Community Corner
Washington County Public Library Announces New Hours
Today the Washington County Public Library extended its hours, folks are encouraged to drop in.
MARIETTA, OH — Today the Washington County Library announced new summer hours. Justin Mayo is the Director of the Washington County Public Library, he said they would be open 9-7 Monday through Thursday, 9-6 on Friday, and 10-2 on Saturday. "We're doing this to see if we see an uptick in usage."
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The library had been open from 9-8 before the pandemic, but it's been so slow at the library that they decided to take baby steps here. "We're just seeing if we improve the hours if it helps people get here."
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Emily Keller is the Manager of Youth Services at the Washington County Library. She works downstairs in the children's department and thinks folks should take advantage of the extended hours this summer.
"It's a good community center, it's not just for kids." She pointed out that the library has a lot of resources to offer adults. She does encourage kids to come down and join their summer reading program. Kids who come down to the library and sign up will get a summer reading kit with bookmarks and stickers. When they reach their summer reading goal they earn a book!
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"We have fun activities going on so that kids enjoy the summer and get some education out of it."
The summer reading program last year was digital, "So we didn't have that great of a turnout." But it's in person this year, and they have special activities. "We have a petting zoo coming in from Oglebay in July. We have a dinosaur coming, we have arts and crafts, we have a scavenger hunt that kids can do." They will also have events like squirt gun painting, puppy pal sleepover, and Animal Crossing in real life.
Keller says she hopes that being open a little earlier, and a little later, helps give people more opportunities to come in.
Mayo had a parting message, "Come back to the library, we miss you!"
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