Pekin Daily Times
With the availability of COVID-19 vaccines become more widespread, Peoria area residents considering a summer of activities may want to check with their local libraries.
After a year’s hiatus due to the pandemic, the regional agency Reaching Across Illinois Library System based in Chicago s suburbs has brought back its Explore More Illinois program.
“When we originally shut down (last March, we thought it was just going to be two weeks to comply with (Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s) stay-at-home order,” said RAILS special project librarian Jessica Barnes. “But we found that most of our attractions were remaining closed. They could only allow so many patrons in their buildings at one time, so it wasn’t feasible for them to be part of the program. Each time we evaluated whether we were going to restart, COVID numbers spiked, or our attractions remained closed.”
Preserving COVID-19 history a new mission for Peoria area libraries pekintimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from pekintimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Libraries in the Peoria area are beginning to reopen their doors and services to the public again with altered guidelines still in place to reinforce safety for patrons and employees alike.
The Peoria Public Library is reopening all five library locations on Monday. The libraries were open for a time as a grab and go service before reverting back to curbside service when the state moved to Tier 3 mitigations.
Randall Yelverton, Peoria Public Library executive director, said the library will require all visitors and staff to follow COVID guidelines. We are going to require patrons to have masks. We are asking them to maintain six feet of distance. Our meeting rooms are going to be closed, Yelverton said.