If you’re like us, you are still anxiously waiting to see what the New Year holds (even three months in). We know that 2020 was challenging year – likely the most challenging one any of us has lived through – and we hope the arrival of a vaccine can help alleviate our COVID-19 fears in 2021. At the library, we’ve missed hosting programs for adults and children. We’ve missed the social interaction with large groups. We’ve missed shaking hands, or giving hugs, or enjoying a pleasant conversation. And, due to masks, we’ve missed seeing faces and smiles!

Right now, we’re operating normal hours Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (no Saturdays currently). Patrons are free to come in, browse the library collection, and check out materials. We do ask when you return those materials, you drop them in the Book Return outside. We quarantine items for three days prior to returning those to the collection. We also are still offering Curbside Service to anyone who wishes to take advantage. You can view our catalog ahead of time, call and tell us what materials you’d like, and we’ll meet you at your car when you arrive.

We are currently restricting computer use time to 45 minutes as we have limited computer availability (eight public access computers with sneeze guards between them vs. our normal sixteen because of social distancing). We also have no public bathroom access. We do this because our employees need access to individual bathrooms, and because we wish to discourage patrons from staying in the library for long hours at a time. Please trust that we would love to be able to host large groups and have people enjoy the resources of the library throughout the day, but at this time we wish to err on the side of caution.

We also ask that you wear a mask when inside the facility. If you do not have one, we will be happy to provide you with one at the Circulation Desk.

We are also currently waiving all fines and all replacement fees on library cards.

We do ask for your patience during this national health emergency and look forward to the day when we can get back to full – and normal – operations.

Just like last year, we had an outstanding response to our “Butler County & Black History” posts in the month of February. We love sharing the tidbits and photographs of history that makes Butler County unique. African Americans are an important part of this and we’re certainly happy to do a small part in promoting these individuals and events that have helped shape our shared history. Please visit and like our Facebook page to view these, and other, posts. Also, check out this library-produced video of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s visit to Greenville in the 1960s.

If you haven’t done so yet please complete our Patron Response Survey here. It is completely anonymous and will go a long way towards helping us plan for our future. We want to know what we’re doing right and what we need to do better!

Kevin Pearcey

Director

GBCPL