ROUND ROCK, Texas — Assistant director of the Round Rock Library, Geeta Halley, who writes a column for the Round Rock Leader, reflected recently on the accomplishments of 2020.
“Without question, in the world of technology, events influenced their evolution and adoption,” Halley wrote. “I adapted to Zoom and Teams both at work and in my personal life. In a strange twist of ‘too much of a good thing’ with regards to technology, I found myself returning to basics. Cooking in the absence of closed restaurants. Walking outside in the absence of closed gyms. Reading books – not e-books on a tablet or device, but physical print books – to escape from screen-time fatigue.”
Halley recalled that the library was completely closed in March and April, yet staff managed to survey patrons to determine what they missed about being able to go to the library. She said people missed physically being able to be inside and browse the shelves of books, for the most part.
For now, the library does allow people inside from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, closed on Sundays. Limited seating is inside and floor decals are on the ground to designate where people should adhere to social distancing rules because of COVID-19 safety rules. Patrons are asked to spend not more than 30 minutes inside the library. Face coverings are required when inside, and the five public computers are limited to one 30-minute session per person per day. The Family Place play area remains closed. Donations of books are not currently being accepted.
In response to those times of closure, staff member and reference librarian Linda Sappenfield, created a “Book Deli” menu which listed old and new favorite books, award-winners, recommendations by staff, using a particular theme for each month.
Halley posted a list of favorites on the city’s website:
- “The Light between the Oceans” by M.L. Stedman
- “The Fixer” by Jennifer Barnes
- “My Ántonia” by Willa Cather
- “Travels with Charley” by John Steinbeck
- “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson
- “Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven” by Fannie Flagg
- “The Secret Life of Bees” by Sue Monk Kidd
- “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot
- “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett
- “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak
- “These Is My Words” by Nancy Turner
For children, the librarians who run the Storytime hours have created short videos with rhymes, songs or books and uploaded them to the Round Rock YouTube channel. They are new each Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.
The library is located at 216 E Main St. The phone number is 512-218-7001.