Libraries in ‘yellow phase’ still waiting on how to reopen

Many regional libraries in the “yellow phase” of reopening in Pennsylvania are waiting for more guidance from the state on what a realistic reopening may look like.

In Lawrence County, Kari McKenna, director of the F.D. Campbell Memorial Library, said she — among those at other libraries — received an email last week from Glen Miller, the state commissioner of libraries, discussing the Department of Education’s statewide framework for reopening libraries.

However, the framework is still under review by the Education Department and needs to be approved by the Department of Health. Mr. Miller states in the email that they are unsure when the reviews will be complete.

If approved, the framework will be based on Gov. Tom Wolf’s three-phase reopening plan: red, yellow and green. It will provide libraries a list of guidelines they must follow as well as any issues they should address before reopening.

Staff from libraries in Clearfield and Clarion counties — both in the yellow phase — said they are waiting until the framework is approved before setting any tentative plans for reopening to the public.

So far the guidance the state has provided libraries has been “fairly loose,” Ms. McKenna said, which allows her to tweak the guidelines to fit her library’s needs.

Ms. McKenna, who has been director for five years, said restocking the supplies may be an issue if local stores run low on stock. There is no information on funding for the supplies, but Ms.

McKenna said grants may become available for them.

“Personally, the safety of my staff and patrons comes first,” Ms. McKenna said. “That has to be the first priority for all of us.”

Libraries in counties in the red zone this weekend, such as Butler and Westmoreland counties, also are coming up with their own plans to reopen.

While plans are tentative, Lori Hinderliter, executive director of Butler Area Public Library, said her library’s reopening will occur in stages, starting with her staff returning to the building. The staff is also considering grab-and-go or curbside pickup for book borrowing. Ms. Hinderliter said she wants to expand her wireless printing services for her patrons to print documents because many of them normally use the computers for job searches.

For many libraries under the stay-at-home order, continuing to engage with the community has been a major priority.

Websites such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube have been a great source of staying connected with their community, Ms. Hinderliter said.

“We want everyone to know that we are still here for them, to help them in any way we can given the limitations we have, but also when this is over, them knowing that we will still be there for them as well,” Ms. Hinderliter said.

While libraries had received their state and local funds for the year before the pandemic began, some are concerned their allotment may change next year.

Funding for public libraries in Westmoreland County is different from funding for those in Allegheny County, according to Cesare Muccari, Westmoreland County Federated Library System executive director. Westmoreland County does not have a Regional Asset District tax, he said. In Allegheny County, money from a 1% sales tax goes to organizations, including libraries. Of the 25 buildings Mr. Muccari supervises, 19 libraries had received state aid at the beginning of the year.

“Having said that, a lot of the libraries can’t just count on state funding; they also rely on local funding, which ... varies per library,” Mr. Muccari said. For example, he said, the Murrysville library receives funding from the municipality and Norwin library gets money from Norwin School District real estate taxes, Mr. Muccari said.

Most of the libraries under his supervision have also received aid from the Paycheck Protection Program. The loans would provide a guaranteed eight weeks of payroll and other costs to help businesses, including libraries, stay afloat, Mr. Muccari said.

At Cranberry Public Library in Butler County, state and municipal funding also has been received for the year, according to director Leslie Pallotta. Luckily, she said, her library was able to receive funding from the PPP.

“The state is already in its budgeting process for next year as [is] the township,” Ms. Pallotta said. “I suspect that as they see the impacts upon their budgets, it’ll have a trickle-down effect.”