• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
MENUMENU
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • FlaglerLive Board of Directors
    • Comment Policy
    • Mission Statement
    • Our Values
  • Live Calendar
  • Submit Obituary
  • Submit an Event
  • Support FlaglerLive
  • Advertise on FlaglerLive (386) 503-3808
  • Search Results

FlaglerLive

No Bull, no Fluff, No Smudges

MENUMENU
  • Flagler
    • Flagler County Commission
    • Beverly Beach
    • Economic Development Council
    • Flagler History
    • Mondex/Daytona North
    • The Hammock
    • Tourist Development Council
  • Palm Coast
    • Palm Coast City Council
    • Palm Coast Crime
  • Bunnell
    • Bunnell City Commission
    • Bunnell Crime
  • Flagler Beach
    • Flagler Beach City Commission
    • Flagler Beach Crime
  • Cops/Courts
    • Circuit & County Court
    • Florida Supreme Court
    • Federal Courts
    • Flagler 911
    • Fire House
    • Flagler County Sheriff
    • Flagler Jail Bookings
    • Traffic Accidents
  • Rights & Liberties
    • Fourth Amendment
    • First Amendment
    • Privacy
    • Second Amendment
    • Seventh Amendment
    • Sixth Amendment
    • Sunshine Law
    • Third Amendment
    • Religion & Beliefs
    • Human Rights
    • Immigration
    • Labor Rights
    • 14th Amendment
    • Civil Rights
  • Schools
    • Adult Education
    • Belle Terre Elementary
    • Buddy Taylor Middle
    • Bunnell Elementary
    • Charter Schools
    • Daytona State College
    • Flagler County School Board
    • Flagler Palm Coast High School
    • Higher Education
    • Imagine School
    • Indian Trails Middle
    • Matanzas High School
    • Old Kings Elementary
    • Rymfire Elementary
    • Stetson University
    • Wadsworth Elementary
    • University of Florida/Florida State
  • Economy
    • Jobs & Unemployment
    • Business & Economy
    • Development & Sprawl
    • Leisure & Tourism
    • Local Business
    • Local Media
    • Real Estate & Development
    • Taxes
  • Commentary
    • The Conversation
    • Pierre Tristam
    • Diane Roberts
    • Guest Columns
    • Byblos
    • Editor's Blog
  • Culture
    • African American Cultural Society
    • Arts in Palm Coast & Flagler
    • Books
    • City Repertory Theatre
    • Flagler Auditorium
    • Flagler Playhouse
    • Flagler Youth Orchestra
    • Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
    • Palm Coast Arts Foundation
    • Special Events
  • Elections 2022
    • Amendments and Referendums
    • Presidential Election
    • Campaign Finance
    • City Elections
    • Congressional
    • Constitutionals
    • Courts
    • Governor
    • Polls
    • Voting Rights
  • Florida
    • Federal Politics
    • Florida History
    • Florida Legislature
    • Florida Legislature
    • Ron DeSantis
  • Health & Society
    • Flagler County Health Department
    • Ask the Doctor Column
    • Health Care
    • Health Care Business
    • Covid-19
    • Children and Families
    • Medicaid and Medicare
    • Mental Health
    • Poverty
    • Violence
  • All Else
    • Daily Briefing
    • Americana
    • Obituaries
    • News Briefs
    • Weather and Climate
    • Wildlife

Flagler Beach Library Will Reopen Its Doors to In-Person Browsers After 322-Day Covidian Hiatus

March 26, 2021 | FlaglerLive | Leave a Comment

The Flagler Beach library, seen here in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in 2017, has had it rough for the past few years, but has remained open more than not, one way or another. It reopens its doors to in-person browsing Tuesday. (© FlaglerLive)
The Flagler Beach library, seen here in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in 2017, has had it rough for the past few years, but has remained open more than not, one way or another. It reopens its doors to in-person browsing Tuesday. (© FlaglerLive)

Melissa Parish, the Flagler Beach librarian, is clearly exasperated by the perception that her library has been closed for a year. The library’s doors have. The library’s services have not: except for a 51-day stretch between last March 23 and May 12, when much of the nation was on lockdown, the library has been operating five days a week with pick-up service.




Starting Tuesday, however, the library at 312 South 7th Street will reopen again to in-person browsing and computer use, at least for four hours a day, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Parish presented her partial reopening plan to the Flagler Beach City Commission Thursday evening. The plan applies a series of safety measures that recognize the enduring risks of the coronavirus pandemic while also acknowledging the receding crisis and browsers’ need to return to their stacks.

Commissioners were impressed and gave their go-ahead, with the understanding that Parish will return to the commission in 30 days to re-evaluate the opening–and possibly expand the hours. The resumption of in-person browsing doesn’t change the library’s otherwise regular schedule for curbside pic-up, which will remain in effect even for those who prefer not to come in, Tuesday through Friday from 10 to 5, and Saturdays from 10 to 2.

“It doesn’t seem like we’re out of the woods yet, so our approach is a cautiously optimistic one,” Parish told the commission. “Limiting hours would allow us to keep up with the increased demand for quarantine and sanitization with more books being checked out and returned. We would continue to be at the library during business hours to answer phones, distribute pick-up orders and make copies for our customers. We’ve done our best in strange times to give our neighbors some sense of normalcy.”

No more than 10 patrons will be allowed inside the library at any one time. Masks will be required of all library patrons at all times. Social distancing within the library will be enforced. Hand sanitizers will be available. Computer keyboards will be covered with plastic screens, recyclable after every use. Books that circulate will be quarantined for 72 hours and disinfected.




“This plan is spot-on,” Bob Snyder, who heads the Flagler County Health Department and attended Thursday’s commission meeting, said. “It takes into account indoor activity, the right public health measures, mask wearing, the social distancing, the limiting of people. I applaud you for doing the right thing.”

Parish’s report was a welcome counterpoint, for commissioners, who later agreed to cancel this year’s July 4 parade and fireworks and delay to August any further discussion of resuming large events in the city.

Before covid, the library was checking out some 1,400 volumes a month (it has 20,000 volumes in all). After reopening for curbside service last May, it has still been circulating between 490 and 515 volumes a month, though the perception that the library was closed cut into its broader services. The library also issued 286 new cards since last May. Fines for late returns have been reduced and allowances continue to be made for extenuating circumstances, Parish said.

The Flagler County Public Library in Palm Coast and its branch in Bunnell had closed their doors in mid-March last year in response to the pandemic but continued brisk curbside service until several staffers at the Palm Coast library developed covid-like symptoms at the end of March, suspending operations for a while. But the library reopened its doors to in-person browsing in early May, with safety measures.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
You and your neighbors collectively read our articles about 25,000 times each day (that's not a typo) with up to 65,000 daily reads during emergencies like hurricanes. Flagler County residents rely on FlaglerLive for essential, bold and analytical journalism that cannot be found anywhere else. But we depend on your support. Please join our December fund drive! If you donate the cost of a scoop of ice cream, you will be helping us continue to provide comprehensive local news and honest, serious journalism for our community. If you can donate more or become a monthly donor, even better. Donations are tax deductible since FlaglerLive is a 501(c)(3) non-profit news organization. Donate by clicking anywhere in this box. Think of it as buying a scoop, in every sense of the term!  
All donors' identities are kept confidential and anonymous.
   

Reader Interactions

  • politis matovina attorneys for justice personal injury law auto truck accidents
  • grand living realty

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Advertisers

  • grand living realty
  • politis matovina attorneys for justice personal injury law auto truck accidents

Recent Comments

  • Pierre Tristam on Drag Queen Story Hour Is Not What You Think
  • Brian on Drunk Driver Allegedly Goes Nuts on Deputy After Crashing Into Hydrant
  • Pierre Tristam on Drag Queen Story Hour Is Not What You Think
  • JustBeNice on Take Pride
  • Wow on Flagler Beach Man Charged with Home Invasion Armed Robbery Against Ex
  • Jonathan on Flagler Beach Man Charged with Home Invasion Armed Robbery Against Ex
  • James on After Deadlock on Rape Charges, New Trial for Monserrate Teron Set for July 24
  • Citizen Woke on Its Streets Degrading, Palm Coast Looks for Electric Vehicles to Pay Their Fair Share of Road Taxes
  • Be serious on At FPC, Misplaced ‘Man Cave’ Culture and Improprieties Cause Demise of Girls’ Basketball Coach
  • The dude on To Survive Poverty, Prayer Helped. But So Did Government.
  • David Schaefer on Drunk Driver Allegedly Goes Nuts on Deputy After Crashing Into Hydrant
  • Ray on Take Pride
  • Jeff Miller on Take Pride
  • Samuel Miller on Take Pride
  • The dude on Take Pride
  • Charlie Blizard on Gas Prices Sink as Oil Prices Near Late 2021 Levels

Log in