BELOIT — Due to the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, many businesses and public places were shut down, including the Beloit Public Library.
Although the doors were closed to the public for about 11 weeks, staff continued working. And the major construction project within the library—projected to come in around $550,000—pushed forward, coming to fruition.
Staff members kept busy with training and development while brainstorming ways to serve the public during the pandemic, said Amy Mitchell, Marketing and Communications Coordinator.
Library staff members were up for the challenge, she said.
“We started ordering masks and sanitizers; some didn’t come in until May. We also have the plexiglass barriers at the counter,” Mitchell said. “We were ahead of the game in terms of preparation.”
One of the first services offered was curbside pickup of books.