Although they won’t be opening up in the next couple of weeks like originally hoped, the Becker, Clearwater and Big Lake libraries still have a lot to offer residents.

Great River Regional Library (GRRL) has multiple options for library services for patrons right from the comforts of their homes. For parents who are homeschooling or helping their children navigate distance learning, GRRL has a section dedicated to learning for all ages, with great activities, story times, printables, games, and even virtual tours! Just visit their website at griver.org and click on ‘Options for Fun & Learning.’

GRRL is also part of the new statewide book club that invites Minnesotans of all ages to read a common title and come together virtually to enjoy and discuss, as well as participate in activities and author videos. The first title, Because of Winn-Dixie, is being read throughout April and May, and is available for patrons on multiple platforms.

The goal of the program is to bring people closer together during this time of distance and adversity. For more information or to join in, visit griver.org and click on One Book One Minnesota.

On top of everything else, GRRL is once again holding a card design contest. For details, visit the website and click on “Library Card Design Contest.” There will be three winners, one from each of the age groups; youth, teen, and adults. Deadline to be announced.

GRRL has been working on finding ways to open again, but like many businesses are discovering, it’s been a multiple step process.

“Our first step was establishing curbside pick-up,” said Clearwater Library Services Coordinator Shelly Kuelbs. “The City of Clearwater was gracious and allowed our library to become one of five in the region to be involved in the pilot program. There was a lot to learn about when materials would be safe to handle and how we could proceed and maintain social distancing.”

The pilot was a big success, and Clearwater will be starting their fifth week of offering the service. Becker and Big Lake also have curbside pick-up; times for all three libraries are listed below. Patrons pull up in front of the buildings, call their library, and their items will be brought out to them.

“Patrons are loving that the library is open in any fashion,” said Becker and Big Lake Library Services Coordinator Jeannette Burkhardt. “It’s super fun and gratifying to have a car full come to the library to pick up, open the back end of the vehicle to place their items in, and have everyone in the car turn and say, ‘Hi Miss Jeannette!’”

One GRRL branch even had people dancing in the streets when the library put out the curbside pick-up sign.

“Patrons are happy they can check materials out again and staff are happy to be back to work,” said Kuelbs. “Our book drop has been re-opened and deliveries between libraries have begun again on a limited basis.”

“The next step of opening our doors again to the public will take some time,” she said. “Safety partitions for the circulation desks and finding a way to reconfigure our computer stations to maintain social distancing is the first concern. We hope that over the next month solutions are found and we can move forward.”

The libraries are exploring virtual programs and GRRL plans to move the summer reading program to the Beanstalk app.

Although times may change, currently Becker is offering curbside pick-up on Mondays and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Clearwater is offering curbside pick-up on Tuesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Big Lake is offering curbside pick-up on Tuesdays and Fridays during the library’s regularly scheduled open hours.

“Things may look a little different this year, but we are striving to keep the experience engaging and the service exceptional,” said Kuelbs, who extended thanks to the community for their continued support.