Now that the City of Omaha has received $60 million in federal CARES act money from Douglas County and the state of Nebraska, Mayor Jean Stothert says they will begin reopening libraries and community centers that have been closed for months.
Laura Marlane is the Omaha Public Library Executive Director and says the libraries will open in phases, beginning with the Millard, Washington, Abrahams and either Willa Cather or South, depending on when Metro Community College reopens.
The South branch is a joint facility on the Metro south campus. Marlane expects the first branches will be ready to open in four weeks and all 12 branches could reopen by October 1.
It will take about four weeks to reopen under new COVID guidelines. Staff and visitors will be required to wear a mask inside the library.
“We will be moving computers, moving seating to allow for social distancing and putting in plexiglass barriers at service points for the safety of the patrons and the staff,” Marlane says.