Libraries Reopening in Clare County

Libraries in Clare County are beginning to reopen. On June 1, Governor Whitmer issued an executive order giving public libraries the ability to reopen beginning Monday, June 8.

“During the Stay at Home order we have been working remotely from home,” said Sheila Bissonnette, library director of the Harrison District Library and the Pere Marquette District Library. “It was our goal over the last several months to make sure we were ready to reopen to our communities. When we had a date to reopen, we were ready.”

The libraries in both Harrison and Clare started to reopen slowly on June 8 with limited hours and a number of restrictions. This week, both libraries reopened to their regular hours. The Harrison District Library is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The Pere Marquette District Library is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Restrictions are still in place due to the limitations governing reopening to the public. What is the library doing to keep you safe during your library visit? Plexiglass barriers have been installed at the circulation desks to keep patrons and staff separated during checkout. Social distancing markers have been placed on the floor to keep 6 feet between library patrons and staff. Both the Harrison District Library and the Pere Marquette District Library offers curbside service for members of our community not comfortable with entering the library.

The Pere Marquette District Library has exterior lockers available for anytime pickup of library materials. The Harrison District Library will have lockers available in a few weeks. If you are interested in using curbside or locker pickup, call the Harrison District Library at 989-539-6711 or the Pere Marquette District Library at 989-386-7576 to arrange a pickup.

The library has put in place extra measures to make sure the building is cleaned frequently during the day. Computers are wiped down after each use and bathrooms are cleaned every hour, and frequent high touch surface areas are sanitized regularly during the day.

Library materials will be quarantined for 72 hours before going back into circulation. When visitors enter the library, they are asked to wear a mask. Those who don’t have a mask and would like one may have one provided by the library. Please remember to keep 6 feet between yourself and others while visiting the library.

The Harrison District Library can only have 10 people in the building at one time, so please do not linger in the building after items have been checked out.

The Pere Marquette District Library is limited to 20 people in the building at one time. Public computers are available. Usage is limited to 30 minutes per visit.

In Farwell, the Surrey Township Public Library also reopened on Monday, June 8 beginning with curbside and locker pickup only. The Surrey Township Library hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday for phone calls or emails only. The email address is help@STPL.org or call 989-588-9782 during business hours.

Even with all the restrictions the Harrison District Library and the Pere Marquette District Library will celebrate summer reading with “Imagine Your Story,” the theme of our summer reading program. Registration for the reading program began June 15. Check out www.hdl.org or www.pmdl.org for more information regarding summer reading program and other library services.