Public libraries are communal hubs, so when COVID abruptly suspended many of the services provided by Acadiana’s multiple branches, administrators had to rethink their approach. Card-carrying patrons could no longer spend afternoons perusing books on shelves, nor spend a Saturday learning something new in a workshop, nor meet a friend for an exercise class. Like the rest of us, libraries had to adapt to continue to find ways to serve the families of Acadiana. Here are two of their stories:
Prior to the pandemic, the Lafayette Public Library Systems operated a whopping 3,500 programs and events per year out of its nine locations.
Makerspace and Tech Labs held classes for hands-on learning. Genealogy personnel showed patrons how to find their ancestors….
