Grafton Public Library suspends programming due to Covid jump

The Grafton Public Library announced Thursday that it will suspend all in-library programs and meeting room use beginning January 3, 2022, due to the recent upswing in COVID-19 cases.

Library Director Beth Gallaway said local librarians consulted with each other about protecting their youngest clientele, who are not eligible for vaccination and attend the bulk of library programming once school resumes next week.

“As COVID-19 case numbers continue to climb in Grafton, we have come to the difficult decision to suspend in-person programs and meeting room use until the Delta/Omicron surge abates,” Gallaway said in a press release. “We are able to pivot and offer many programs in virtual or take-home DIY format. Please check our Library Calendar of Events at graftonlibrary.org/events for details after the first of the year. We will bring back our ukulele class partnership, Mr. Kim, storytime and crafts, gaming, Scout meetings, movie nights and more when it is safe to do so.”

Virtual and take-home programs will be available. All other library services — in-person browsing and materials checkout, reference and research help, computer use, printing, scanning, shredding, faxing, proctoring and notary — remain available.

As of Tuesday, Grafton has seen an increase of 128 cases since December17 and at-home Covid testing kits are hard to find locally as the Omicron variant’s rapid spread coincided with Christmas and the December school break.

During shutdown, the library still managed to have 300 programs, serving 3,500 through virtual program, take-home kits, and YouTube, at times sharing programs with other libraries, Gallaway said in a phone interview.

Curbside pickup of library books is also offered.

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