MOUNT VERNON – A grant from the Knox Community Foundation made it possible for Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County patrons to get together or hold meetings under tents dubbed the Outdoor Annex.
A $5,000 grant from the foundation funded the tents that provide a space to congregate while the library’s meeting rooms are closed due to COVID-19. The Outdoor Annex will be open through Oct. 8. Library staff will evaluate the program in mid-September to determine plans beyond that date.
“Because of the pandemic, we have had to forego nearly all of our programming – book discussions, special presentations, things of that nature that were a regular part of our calendar of indoor events before the pandemic changed everything. This now allows us to do some of that programming in a venue that lowers the risk of spawning our own mini-superspreader event,” Library Director John Chidester told the Mount Vernon News.
Library staff member Jamie Lyn Smith-Fletcher came up with the idea, worked up the plan and wrote and submitted the grant application to the Knox County Foundation, he said.
The library has three tent uses available: a public tent for casual use weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., a programming tent for staff use and a reserved tent available for patron groups and meetings.
“It means that, weather permitting, we will be presenting some of our programs – events that in a non-pandemic time we would be having inside the library in our large multipurpose room – outside under sturdy tents, with tables and chairs and related equipment provided through the grant,” Chidester said.
When special programs are not being held, people can sit outside and enjoy the fresh air while reading a book or magazine or speaking with friends, he said. The library’s public wi-fi signal is available for visitors to the Outdoor Annex.
“People are just now catching on to the reality that they can sit outside in the pleasant fall weather while enjoying library materials and services,” he said.
Library staff expect more people to use the tents as awareness grows. Library-presented programs will use the outdoors space, he said.
“Outside groups who want to book time to use one of the tents in our lot as an alternative to the inside room reservations we offered before the pandemic may do so, although they may find the lack of privacy to be an obstacle,” Chidester said.
The Outdoor Annex has limited Wi-Fi access and no electrical power. Tents, tables, chairs and dry-erase boards are available for patron use.
No audio visual equipment is available for the Outdoor Annex. Cancellations may be caused by weather, so library staff suggest having a rain date or backup plan. Cancellation notices will be made a minimum of three hours before an event.
The programming tent can be used for any library activity, including storytime, MakerSpace, Brown-Bag chat, staff meetings, crafting activities, book discussions and meetings with patrons.
Three steps are followed to plan events in that tent: Reserve the space through Lisa Blaisdell (just like reserving meeting rooms); contact just before submitting a JOTForm to check on availability of tables, chairs and other event equipment; and complete the JOTForm to share specifics of the even with library staff.
The reserved tent is available Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays. It is available for public clubs, groups and meetings when not in use by library staff. Place reservations at least seven days in advance.
Contact Blaisdell about use of the tent and she will confirm its availability.
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