Community Shows Continued Support For Library

In addition to selecting their preferred candidate for a variety of political offices such as President, Senate and House District, voters also had the opportunity to provide additional funding to the Glasgow City-County Library during the Primary Election on June 2. Voters were asked to renew the 2 mill per year levy, which equates to approximately $63,000 per year, that was passed five years ago, for an additional five years, which will last through fiscal year 2024-2025. Enough voters saw the importance of the continued funding for the library, as the levy passed with 1,462 votes for and 1,304 votes against.

“I am really grateful the levy passed with the uncertain times we are going through right now. I am very appreciative of our patrons, our community, the library board, the Friends of the Library and members of the community for supporting the library,” explained Glasgow City-County Library director Megan Haddix.

Over the years, levy funds have been utilized to purchase new carpet, furniture and shelving, replace windows and lighting, install a video surveillance system for staff and patron safety and provide a new front entry and side concrete, in addition to other building and services improvements.

According to Haddix, continued funds will be utilized to maintain and expand the various services the library offers including purchasing of new books for the library’s collection, providing e-book and e-audiobook availability through Montana2Go, in addition to continuing with programs such as the Summer Reading Program. The funds will also be utilized to continue to improve the building, with future plans to update the lighting in the basement, which is currently being utilized as a meeting space and a temporary reading area, potentially placing a bathroom in the basement and with grand plans including the expansion of the library.

“We have outgrown our current space. If we come up with ideas for expansion, now we have the funding to start somewhere, thanks to the support of the community,” stressed Haddix. “We have made a lot of improvements and will continue to do so.”

As the community is slowly starting the process of returning to a new normal as a result of COVID-19, the library is modifying how items are being returned and the annual Summer Reading Program is also being adjusted to ensure social distancing and the safety of everyone participating.

As of June 1 the library is open back to normal operating hours, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. The library staff ask that you sanitize your hands at the sanitizing station before walking in and return any items either utilizing the drop box before entering or place on the designated cart upon entering. For the safety of other patrons, all items being returned are being quarantined for 72 hours before being cleaned, checked back in and re-shelved by the library staff.

If patrons don’t feel comfortable walking into the library to pick out their materials, the library staff is happy to fulfill the items utilizing curbside services. They ask to make prior arrangements by either calling, e-mailing or placing an online hold utilizing the library’s website.

As the Glasgow City-County Library is slowly reopening and offering services again to the community, other libraries in the state are also slowing reopening at their own individual paces. As a result, interlibrary loans haven’t started back up again, but according to Haddix the hope is to be able to offer this service again soon as other libraries start opening back up to more of a normal day-to-day status.

The Glasgow City-County Library is also offering their yearly Summer Reading Program, though due to social distancing guidelines the program will look different this year. Instead of having weekly events held at the library, the staff at the library will be providing grab-and-go or come-and-go kits, providing the ability for children to complete projects at home, while teens and adults will have the option to complete a Bingo card for their reading habits during the summer months.

Registration for the program can be completed online through the library’s website, or by stopping at the library on Monday, June 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For those who have already registered, the first packet for the program will available for pickup on June 15 as well. Jump-N-Buck ice cream will be available for purchase and all registered participants will be entered into a drawing for a Jump-N-Buck ice cream punch card.

"We are doing everyhting we can to keep our patrons, community and staff safe. Thank you for all of your support," expressed Haddix.

The Glasgow City-County Library is located at 408 3rd Ave. S. and they can be contacted at 228-2731 or via their website, http://www.glasgowlibrary.org.