Crockett library eagerly reopens with book sale

Health care and other fair workers prepare to treat participants at the 11th Annual Community Health Fair sponsored by the Crockett-Palestine Resource Centers for Independent Living on the Crockett Civic Center parking lot Friday morning, Sept. 25. This year’s fair was held in a unique way, as fair participants wore facemasks and remained in their vehicles—because of the COVID-19 pandemic—as they drove through the parking lot and were administered flu shots and several free health screenings and were given food samples and door prizes. (PHOTO BY LIZA CLARK)

BY TONI BROWNING

Managing Editor
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The J. H. Wootters Crockett Public Library has announced it will open its doors to public walk-in service today, Oct. 1. March brought about COVID-19 concerns along with employee and visitor safety issues.  In response, the library stopped public access to its environs but compensated by offering door-to-vehicle book delivery.

Assistant Library Director Robin Smetana announced, “Everyone at the library is ready to welcome the public back inside its doors. We miss seeing people in our building. 

“Not only are we inviting the public back in, we are having a huge book sale! We have so many books for sale.”

The book sale is located in a sectioned off room and there are some books for the kids in the children’s reading area. Bring a bag or a box to fill up. This is a great opportunity to purchase low cost books, books that will keep you entertained during the winter months to come.

Library Director James Sutton and Smetana decided early on to continue serving the public by offering low contact book delivery and free internet access in the library’s parking lot.

Patrons were able to access the library’s impressive catalog of books and DVD’s online. After making a decision on a book or two, library card holders could order, online or by phone, the books they wanted to check out. Library personnel delivered the books to the card holders’ vehicle in the parking lot. 

Smetana, who is also the children’s librarian, continues to order new books for interested readers. The children’s reading area has been smartened up, fully stocked and is ready to receive friendly readers once again. Children in-person activities remain unavailable.

Smetana told the Courier that all sanitizing safety precautions are being made. She said, “We are asking everyone to wear a mask, utilize the huge container of hand sanitizer as you enter and exit and keep in mind social distancing as you browse around.

“We have ordered new furniture to house our public computers. We are using what we have to social distance the computers but do not have enough desks, as of yet, to display all of our available computers.”

Adults can use the public computers for a time limit of one hour per day. The computers will be sanitized by a library employee between users. 

Anyone entering the library is asked to keep their visit to one hour and to return books to the outside drop box so the librarians can continue to quarantine them before reshelving.

The library is located at 709 E Houston and is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Wednesday 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. The library is closed on Sunday and Friday. For more information call 936-544-3089.