The Lincoln County Public Library is now back open on Fridays to patrons.

The library will not be open everyday, but will operate on Fridays from 9:30-12:30 and 1:30-4:30.

“The library’s goal is for people to be lifelong learners,” Library Director Katrina Castilaw said. “We want to be able to give people a feeling of normalcy, it’s something that’s normal and that they’ll have control over.”

Castilaw is excited for the library to reopen one day a week and knows patrons are, too.

“The public’s been great,” Castilaw said. “People are looking for something normal, which all of us are.”

Patrons will be required to have a library card for borrowing materials, and checkout is limited to five items at a time.

Due to occupancy restrictions, browsing time is limited to 15 minutes. Tables and chairs will not be available for use, and there will be ropes to prevent patrons from entering certain areas.

While the library is reopening to allow patrons to check out books, other services will not be available at this time. The library will be keeping their curbside pickup service for books.

“We’ll probably keep doing curbside pickup,” Castilaw said. “If someone checks a book out curbside, the library will call them and let them know when it’s ready.”

Popular book titles may not be available due to being in quarantine, since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says materials should sit and decontaminate for at least three days.

While the future of libraries opening completely is unknown, the staff at the Lincoln County Public Library is excited for patrons to return.

“The staff is comfortable and we’re going to keep pushing for opening as much as we can,” Castilaw said.

For more information, call the library at 601-833-3369.

 

Story by Gracie Byrne