. Five days later, on Friday the 13th, the library – and much of the country – was entering lockdown.
On March 7 – one long and extremely challenging year later – the library will be open again this Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. through May 30.
“We are gradually inching back to normal and I couldn’t be happier about it,” said library director Jana L. Stevenson. “One of the most frequent requests we have had from the citizens of Warwick is to reinstate Sunday hours. With the support of the new administration, we are able to resume our full hours at the main library and the Conimicut branch; we hope to have Apponaug and Norwood up and running soon.”
When the devastating pandemic suddenly forced libraries to close their doors or limit patron access, the WPL staff redoubled its efforts to serve the community in every way possible. Demonstrating their resilience by quickly pivoting to new modes of service in the months that the building was closed, WPL offered innovative yet practical ways to connect patrons to the information and services they need and enjoy.
In May, the curbside pickup program got books-on-hold to patient and grateful readers. The library reopened to the public on June 8, and went into “pause” mode on November 30, with lobby-only access. On January 11, a new – and hopeful – year saw the stacks reopen for browsing, and on February 2 the hours of operation expanded to Monday-Wednesday 9 am-8 pm, and Thursday-Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The addition of Sunday is another welcome sign of getting back to “normal.”
Computer access has been expanded to eight stations, and reference staff can assist in finding appointments for COVID vaccinations. Grab & Go Craft kits are available in the Children’s Library. And WPL’s website provides a wide range of virtual programs and events, including Murder Mystery Book Group meetings on Zoom, daily storytimes, and a Women’s History Month Reading Challenge.
For more info, call WPL at 401-739-5440 or visit www.warwicklibrary.org.
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