Citing the increase in vaccination rates, officials at the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library and the Youngwood Area Public Library branch said the facilities will resume regular operating hours Monday.
The libraries, which curtailed operating hours and added additional virtual programming during the pandemic, will continue to offer a variety of programs and opportunities — including outdoor Wi-Fi — as they resume normal operating hours.
Library Director Jamie Falo said the resumption of normal hours coincides with National Library Week. Libraries across the country will be marking April 4-10 with this year’s theme “Welcome to your library.” Visitors to the local facilities will be invited to participate in a free raffle during the week and children will be able to select a free book.
The Greensburg Hempfield Area Library, including the Children’s Library, will resume regular hours of operation beginning Monday. The library will be open Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Weekly hours at the Youngwood Area Public Library will be Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Greensburg Hempfield Area Library, which averaged 450-500 visitors a day prior to the pandemic, was forced to close for 13 weeks on March 14, 2020. It reopened for curbside pick up only on June 1 and has operated on limited hours and curbside pick up since Aug 3.
Falo said the libraries will continue to offer virtual programming and re-introduce in-person programs slowly this spring.
“We’re excited to get back into the swing of things,” Falo said. “And I think the community is ready for us to reopen. We’ve had people calling asking when we’re reopening fully.”
The libraries will adhere to guidelines related to social distancing, masking, sanitizing and quarantining of library materials. They also will continue to offer curbside pick up.
For additional information, visit ghal.org, the library’s Facebook page, or call 724-837-5620
