The past year has been interesting here in library land. After an extended closure due to the pandemic, the doors at the Seaside Public Library reopened for browsing last Friday, with a limited number of computers available for public use for a maximum of one hour. Masks are required at all times while in the library.

Over the past 11 months, libraries in Oregon were forced to adopt outside curbside book delivery services due to the coronavirus pandemic and lack of space for social distancing in their buildings. We in Seaside were fortunate to have a large enough building to handle most of our social distancing needs during the pandemic, open 40 of 52 weeks in 2020.

The first time we had to shut our doors, back at the end of March in 2020, the library staff spent the time inventorying the entire library of 48,000 items, cleaning the carpets, cleaning the library, cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning.

We shifted shelves and organized them. We digitized our library card registration forms and set up new services that included helping patrons on their computers with remote access while staff remain at the front desk. We set up a station in the library for library card registration so we no longer use a paper form.

Our goal is to help patrons and staff reduce physical contact to keep everyone safe and healthy. Even when our doors are closed people can still check out and return books. We have two outside drop boxes for returns that are always available, 24/7. We have added to our eBook content, which you can access through the library’s website and the Libby app.

Our youth librarians had already planned and set up for summer reading for the year (they start planning in January!) and they had to turn around and change their entire summer reading program, which they did in a matter of weeks. They created take-home packets for children in our community and made sure access was easy. They even got the packets out to kids on the school bus routes so no children were left out of getting a book, summer reading log or craft packet to help them through this past summer of pandemic lockdown.

The library gave out over 500 summer reading craft packets this summer. We had virtual programs including preschool story time and teen events throughout 2020. We posted videos of craft examples as well as posts and videos about new books, events, book reviews, contests and more. Our youth librarians worked with the elementary and middle school teachers this fall to create classroom visits through Zoom, connecting kids to books and reading. Students could request books through an online Google document form.

Library staff worked with the teachers to get more books out to them from the library and helped get more students signed up for library cards. All youth up to age 19 in Clatsop County qualify for a free library card at their closest geographical library through the Libraries Reading Outreach program. Our children’s librarian puts together book bundles for teachers, parents and students either by phone or email requests. Staff stayed connected with school librarians throughout the year to try and support and collaborate on work.

Current services include an assortment of virtual events for a wide range of ages. This month we are offering our monthly trivia event (online only), teen events through Zoom every Tuesday and preschool story times every Thursday morning on Zoom. For more information on current events, please check out our Facebook page or website.

Our eBooks and audiobooks are always available digitally through the Libby app or through our library website.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Sunday hours are 1 to 4 p.m. Visit the library at 1131 Broadway; online at seasidelibrary.org or call 503-738-6742.