Library reopens and offers more computer services

Programming expected to remain virtual until early fall

Euclid Public Library has reopened its doors for normal operations and services such as material browsing after operating with only limited lobby services since November.

Library Director Kacie Armstrong noted the facility was forced to limit in-building services in November due to Cuyahoga County officials issuing a stay-at-home order in the wake of spiking coronavirus cases across the county. The advisory was extended several times and eventually expired on Jan. 31.

Armstrong said that despite the limited services through the remainder of 2020 and early 2021, they were still able to institute some computer services for patrons on a first-come, first-serve basis near the lobby.

Patrons will now be able to access the rest of the library for browsing through books and other materials, along with one-hour computer sessions, faxing, copying and reference services.

“Since March 2020, the library has carefully followed the Centers for Disease Control and the State of Ohio health and safety recommendations,” Armstrong said. “We installed personal protection equipment at all our service points and increased our sanitation procedures.

“We were determined to keep both the staff and public safe, and thankfully, garnered the support of the Euclid community for our efforts,” she added. “We understand our patrons rely on the library and our services and felt confident that we could continue to provide inperson services safely, as the cases in Ohio inched closer to Governor DeWine’s 50 per 100K cases per capita threshold.”

Armstrong said the library has been consistently offering a large catalog of online classes and activities for all ages over the past year and that the majority of their programming will continue to be virtual for the near future.

“At this time, the library will continue to host virtual programming online via Zoom, Facebook and Instagram until further notice,” she said, “We hope to announce limited in-person programming this summer in our garden space but do not anticipate indoor faceto-face programming until fall at the earliest.”