Library resumes curbside service Monday

Roddenbery Memorial Library is resuming its curbside service next week, a decision made Monday by the library trustees. Howard Thrower III, chairman of the board of trustees, says the service will be a two-week trial.

“During that time we will develop a plan for reopening for normal service, and if that goes well we will continue,” says Thrower. “We want to see the infection numbers come down or at least be on a downward trend first to protect our staff and the public.”

The curbside service will begin Monday at 10 a.m., and be available each weekday, 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Patrons must first call the library and place a request, according to Janet Boudet, director of R.M.L. The number to the library is (229) 377-3632.

“They can give us a pick up time and we will check out the items and place them in a bag,” explains Boudet. “When they get to the library, they can call to let us know they are here and we will bring them out and place them in the trunk of their car.”

The library had originally offered curbside service at the beginning of the pandemic threat when it also closed its building to the public, March 17, but when the first cases of COVID-19 were reported in Grady County, they temporarily halted the curbside program on April 3, and library employees began working from home.

Meanwhile, the library has also worked to expand its free Internet service by setting up hot spots in areas around the county. Currently, there’s a hot spot at Shiver School and Karema Estates mobile home park. Others are being added this week in Whigham and Calvary, according to Thrower, who says each hot spot can handle four to five Internet users at one time.

Thrower says the Board of Trustees did meet in person Monday to determine the future plans, and went beyond social distancing guidelines.

“We met in the auditorium, and everyone had his or her own desk and chair, and they were at least eight feet apart,” Thrower reports.

The board of trustees was expanded recently from four members to seven. Sherry Moncrief is vice chairman, Fran McCaskill is secretary, and members are LaFaye Copeland, Nicole LaMoute, Terri Perkins and Kevin Ross.