By Mia Occhino ’23
Due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and the increase of guidelines and restrictions issued by the federal, state, and local governments in addition to the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, the Beverly Public Library has been closed with the exception of outdoor services and in-building appointments. The library’s current offerings include Front Door Service, which allows you to place holds on books online through the library catalog and collect them during designated hours. Public computers and browsing in the building are available by appointment only, and a “pop-up library” on the patio is also open during the designated hours for book pickup. In addition, while in person programs remain unavailable, virtual programs ranging from children’s story times to teen book clubs are being offered. More information can be found on the library’s website at https://beverlypubliclibrary.org/remote/.
Several Beverly High School students are employees at the Beverly Public Library, and, like all workers during this time, are being forced to adapt to the conditions of the pandemic while continuing to keep the library’s services running smoothly. I am interviewing Nola Minogue and Shannon Leftridge, two BHS seniors who currently work at the library.
Q: How long have each of you been working at the library, and why did you begin working there?
Nola: This is my fourth year working at the library — I’ve long been connected to it, through the Teen Advisory Board, and when a spot opened up in the circulation department as a page, it seemed like the perfect first job for me (it was!).
Shannon: I have been working at the library since September of 2019. I have officially been working there for over a year now! This is actually my first job; see, I was looking for work, but nothing seemed available. Then my advisor for the Teen Advisory Board told me there was a job opening as a page in the Children’s Room. That very day I walked into the Children’s Room, asked for the job, and I got it.
Q: Prior to the pandemic, what were your main jobs as library employees?
Nola: Shelving, checking out books to patrons, emptying the book drop, pulling books for the hold list, and signing people up for library cards.
Shannon: My primary job is to shelve books, and check them out, find books for the hold list, clean up toys, help with LEGO events that we run, and cut out pictures for fun events!
Q: When you heard that the library would be closed at the beginning of the pandemic, what was your initial reaction?
Nola: I think I actually shut the library down! I called in to say that my mom had gone to an event two weeks prior where two attendees had tested positive for COVID, and the next day the library was shut down, as well as school. I missed work so much, it’s such an essential part of my routine, it was one of the weirdest things in the world not to be at the library.
Shannon: Honestly I was relieved. Both my parents have health issues which makes them high risk for the coronavirus. I already had a few family friends and distant relatives who died due to COVID, so I was really relieved when the library shut down. As you know, kids aren’t always the cleanest. Of course, it was sad knowing that I would not be able to see my lovely coworkers.
Q: How has the pandemic affected your jobs and the activities you are required to do as employees?
Nola: I no longer empty the book drop, and my interaction with patrons is very limited. It’s only been a few weeks since any patrons have been allowed back inside, and even then, I have yet to have any interaction with them. My main responsibilities now are shelving, shelf reading (making sure books are ordered correctly), and checking in books.
Shannon: Quite a few things have changed. Now I can only work once a week because we can’t have more than one page in the children’s room, and luckily we have four pages for each weekday, but we still can work on the weekends. Obviously because of this our pay is affected because we cannot get more hours. Secondly, it has affected how we interact with our coworkers and patrons. I can’t sit with a coworker at the same table during lunch break and enjoy a laugh, we’re constantly seeing where everyone is so that we’re six feet apart.
Q: Has the Children’s area of the library been able to run smoothly compared to the rest of the library? Are there any ways that this area of the library has been affected differently, and has it been easy or difficult to adjust?
Shannon: The Children’s area has been doing a great job thanks to everyone who works so hard, and especially Margie, who runs the Children’s Room! Here, like for the rest of the library, you have to book an appointment, but for the Children’s Room there is only one party allowed. By party, I mean a family. I believe our first appointment was booked by a mother and her little girl and they had the entire room to themselves (of course the page was still in there)! But the downside is that the kids won’t be able to play with the toys, which I know many enjoy playing with the dinosaurs and wooden blocks. I definitely find this a lot easier to do my job because the books will stay in order and I won’t find toys in the strangest of places. But I definitely want things to get back to normal soon because it isn’t the same without the patrons.
Q: What do you see for the library’s future, besides that it will continue a phased reopening following the COVID-19 guidelines? Do you see the next few months with a positive or negative outlook?
Nola: I’m actually really impressed with what the library’s been doing. All the higher ups in circulation have been working so hard, in less time, to get the job done. We’re open fewer hours but have more work to do, and everyone’s been doing their best. The library’s been taking it safe and slow, and I do have a positive view on the next few months- things are going smoothly given the circumstances!
Shannon: I am also quite impressed with our library. Our administration has been doing a great job taking this process step by step. I definitely believe that within the next few months everything will go smoothly.
Q: What have been your favorite and least favorite parts about working at the library during the pandemic?
Nola: My favorite part is getting to focus on shelving and the pull list rather than patrons. I do miss having the patrons in the building, but you can get a lot more work done without them.
Shannon: My favorite part would have to be checking in and out books. Surprisingly a lot of people have been checking out books (especially when we first opened) and since I had the first shift of the week the number of returned books to check-in was huge! It’s a good thing that I enjoy it! My least favorite part would have to be wearing the masks, it gets very hard to breathe in if you’re working 4 hours straight.
Q: Would you encourage more BHS students to get involved at the library? If so, in what ways?
Nola: Absolutely. The library has summer reading events every year, and several events during the school year, that are fun and informative. There’s murder mysteries, free henna, movie marathons, cupcake wars, and more! What else can you ask for? The library has so many amazing resources that teens can use, I wish BHS students took advantage of them more often.
Shannon: YES, YES, YES! If you love books, the sweetest coworkers, and a tight-knit community you would absolutely love working here! It’s not too far from the school and my boss is very accommodating towards extracurricular activities. But if you are not looking for work but still would like to help out the Teen Advisory Board, known as TAB, is a great way. TAB runs the fun summer events at the library and it looks really good on a college application!
