Dear Chapel Hill, 

We started on our Path to Reopening last year and are so close to the final step of removing all restrictions and fully re-opening. If you’ve been in the building lately, you’ve seen that we have almost all of the furniture back on the floor and in the lobby. Last week, we unlocked the study rooms upstairs and are currently allowing usage on a first-come/first-served basis.  

We do still have a couple more steps to take:  

• We will have our meeting rooms ready for reservations in late June. Between now and then, we’ll be installing new room reservation software, rebooting equipment, and updating policies – including incentives to reduce waste associated with meeting room usage and encourage composting and other sustainable practices  
• We are excited to bring back indoor, in-person public programs this month. From the Star Party this week to the Mister G concert later this month, we are bringing back public programs for all ages and interests. Check out our events calendar and eNews for updates.  
• We anticipate adding more operational hours this summer. We are gauging community needs and applying an equity lens as we consider how and when to add hours back to our weekly schedule. Look for opportunities to share your perspective on this in the coming weeks.  
• We can’t wait for COFFEE to return to the lobby. We are thrilled to partner with B3, a local nonprofit whose mission is to provide vocational opportunities for people of all abilities – and bring everyone together over a cup of coffee!  Look for their smiling faces and hot coffee in the lobby in June.  

In the coming weeks, we’ll also launch two new spaces and services. The Studio will be a digital production space on the Library’s ground floor where users can create new digital content and digitize older analog content. The Community History Lab, also on the ground floor, will be a place for community members to share their stories and create public history projects. Stay tuned to our social media and enews for more information.  

As I write this letter, a Beatles song is playing in my head – “The Long and Winding Road.” That’s just what we thought our reopening path would be and that’s exactly what it’s been. I hope that this is my final update, but we are still in a pandemic. If conditions change, we’ll adjust as needed – and keep you posted.  

In closing, I want to thank all y’all. No matter the conditions, Library staff work so hard to make every visit delightful. Through these many months, your patience and gratitude have made this difficult journey a little less so. I am so proud to lead this team and be a part of this community.