Neither natural disasters nor pandemics are stopping the Columbia-Marion County Public Library from serving the community. However, they changed how things are done.
After a four-month period of the library being closed due to the Dec. 16, 2019 tornado causing substantial damage to the facility, the library temporarily moved to Main Street in the former Jan-Marie’s Upscale Flea Market building. Then the pandemic set in and Gov. Tate Reeves shut down the state. Following a couple of months, the library started to operate.
The Summer Reading Program was held virtually on the library’s Facebook page. Packets were prepared for parents to pick up ahead of time for the children so they could be ready.
While the library is still not opened for browsing, Branch Manager Mona Swayze said one can go online and browse the catalog. The website is smrl.lib.ms.us. A person can reserve a book or a DVD with their library card, and it will be available for curbside pickup. Swayze said the library is issuing library cards using curbside service.
Some of the services people have come to use and love at the library are available again such as computers and printing documents. Currently Swayze said three people are allowed in to use the computers at a time to allow to plenty of time and opportunity to make sure everything is properly cleaned for the next person.
In the meantime, work is progressing on the actual library building on Broad Street. When the tornado struck in December, the roof was blown off and the inside was flooded causing severe damage to the building. Swayze said they have finished painting the inside and were working on replacing the ceiling tiles. Next week, she said, the floors will be replaced. She and South Mississippi Regional Library Director Ryda Worthy will start looking at new furniture for the facility as well.
“I am really excited,” Swayze said over the progress that is being made.
While progress is being made, Swayze said the actual moving back into the building will be very laborious. Shelves will need to be cleaned and rebuilt, each book will be cleaned and each book will have to be checked in before being able to be placed on the shelves.
Swayze also said it has been a learning process, not only for Worthy and her, but for other libraries in the state as well. She said both Worthy and her get phone calls regularly from other libraries on how to handle disasters such as what happened here. Other libraries are using what is being learned in Columbia to help write policies for themselves in the event something happens, so they will know what needs to be done.
Swayze said the hardest part with most of this has been people being upset because they cannot browse yet. She said the library is being very cautious to keep people from getting the virus. With people being unable to browse and utilize the inside of the building, the library has good days and bad days. In July they had a total of 211 patrons. Swayze said there would definitely be more if they could allow more people in.
She said the book drop off at the Broad Street location is still good. It is checked on a regular basis.
