We are halfway through a year in which we hoped we would see a full recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re not quite there yet, but I’m happy to say that the Daniel Boone Regional Library is working to restore services to some semblance of normalcy. In the past couple of months we have begun opening our spaces further by restoring more computers, tables and seating, putting all collections back into circulation and opening study rooms in Columbia for reservations. The Holts Summit Public Library and Southern Boone County Public Library are open full hours, and the Columbia Public Library and Callaway County Public Library in Fulton went back to full Monday-Saturday hours in early August. (Sunday hours in Columbia will resume after Labor Day.)
We plan to begin offering a few more services this fall, such as passport applications, public meeting rooms and in-person programs. We are watching the course of the virus in our communities, and the numbers will need to trend down again before we can safely have people in close proximity in our facilities.
Happily, we have made some service improvements that are positive outcomes of the pandemic, such as an increased investment in eBooks, audiobooks and other online resources like Brainfuse. We’ve added a new language learning database, Mango Languages, so you can learn a new language as you dream of traveling again. Our curbside pickup service is now permanent. And we have upped our game in providing quality online programs that allow more people to attend from the comfort of their homes.
Through it all, library staff have worked hard to provide the excellent library service you expect. We’re happy to welcome you back!
Margaret M. Conroy, Executive Director