Despite the recent public health emergency proclamation extension by Governor Kim Reynolds allowing libraries to continue to open their doors and operate at 50-percent capacity, the Jefferson Public Library will keep their doors closed.

Library Director Jane Millard says the library buildings will remain closed to the public through June 8th. At that time the Library Board of Trustees will re-evaluate the situation. However, the library continues to offer services to patrons. Millard says throughout the month of April, 1,823 items were checked out and either delivered to homes or picked up at curbside. Additionally, 791 people used the library website, the library’s free Wi-Fi was used 847 times, 121 children accessed interactive books through Tumblebooks which brought the total usage of the library to 4,381 last month.

Millard notes this shows that libraries continue to play a role in people’s lives, even when they can’t physically go into the buildings due to COVID-19. At this time, Millard says they will continue to provide curbside pickup or home delivery of items and you need a library card in order to check out items.