Missing the buzz — but the Library is open
It's Saturday morning, the sun is shining in the windows of the Community Library, writes Brian Byrne. Normally Julie O'Donoghue would have a steady stream of readers — adults and children — coming through the door and browsing the bookshelves. But for the moment, access is by appointment. "Though we do try and accommodate someone who might not have made one. And we are quite busy, just in a different way."
It is different. The safety plexiglass screen at the desk, no chair for someone who might normally be browsing the internet. Black and yellow tape on the floor and sanitising stands around. At least Julie is not on her own — Pauline Fagan from Ballitore Library works with her during Kilcullen's opening times, and Julie reciprocates during the Ballitore days. "I'm the boss when we're here, and Pauline is the boss when we're in Ballitore," Julie jokes.
From behind the screen, Pauline smiled. "You know, ever since I was six years old I wanted to have something to do with Kilcullen Library. And here I am."
At the moment there's stocktaking going on, and there are lots of new books to sort. "We have opened the full service again, where people can order titles from other libraries … we came in the other day to find four big boxes of books in. People are doing a lot of ordering online."
All returned books are 'quarantined' for 48 hours before being made available agin. And there's lots of cleaning of surfaces and checking that the sanitising stations are full. "We're taking peoples' safety very seriously."
At the moment, it's mostly an adults business, which is a change, though not a welcome one. "I really miss the children," Julie says. "But people are not inclined to bring them in at the moment."
She also missed the usual Library events for Heritage Week recently passed. "I felt sad about that, and I'm not sure what we can do for Culture Night … it's a virtual thing this year."
Like so much else. But there's next year, and that's the thing about the Library, it will still be there when we can get back to doing what we used to. Reckon we'll appreciate it all the more.
"If nothing else, I think the whole thing has brought people closer together. Talking to our members who come in, I've been hearing all sorts of stories about that. And also some very sad ones. But people are really rallying around."
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