Welcome to 2021, friends! While we are all looking forward to the good things to come, I would like to reflect on how the library has continued to provide services during the pandemic, and what we have learned. First, we learned that our talented staff are able to switch gears on a dime, and provide meaningful online programs while we cannot do so in person. We also learned that you LOVE our curbside pickup service, so much so that we are working out how to continue it once we are able to fully open all of our locations.
Your faith in us also led many of you to support a new service, Brainfuse, which provides online tutors, job support services and more. Students learning from home now have an extra resource for getting through a math assignment. Job seekers can get help polishing résumés and practicing interview skills. In part through your generous donations to our Foundation, we were able to bring Brainfuse online in October and to cover the cost for a second year.
Also through the generosity of the Callaway County voters who passed a modest levy increase, we are happy to announce the full opening of the Holts Summit Public Library. Once we restart in-person programs, both Callaway County library locations will be able to host more programs and services, as well as have updated technology to serve you better.
Sometimes it has been hard to remain optimistic during this pandemic, but your DBRL staff have kept looking forward.
Here’s to good things to come in 2021! See you at the library!
Margaret M. Conroy, Executive Director