When Illinois’ latest COVID-19 mitigation rules went into effect recently, public venues from casinos to museums were ordered to shut down as the virus continues its ruthless spread. One notable exception, though, was public libraries.
The decision on whether to stay open remained with them, and while many have concluded that the risk is too high, others say they’re going to stick it out, and not just for the book lending.
“It’s not enough to offer self-service,” said Megan Millen, executive director of the Joliet Public Library, which has curbed some services but is staying open. “In our community, a lot of people need our close-up assistance on how to fill out a job application or an unemployment application.”
Libraries, especially during times of crisis, have long been far more than just places where people can check out books and DVDs. With their high-speed internet connections, meeting rooms and massive depositories of information, print and otherwise, they are a beacon to those needing assistance or companionship.
That has changed during the pandemic. Libraries across the state closed for months after Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued his stay-at-home order in March, and though many reopened during the summer, some services remain diminished or unavailable for fear of transmitting the virus.
But libraries have made creative adjustments in these strange times, boosting their Wi-Fi signals so patrons can use the internet in their cars, expanding their curbside pickup services and offering all manner of virtual programming.
“There’s a difference in the second surge,” said Diane Foote of the Illinois Library Association. “Libraries closed all (in-person) services in the spring, including curbside, but we now know more about (limited) transmissibility on surfaces, returned books and things like that.”
The Elmhurst Public Library is lending out small tools used for crafting projects, including cutting machines, button makers and a soldering iron. It’s also putting together craft kits people can do themselves at home.
“We’re trying to provide people with a little solace, a boredom buster to help survive this unprecedented time when we’ve all been taxed so heavily,” said Mary Beth Harper, the library’s director.
In Chicago Heights, interim Director Kathy Parker said the library is keeping its doors open in large part because people in difficult circumstances are counting on its telecommunication services.
“In our community, a lot of the residents don’t have internet access or they may not have a printer,” she said. “It’s hard to apply for a job or navigate a website on your phone. That’s mostly what we’re getting — people who are looking for jobs. … A lot of people even apply for unemployment via fax.”
The Woodstock Public Library this year switched its popular “turkey bingo,” in which participants can win fixings for a Thanksgiving dinner, to an online forum.
“It seemed like everyone had a good time even though it wasn’t quite the same thing,” Director Nick Weber said.
The library also started a food pantry in its building that quickly became a community fixture. When volunteers started to assemble meals for Thanksgiving, their goal was 25 bags. So far, they have handed out 140 and are putting together more.
“It’s one of those things where it’s awesome to see the community come out and support it, but you also wish it wasn’t necessary,” Weber said.
Despite the rising need for library services, some have concluded it’s too risky to stay open. The Bellwood Public Library closed two weeks ago after a person who had been in the building alerted officials about a positive COVID-19 test, though there was no indication any transmission happened at the library, Director Amy Crump said.
The library planned to reopen with curbside-only service until early January, Crump said.
The Barrington Public Library made a similar decision, though it will continue to lend material through parking lot pickups, automated lockers and even by mail.
“We saw the numbers spiking in Lake and Cook counties, and we felt like we really needed to do our part to slow that surge down,” spokeswoman Karen McBride said.
Libraries also serve as a hub of volunteerism, especially for teens looking to pick up service hours required by their schools or churches. The Homer Township Public Library in Homer Glen, which usually has dozens of kids working on the summer reading program and other projects, had to switch to remote opportunities this year.
That has included everything from creating greeting cards for children in foster care and hospitals, painting “kindness rocks” for the library’s rock garden or contributing to the We Were Here project, an online archive of pandemic memories.
“We’ve gotten feedback from a lot of folks in the community that they’re very grateful not only to get the service hours from home, but to have such a wide variety of projects to choose from,” said teen services coordinator Heather Colby.
The libraries that are staying open typically have large buildings and relatively few patrons coming inside, leaving plenty of social distance. But as winter approaches, they must decide whether they can accommodate those who depend on the buildings as warming centers.
Some have concluded they can’t do it this year. But Elmhurst wants to try to make it happen.
“I plan to put together some kind of plan addressing that issue,” Harper said. “We don’t want to promote the spread of the virus but we don’t want to put people in a vulnerable situation.”
While the librarians are striving to live up to their mission during the pandemic, it’s clearly not the best of times. Millen, from Joliet, said she misses the packs of children who used to throng the library for everything from books to tutoring.
“Something is being lost, that wonder of being in a library,” she said. “But it’s going to come back. It’s not forever. That’s what I keep telling my staff. We’re going to hunker down and get through it and then come back better than before.”
