Poplar Bluff Municipal Library closing until April 6

DAR file photo

The Poplar Bluff Municipal Library will close Thursday, March 19, at 5 p.m. The library will remain closed through at least Monday, April 6.

This has been a difficult decision for the library Board of Trustees and administration.

The Board of Trustees, in light of the recommendations of the White House and Missouri governor’s office with the best advice from federal, state, and local public health officials, find this decision is in the best interests of our patrons and staff. We value the well-being of our patrons and staff above all else.

All the information we have received from the public health community suggests that this well-being is best served by a period of social distancing. The only way we can ensure that in our library is by closing our facilities. Depending on the national and state response for protecting the public, the closed period could be extended.

All due dates have been extended through April 13. Overdues will be waived through that date. We also are closing the parking lot book drop. Please keep your materials until the Library reopens.

When the physical library is closed, we would encourage everyone to access the virtual library. Go to www.poplarbluff.org and use the web page links to access the many electronic materials available including books, audios, and videos plus digital story times by our staff and Tumblebooks. Poplar Bluff Municipal Library has a large digital collection that includes thousands of items using Hoopla, Overdrive, Tumblebooks, and job search access.

If patrons do not already have a library card, residents of Butler, Carter, Dunklin, Ripley, Stoddard and Wayne counties can get an e-card for access to these digital resources. Go to poplarbluff.org/ecards.

Library wi-fi is available in the parking lot Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.

We know there is no substitute for a visit to your library. We are committed to getting our library reopened as soon as it is safe. In the meantime, we will be working to find ways to increase what we can offer electronically during the closure and we will communicate with you through our web page, Facebook, and Instagram as anything changes.

Thank you for your support of Poplar Bluff Municipal Library. We hope to see you soon.