Listen to the Interview
Your next visit to the public library will look a little different. For the libraries that are reopening – like the Pine River Public Library and Ignacio Community Library, they’re allowing no more than 10 patrons inside at a time.
Mask wearing is strongly encouraged. The study rooms and community room are still closed, as are services like notary and Department of Motor Vehicle registration stations. And don’t expect to flop down in a comfy chair.
Still, the public is welcome at these two libraries. People can browse the stacks, check out a book or movie, or use a computer. Laptop workers can also reserve time at tables.
As some libraries reopen, they’re also taking precautions with materials. When you return a book or DVD and drop it in the return slot, it will be quarantined for three days.
But while some libraries are reopening, others are opting to stay closed. The Durango Public Library hasn’t set a date for letting the public inside, saying on its website that re-opening takes a lot of thought and effort to keep people safe. Libraries in Cortez and Mancos haven’t set opening dates, either.
I spoke with Shelley Walchak, director of the Pine River Library in Bayfield, and Marcia Vining, who oversees the Ignacio Community Library.
I’m reporting on the impact of the coronavirus in the Four Corners region for KSUT Public Radio. The stories and audio here were previously aired and published by KSUT. Stories are archived at Open Range News.
Explore Recent Stories
Officials Hope Remote-Controlled Avalanches on Lizard Head Pass Will Help Keep Vital Byway Open During Snow Slide Season
A new Swiss-designed avalanche control system on the pass southwest of Telluride aims to make it safer for crews to trigger slides. The remote-controlled system uses elevated towers to drop ordnance on snow-loaded slopes.
Navajo Water Project Brings Running Water to Off-Grid Households on Navajo Nation
Many people take hot and cold running water and a flush toilet for granted. But for some residents of the Navajo Nation, it’s a luxury they don’t get to enjoy at home. Now, several organizations are trying to bridge what’s known as the “water gap.”
COVID-19 in Colorado and the Four Corners: August and July, by the Numbers
A comparison of infection rates from the past two months shows steady increases in positive cases in Colorado, La Plata, and Montezuma Counties. See two charts based on data from health officials in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah as of August 31, 2020.