Glendale Library Reopening

Glendale Library Reopening

Book lovers in Glendale will soon have something to cheer about. In Glendale this upcoming Monday April 19, the Glendale Main Public Library will begin it’s grand reopening to the community after it was closed a year ago because of the pandemic. Social distancing and mask wearing will still be required within the premises of the library. Although Gov. Doug Ducey, ended the mask mandate throughout the state, certain locations like the library will continue to follow CDC guidelines in order to ensure customer/visitor safety. The gradual reopening of the libraries of Glendale has not been extended to Phoenix.

Glendale libraries are currently in what's called Phase two, with limited services. They will begin Phase 3 reopening come Monday. The libraries in Phoenix however have not been given the green light to enter Phase 3. The libraries of Glendale are not the first to reopen, other libraries in different areas have begun operating more or less normally. Like other businesses and institutions libraries have had to adapt during the pandemic. Chief Librarian Michael Beck said, “What we’ve done since last May is we’ve been offering limited library lobby services. We also have a drive-thru location and so for the drive-thru location that gives people the ability to pick up without coming in. And the limited lobby service is like an express service. We put our most popular collections out in the library lobby.”

The Glendale Main Library has received increased activity during the pandemic as opposed to before. Chief Librarian Michael Beck said, “We’ve had over 140,000 people since last May. So, we’ve been averaging over 3,000 a week.” Beck attributes these numbers to the steps the library system took like offering drive-through services.

Beck also said the library system has taken lots of steps to make sure libraries are safe for the public. "We've maintained social distancing and had the ability to offer masks to the people who requested them, hand sanitizer readily available. So that’s gone very well. We've been pretty pleased when they (customers) have checked out over half a million items in that format.” Regarding the challenges the library has faced Beck said, “We’re also excited to be reopening on Monday but we’ve been doing pretty well, I must say.”

Even though they were physically closed over the past year, Glendale libraries were busy with community outreach. examples being increasing computer time for people looking for jobs or doing their taxes. The library also gives free tutoring to students. According to the Library Advisory Board the main library in Glendale was awarded a $4,000 LSTA Grant for the “Diverse Voices” project. The Diverse Voices Project is a program to improve cultural awareness in the community, it covers things such as bilingualism. Chief Librarian Beck stated, “We have a lot of people that have a lot of goodwill and they’re excited that we’re open, other times we’ll have residents in other communities come in and get materials for themselves, their kids, families.”

Chief Librarian Michael Beck said, after the past year and even going forward people have come to appreciate libraries, “I think the pandemic has shown people the importance of libraries again.”