By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org
The planned reopening of Kent District Library to the public on July 6 will be delayed. A new date for reopening has not been determined but will depend on a sustained improvement in the coronavirus situation. Curbside pickups, availability of exterior drop boxes for returns, livestreamed programs and expansion of digital resources is unaffected by the delay in opening the library for public access.
Due to the increased incidence and risk of coronavirus, KDL has made the difficult decision to keep the library closed to the public. The Leadership Team of KDL places the safety of patrons and staff as the highest priority.
“Although Kent County is in a better situation than many other areas, we are committed to helping to create a sustained improvement. Right now, the trend needs to be turned around,” explains Lance Werner, Executive Director of KDL.
Changes that have been made in library service since mid-March have been well received. The library immediately shifted programming to be livestreamed and online. Due dates for all items were extended and exterior book drops opened for returns on June 8. The introduction of curbside service on June 15 has enabled people to checkout materials from the convenience of their car. Additionally, the library added 700 new Wi-Fi hotspots, which will be mailed to homes needing internet access.
These changes, in conjunction with increasing checkout limits on digital resources, allow people to have continued use of most of the library services that they depend upon and expect.
The status of library services is continuously updated on the kdl.org website.
