The Monroe County Public Library reopened today with limited in-person services. WFHB News Director Kade Young sat down with Grier Carson, Associate Director of the library, for a socially distant interview.

A hand sanitizer station greets people at the door. Staff and patrons wear masks while keeping their distance. Patrons use computers and browse the bookshelves.

Grier Carson, associate director of the Monroe County Public Library, talks about what limited reopening looks like. He discusses what limited in-person services entail, Covid-19 safety guidelines and how the library aims to protect at-risk patrons.

“What we’re doing now is reopening the doors so people have access to the physical collections,” he said.

Carson touched on library services patrons can still use in this limited reopening stage.

“Certainly all of the collections — so that would be books, DVDs, CDs, video games, audiobooks and all of the other kind of nuanced collections that we have.”

He talked about how the library aims to protect at-risk patrons — mainly by reserving the first hour of each day for at-risk people only.

“11 a.m. to 12 p.m. every day, except Sunday,” he said, “is reserved for high-risk people.”

Carson said the library will continue its outreach services — van deliveries and Bookmobile stops. Bookmobile, essentially a library service on wheels, offers collections of high-demand materials for people of all ages.

As for safety protocols, the library mandates masks to be worn at all times and requires social distancing. When asked about how the library would enforce those mandates, Carson said it will try to be empathetic but also firm.

“We’re going to do it gently but firmly,” he said. “If and when we do run into a sticky situation, we do have security on site.”

Items are quarantined for four days once they are returned. However, Carson asks patrons to do their part in order for library materials to stay sanitized.

“We’re saying to the public,” he said, “take personal responsibility for this equation.”

Carson mentioned how drive-up pickup has replaced curbside pickup. In the beginning of the pandemic, the library began to implement curbside pickup — which allowed people to check out books online.

However, they still had to go inside the library to pick up their books. Starting today, that will no longer be the case.

“If you want minimal contact with the library, particularly with staff – that’s your way to do it,” he said.

Back in March, the Monroe County Public Library began to waive late fees. Carson said late fees were extraneous and not an effective deterrent for late checkouts.

“The fine free initiative was actually independent of the pandemic,” he said. “It preceded the pandemic and it turned out to be a really good thing.”

Finally, Carson explained why the library is an important community resource in general but especially during a pandemic.

“It’s a democratizing institution,” said Carson, “and that’s incredibly important during a pandemic.”