Peoples Library, with locations in New Kensington and Lower Burrell, is working its way back to pre-pandemic operations, but it doesn’t plan to scrap all of the practices it implemented during the pandemic.

“We look forward to seeing everybody, and we welcome them back,” said David Hrivnak, director of Peoples Library.

This week, people again could visit the library without an appointment — during the pandemic, library browsing and access to other services had been by appointment only.

On Tuesday, business hours will return to what they were before the pandemic. Both locations had been open to visitors by appointment only for three days a week, and curbside service was offered on two other days. Starting next week, both locations will be open to visitors five days a week and the hours will be increased.

Westmoreland County Federated Library System’s 25 locations, including the ones in New Kensington and Lower Burrell, either have reopened to walk-in visitors or intend to do so soon, according to Cesare Muccari, the system’s executive director. Most library employees have been vaccinated, he said.

Libraries everywhere were forced to adapt during the pandemic.

Predictably, there was a “monstrous spike” in the demand for e-books — up 46% in April 2020 — Muccari said.

But Hrivnak said he didn’t anticipate how much patrons would embrace virtual programs and curbside book pickup.

Peoples Library intends to continue offering both.

Peoples offered about 50 virtual programs, ranging from sports to children’s storytime, during the pandemic. It also offered members virtual programs from outside organizations such as the Pittsburgh Ballet and Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra.

Hrivnak said posting virtual events on Facebook allowed the public to watch them at their convenience; that helped to boost attendance and participation.

“People are busy, and when the content is there, they can act,” he said. “Having that flexibility is a positive.”

Curbside pickup also proved to be popular.

“Curbside book pickup has evolved from a safety issue to a convenience issue,” Hrivnak said.

While the library adjusted its operations to adapt, its fundraising efforts were hampered with the cancellation of three of its four main fundraising events. Hrivnak said the library muddled through with the assistance of government pandemic loans. No one was laid off, he said.

One of the big enhancements for the library during the pandemic was expanded Wi-Fi, offered by the Federated Library System courtesy of a $142,000 grant from the Westmoreland County commissioners.

Libraries had Wi-Fi, but the grant extended public access to about the size of a football field around library buildings, Muccari said.

“If a kid had to do a paper and didn’t have the internet, they could park in front of a library and have high-speed internet for free, he said.

Residents have been using the outside area of Peoples with their laptops unless it’s too cold or raining, he said.

The New Kensington location also offered Wi-Fi access in a small grassy area with picnic tables and benches behind the library.

On Wednesday, Pucketos Garden Club planted herbs there. The space will still be used for programs and people can still tap into the expanded Wi-Fi, Hrivnak said.

Peoples’ collection at both sites includes over 60,000 books, DVDs and other materials.

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