To the editor:

Like so many of our local businesses, schools and nonprofits, the Portage Lake District Library (PLDL) and the Hancock School Public Library have faced many challenges since March of 2020. After an initial 3-month mandated building closure in 2020, our phased reopening lasted nearly a year, and included short-term closures due to changes in pandemic related policies at the state level. On June 24, 2021, our libraries announced an immediate full-reopening, and lifted mask requirements to align with the rescinding of MDHHS and MiOSHA emergency rules. As we look forward to an exciting summer of learning and engagement at the library, I want to take a moment to thank the library staff at PLDL and the Hancock Library for their commitment to serivice during such difficult times.

When I think about the library staff’s response to a global pandemic that upended our ability to serve our community in traditional ways, one word comes to mind: resiliency. In the first week of the statewide shutdown, our storytime team shifted to virtual events without missing a beat. Staff at every level of the organization offered to help call vulnerable or at-risk library users, just to check in and offer friendly conversation during a lonely time. Library staff kicked-off collaborative programs that provided new, recurring virtual events for all ages – from cooking demonstrations to K-5 art lessons, and an online speaker series that attracted 850 participants. Local students retained access to library materials when librarians sent home books at the school’s weekly food distribution site.

These examples highlight the compassion library staff share for their community, and their resiliency to provide for patrons even under difficult and changing circumstances. If you’ve spent time working or volunteering in a public-facing role over the last year, you probably have a deep understanding of how difficult it ca be to provide services while also juggling ever-changing mandates, and trying your best to ensure the safety of patrons and customers. I could not be more proud of our library staff and their willingness to rise to the occasion and take on new challenges, their ability to address evolving community needs, and their can-do attitude in the face of uncertainty. Thank you for all you’ve done to innovate and help our community over the last 15 months.