Oconto Falls library remains closed for now

The Oconto Falls Community Library closed March 17, anticipating shutdown for two weeks. Many of you know that we are part of a large consortium of libraries across eight counties, from Appleton to Florence, Shawano to Washington Island. This involves more than 50 libraries, large and small, across northeast Wisconsin. As we all know, the hiatus lasted more than two weeks for all of us.

During the shutdown, staff continued to work from home or at the library. Returns from patrons were quarantines and checked back in. Due dates were extended until the end of May until people could be more mobile. All fines were and will continue to be waived. For the library, everything was shut down. We were not getting any materials from other libraries, because InfoSoup was also shut down. With no end in sight, we could not have patrons ordering things that would create a huge backup when libraries began to open up.

On April 29, we were able to start curbside pickup at Oconto Falls Library. People call or email, arrange for a pickup and come to the library with limited contact of staff. But they could only get materials that were in the library at the time of shutdown.

We are now starting to see limited movement of materials between libraries. This is all part of the backlog of materials that were checked out prior to closing. We are getting one van shipment a week with materials being returned to owning libraries.

On Monday, email and text messages started going out to remind people to return the items they currently have checked out. Items can be returned through the dropbox or on Tuesday and Friday mornings when we have curbside pickup.

We are hoping that by mid-June, patrons can start placing holds in InfoSoup and that we will be getting additional shipments between libraries.

So why are some libraries open and others are not? In Oconto County we are municipal libraries. In other words, we are a department of our municipality, Oconto Falls. The library has it own library board as governance and makes the decisions regarding the opening.

We met June 1 and discussed possible reopening. It was decided at that time that we were not ready to open yet. We were waiting for a key report from the Department of Public Instruction for Reopening Guidelines (just released), as well as a report from the Batele Labs on the virus living on surfaces and inside books (delayed).

We will meet again on June 29 to discuss opening. Library board members are Larry Kindel, Judy Kostreva, Tracey Merges, Sue Gonnering, Sue Mogged (non-resident representative), Dean Hess (school representative) and Marty Coopman (City Council representative). This board volunteers their time to oversee the library. This is a difficult time, and we must ensure the safety and wellness of our patrons and staff.

Joan Denis is director of the Oconto Falls Community Library.