READERS RUSH THEIR LIBRARIES FOR BOOKS

More than a dozen people were waiting outside the public library here shortly before the 9 a.m. opening Saturday.

Among them was Mary Ann Gabriel, a retired accountant, wearing a pink tracksuit.

"People act like it's the end of the world!" she said in a tone suggesting that she was unconvinced. Still, precautions were in order.

It was less frantic than the scenes at ransacked supermarkets, but Ms. Gabriel is part of a nationwide rush for books, CDs, and DVDs at public libraries that began closing over the weekend to deter spreading of the coronavirus.

Librarians across the country promised to maintain their digital services, including online access to electronic books and research databases. The Indian Trails Public Library in Wheeling, Ill., initially pledged to provide books through a drive-up window but then slammed that shut as contagion worries mounted. Others, lacking drive-up windows, said they might deliver books at the curbside.

Ruthie Maslin, director of the Madison County Public Library in Kentucky, which has branches in Richmond and Berea, said her staff is preparing to put books in lockers outside the libraries. "People could call, we could disinfect the books and the locker, they could come and get the books," Ms. Maslin said. Two volunteers already have offered to deliver books to homes, she said.

Those who rely on the library for internet access could still get Wi-Fi service outside the building. "Come to the parking lot," Ms. Maslin suggested.

Public libraries in major cities including New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta are closed. All Library of Congress buildings and facilities are closed to the public.

"Closing libraries is something that's very uncomfortable for us," said Ramiro Salazar, director of the San Antonio Public Library and president of the Public Library Association, which represents librarians across the U.S. and abroad. "At some point we will return to normal," Mr. Salazar said. "That's my opinion."

Seattle Library before coronavirus closure

In Mt. Lebanon, a prosperous suburb south of Pittsburgh, the library announced late Friday afternoon it would close for at least a month. Saturday was the last chance to raid the shelves. At least one person had checked out more than 100 items, said Robyn Vittek, director of the library. Some tottered out with beach bags full of books. Ms. Gabriel limited herself to six, including novels by Lisa Scottoline and Stuart Woods.

In all, 8,530 items were checked out Saturday, more than eight times the library's daily average. Saturday's total accounted for roughly 6% of the number of items available for checkout. By the end of the day, nearly all of the books displayed on tables near the checkout desk were gone. The DVD collection looked severely depleted.

The library director, Ms. Vittek, joined her staff on the front line, at the checkout desk. "You don't have to worry," she told people checking out books. "There won't be any late fees while we're closed."

Peggi Kelley, a librarian, looked exhausted as she finished her shift. "This is what Black Friday must be like at Walmart, " she said.

Another librarian, Sharon Bruni, was relieved to find that people would rush to stock up on books, not just tuna fish and toilet paper. "It's unreal," she said, "but it's so good."

On their way out of the library, many people paused at a wall-mounted dispenser for a free shot of hand sanitizer.

To read the complete article (subscription required), see:
Latest Hot Spot for Coronavirus Hoarders: The Public Library (https://www.wsj.com/articles/latest-hotspot-for-coronavirus-hoarders-the-public-library-11584464897)

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