This is National Library Week, but thanks to the current pandemic, libraries and their patrons in the Aurora area are celebrating in a whole new way.
Aurora Public Library Executive Director Michaela Haberkern thinks she knows what Ben Franklin, founder of the first public library in America in 1731, might suggest today in light of the pandemic.
“Actually, I think Ben would probably say ‘keep inventing,’ which is what he was all about and that has kept us going nearly 300 years,” said Haberkern. “We’ve had to make adjustments which have been the story of our lives the past six weeks, but we’ve also come up with new ways to connect with our patrons.”
The Aurora Public Library staff became proactive, Haberkern said, as news of the coronavirus outbreak began to deepen in late February.
“People’s behavior began to change even back then in the way they would interact with staff and we started getting a lot of returns as people were worried about holding on to materials that long,” she said. “People were getting antsy and anxious as they saw what was going on in Washington state even though it wasn’t being called a pandemic yet, and there were meeting room cancellations and other things going on.”
Currently, 56,000 items – or about 10% of the library’s materials – remain checked out and will not be due back until May 31.
“We may extend that deadline,” Haberkern said. “We’ve also extended people’s library cards and allocated more of our budget for downloadable materials rather than print material.”
Those digital materials, Haberkern said, are far more expensive than their print counterparts. An e-book, she said, could cost an individual $19.99 while “the library will have to pay $125.”
“These materials are more expensive, but it’s the only way to meet the demand which has skyrocketed,” she said. “We’ve seen a 185% increase in new users of our digital collections since we’ve been closed – from about 270 new users in February to 770 in April. We’ve also seen a 49% increase in checkouts of digital materials.”
At the Messenger Public Library of North Aurora, library administrator Kevin Davis said a number of employees “are working virtually from home” helping provide service platforms that include video streaming and other online resources for residents.
“A lot of the staff is getting caught up on end-of-the-year orders as our fiscal year ends in May and we’re already allocating a lot more to electronic rather than print resources,” Davis said, noting that his digital budget that made up 25% of the expenditures has now doubled in light of the pandemic. “This is the new normal for us.”
Davis recalled a conversation he had last year with officials at the Carthage Public Library in Carthage, Illinois, which was celebrating its 125th year. The director, Davis said, went through old meeting minutes and found that the library there was closed from October of 1918 until February of 1919 because of the influenza epidemic as well as for a short time in 1910 due to a diphtheria outbreak.
“Those events were over 100 years ago and they offer some perspective,” Davis said. “Four months is a long time to close a public building.”
Haberkern said her staff has gotten creative and produced homemade videos like “Family Rhyme Time” utilizing the strategy that “parents are our first teachers” and said that virtual events and online programming are likely to be more prominent once libraries reopen.
“With online sources, people can make their own schedule and don’t have to be somewhere on a Friday at 7 p.m. but can do things when they want,” she said. “I really feel there will be an audience for that.”
Batavia Library Director George H. Scheetz said the day before his facility closed on March 15 was one of the busiest ever, and that plans were already in place to celebrate National Library Week despite patrons sheltering at home.
“We planned for Library Week and have a number of activities including Batavia Resource Bingo people can play that’s live on our Facebook page and also a Celebrity Read Poster where people can send in a picture of themselves with a book,” he said.
Library staff, Scheetz said, continue to work “keeping people engaged through various platforms and virtual programming.”
The Sandwich Public Library is offering some new things during the pandemic. According to a press release, the library will provide accessible wifi from the parking lot of its building for the time it remains closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Wifi will be available from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
The library will also issue temporary library cards to those in need during the pandemic. For information, email contact@sandwichpld.org.
Sandwich Public Library officials said community members can go to www.sandwichpld.org to access virtual services and resources.
Davis and others bemoan the strange nature of this year’s National Library Week, saying that “it’s a disappointment not to see our patrons” and that “it’s our mission to serve people.”
“I’ve worked in libraries for 30 years and have been here since 2006, and we’re disappointed we can’t offer drawings for people or register them for library cards,” he said. “This is the first time the library has closed and we’re not celebrating the week as usual.”
Haberkern said Aurora library patrons are keeping connected with Facebook messenger found on the library’s Facebook page and can call and get help directly at 630-264-4117.
Those who use the Messenger Public Library can access its Facebook page or use the digital library link at www.messengerpl.org/online-resources/exploring-your-digital-library. An online chat feature on the home page is expected to be added next month.
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
