Catherine O'Sullivan, director of the Pequea Valley Public Library (PVPL), is excited about what is happening at the library on the top of the hill at 31 Center St., Intercourse. On June 8, library staff were allowed back into the building to begin to prepare to reopen. On June 22, the library began serving patrons by appointment at a pickup window in the lobby as a step toward possibly reopening in July.
"We closed in mid-March (in adherence to COVID-19 restrictions)," recalled O'Sullivan, who said PVPL had been waiting for directions from the Office of Commonwealth Libraries on how to proceed with reopening. "The Office of Commonwealth Libraries put the guidelines in place for us," explained O'Sullivan. "For the yellow phase, we are allowed to be open for staff only."
During the weeks of June 8 and 15, the staff was at the library beginning the tasks of shelving books. O'Sullivan explained that since the library closed, returned books have been piling up. "With 14 libraries in the county, people have been returning books, and they are going to keep returning books to all the libraries," said O'Sullivan, who noted that books borrowed from libraries as far away as Manheim have showed up in the PVPL book depository. "The books (that have been returned) are in quarantine in the Perella School House," said O'Sullivan. "They must be placed in quarantine in a separate place away from the library." The Perella School House is an addition to the west side of the library built to resemble the original Pequea Valley Public Library, which was located in a one-room schoolhouse on Old Philadelphia Pike in Intercourse.
Through Friday, July 3, patrons may access the library by calling 717-768-3160 on Mondays through Fridays between 9 a.m. and noon or 2 to 5 p.m. for an appointment. "Patrons should call and ask for a specific title and author, and we will get it and tell them what time to come pick it up at the window," said O'Sullivan, who noted that patrons are requested to wear a mask when picking up items at the window. She added that the library asks patrons to be sure to call so that the staff have the necessary time to find the requested materials and to help maintain social distancing standards in the library's small vestibule. She also noted that DVDs and other audio materials will not be available from the library during the yellow phase.
O'Sullivan said that the staff hopes that patrons will be able to come into the library again at some point in July. "When people are able to come into the library in July, they will see some improvements that benefit them," said O'Sullivan, who noted that the circulation area and the lobby have been painted and new shelving has been added. In addition, the success of a fundraiser held between January and March enabled the library to install handicapped-accessible doors. "(Thanks to) an anonymous donor, we held a matching funds drive," said O'Sullivan, who noted that the initial pledge was for $40,000. "We are extremely grateful," she said.
Looking ahead, O'Sullivan is excited to announce the date when patrons may return to the library. "We are looking forward to seeing everybody again," she said.
At this time, the Salisbury Township Branch Library, 835 Houston Run Drive, Suite 220, Gap, remains closed.
More information about PVPL may be found at http://www.pvpl.org.
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