After being closed for more than two months because of the pandemic, the Moline Library has mostly re-opened.
Library Director Bryon Lear says he decided it was safe to let people come in and browse through the stacks again after the state of Illinois relaxed its mitigation restrictions, and case numbers in Rock Island County dropped back to levels seen in the fall. Even though the building closed on November 20th, Lear says he and his traff were busy - helping people on the phone and by email, and scheduling computer appointments.
"One of the biggest services that we had implemented during that time was curbside delivery. And curbside delivery was very popular with our patrons. We were delivering in the neighborhood of 80 to 100 items a day to our patrons."
People can now come into the library, but he's encouraging brief visits, computers are available by appointment, and the coffee shop is open.
Knowing that many people have spent time during the pandemic cleaning their homes, he says the Friends of the library organization will resume accepting donations sometime soon.
