One of the things that stood out the most when the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library released its annual report recently is that the library had a successful year in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic raging all around.
“This has been a year when the library staff excelled,” library director Sue Szostak said in the library’s annual report. “At the beginning of the year, they had no idea how much they would learn and grow. They not only lived up to the tasks with which they were challenged but exceeded all expectations.”
One way that the library staff did that was by putting a focus on safety for its patrons.
“We were committed to caring for our patrons, whether it was their health or their need to use their library for reading, DVDs, or access to computers and/or technology,” Szostak said. “We wanted patrons to feel safe. We listened to our patrons and tried to do as much as we could while protecting our staff and the patrons. Therefore, we knew that we had to implement programming through other means such as social media.”
Szostak said that the library’s success in 2020 had much to do with its staff.
“First, they care about the patrons. They are kind, helpful and willing to go the extra mile,” Szostak said. “Second, they are well-trained. They endure rigorous training because they know that good procedures ensure fair and equitable service to everyone who comes through the door.”
Szostak also said the staff believes in the library’s mission: to provide and promote, along with its community partners, equal access to reading, information, cultural and intellectual resources.
“The staff will work diligently to ensure that this mission happens each and every day,” Szostak said
The library temporarily closed on March 22, 2020, because of the pandemic. When it did, library patrons’ items and expiring library cards were renewed for days and later months into the future. The library took its first steps toward reopening on May 12, when the outdoor book return reopened with quarantining to protect patrons and staff.
A week later, the library began curbside and telephone service with staff recommending and finding materials for patrons. Patrons were not penalized for overdues, while access to eBooks and eMagazines continued. In addition, library users were offered the option of eCard services.
The library reopened in full on July 6.
Another sign of the library’s success in 2020 was the opening of the Ridgel branch on Kanell Boulevard. While the Ridgel addition was a huge success in its own right, the fact that it came to fruition during a year so full of adversity is truly impressive, staff believe.
“Ridgel gave us another outlet and additional services during a time when we were struggling to provide library services to as many as possible,” Szostak said. “We reduced the number of computers available at Main Street, but added computers at Ridgel. Additional services included study rooms for public school students who need access to technology and additional WiFi services. We added a locker system and had contactless services such as self-check. Patrons who did not want to travel to Main Street due to proximity to their homes had another ‘library space’ — and with the Ridgel parking lot, we had drive-in story time, which families loved.”
Despite the pandemic, the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library still served 129,252 patrons in 2020 and had 123,656 checkouts last year.
In 2019, the library had 96,676 patrons visit the library in person and was open 332 days, Szostak said. In 2020, the library had 41,221 visits the library in person and was open 216 days.
“Many of our patrons converted their library cards to eCards for eResources, including over 9,000 school children and we have offered curbside and telephone assistance to patrons since May 2020. These patrons did not come into the building,” Szostak said.