The people who run Springdale Free Public Library want everyone to know the library is open.

And with little fanfare, it has been open for a full year as of this week.

The library was closed for less than two months last year.

As pandemic restrictions continue to ease, other libraries have been opening.

But on June 1, 2020, Springdale’s library was the only game in town for many who wanted a place to read, a computer to apply for a job, stories and activities for their children and programs for seniors.

So why did the Springdale library staff feel so committed to staying open at the height of the pandemic?

“We love our patrons,” said Ginny Besterman, the library’s public relations and marketing director. “We are here to serve our patrons and we’re a source of information. For some of them this was the only outreach that they had, the only time they would have conversations with a real person. It was so important for our senior citizens.”

Besterman said they have been taking all the necessary precautions, including aggressively cleaning and sanitizing the library daily and requiring masks to be worn. Yet she acknowledges that merely by being open she and her staff were exposing themselves to risks other libraries were avoiding by staying closed.

“Our people are so important to us that we as a staff took the chance that we might be exposed to the virus,” Besterman said. “But it was important to us to stay open for our patrons.”

Besterman said Springdale’s library has been welcoming people from various parts of the Valley during the past year, including Aspinwall, Natrona Heights and Penn Hills because their libraries hadn’t been open.

“Our computers hardly cool down between patrons. People are in here looking for jobs and answering ads,” Besterman said. “Our adult book discussion groups are going full steam. My (monthly) craft classes are going full steam. We’re just really excited to be serving the area.”

The library is now gearing up for its summer reading programs for kids. It will be held at Rachel Carson Riverfront Park in Cheswick where children will be provided with snacks each day and free lunches once a week.

Besterman said the library provides services to Springdale , Springdale Township, Harmar and Cheswick.

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