CREDIT #18: Danielle Ray
BELOW: Library staff member Phil Gold and Head of Youth Services Lizzy Gagliardi pull and shelve library books and materials for patrons.
COURTESY: Heidi Flynn, Conant Public Library
By Danielle Ray
Despite the building still being closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Conant Public Library staff members have remained extremely busy over the last year serving patrons in a variety of ways.
“Staff members have jumped in to fill the needs they see and it’s keeping everyone busy but happy to be serving our patrons,” said Director Patricia Campbell. “We put in place all the required safety protocols and are working as a team to provide as many services as we can. We are energized and appreciative of the response we have received from the public.”
According to Campbell, the total current monthly circulation is 5,000 library materials – 4,000 curbside or home delivery items and 1,000 electronically downloadable materials. This does not include newly added craft kids for children, supplies for online craft or cooking programs, tax forms and more that the library provides for patrons.
“We have four staff members each day we are open for curbside whose first job is to be ready and dedicated to curbside pick-up services and delivery,” Campbell said. “Calling the patrons to let them know their holds are in, taking calls for requests and pick-up day, pulling, checking out, packing and placing materials for pick-up, and helping people with finding their next read based on what they like by staff trained in reader advisory. Some times are quiet, and that’s when we do the behind the scenes work that keeps everything else at the library working.”
Patrons can place holds for library material through the CW MARS app and link on the library website, or by calling the library at 978-422-6409. Staff members pull requested items and call when the pick-up is ready; home delivery to Sterling addresses is available upon request.
The library began offering curbside pick-up hours from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturdays beginning Feb. 27, which is in addition to the Monday through Thursday curbside pick-up hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“We added an extra phone line paid for by state aid to handle the call volume and reduce busy signals and the Friends [of the Conant Public Library] paid to purchase a new phone system for the library,” Campbell said.
The library has new offerings including craft kits to go that Head of Youth Services Lizzy Gagliardi puts together and new virtual programs for all ages.
“Lego club, Jeopardy for teens, cooking programs for tweens, a cookbook club for adults and larger, and professionally produced online programs shared among libraries,” Campbell said. “We recently hosted a KonMari organizing program that was attended by patrons from our library and several others.”
The library also has tax forms and booklets available, one per person, through curbside pick-up that patrons can call and request, and applications available curbside pick-up for the Northgate Meadows Affordable Housing Lottery.
Campbell said they continue to work with other departments in town and provide virtual programming for patrons of all ages. The library will conduct virtual book discussions for the Sterling Senior Center in March and April, and a virtual Irish concert is scheduled for March 10 at 6 p.m.
As far as the library reopening for in person browsing, Campbell said they are hoping to offer that to patrons sooner than later.
“We have a plan in place for limited browsing as outlined in the Governor’s plan and will implement it when the trustees agree the risk benefit makes sense,” she said. “We’ll probably have to transition to limited browsing on one floor before a full open. With the vaccine becoming more available, that should help move the timeline forward.”
Campbell said she and the rest of the library staff, most of whom have mask rashes, are desperately looking forward to the return of some sort of normalcy – and a library filled with happy patrons.
“We are so looking forward to vaccines and the library being back to as normal as possible for us all and seeing our patrons again in person,” she said. “Welcoming people to our new updated interior, kids back in the children’s room, kids in our new middle school area, seeing all of our patrons browsing new materials. We look forward to this every bit as much as patrons. Until then, we are doing our best, like everyone.”For more information call 978-422-6409, visit sterlinglibrary.org, and follow Conant Public Library on Facebook.