Politics & Government
St. Charles Library Reopens, Cuts Hours, Adds Security Guard
The library has reopened following a closure due to threats leveled due to the library's mask mandate, library officials said.
ST. CHARLES, IL — The St. Charles Public Library has reopened during the week but will be closed for in-person visits over the weekend, library officials announced this past week. The library will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday for in-person, drive-up and virtual services.
The library will be closed for in-person visits during the evenings and weekends but open for drive-up and virtual services. Those hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
The library reopened Monday after being closed since Jan. 20. Library officials decided to close the library's doors after receiving threats regarding their indoor mask mandate, according to library officials. Library officials said they wouldn't reopen until they had security services in place.
Find out what's happening in St. Charlesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A security guard is now stationed at the entrance of the library, Shaw Media is reporting.
“We’re open and we’re happy to be open,” St. Charles Library Director Edith Craig told the newspaper. “We have our security measures in place."
Find out what's happening in St. Charlesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
On Jan. 18, 30 to 40 people went into the library without masks as part as an organized protest. A video posted on Instagram by Awake Illinois shows unmasked children and adults reading and playing puzzles while at the library.
According to Awake Illinois, the protest was peaceful.
The library has a mask mandate in place and staff at the library asked the group to leave. And then they called police.
After that, library officials say they received several emails and comments on social media threatening physical retaliation over the library's policy. Some of the comments suggested large groups would enter the library without masks and others wrote, "they don't even know what a threat to safety is yet" and "freedom rules. You guys are going to go down."
More On Patch
St. Charles Public Library Remains Closed Following Threats
St. Charles Library Closes After Threats Over Mask Policy
Library Adding Security Services Before Reopening: Officials
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
