Sumner Library Among Three Pierce Libraries Reopening This Week

SUMNER, WA — The Pierce County Library System will have reopened three more libraries by week's end.

The library system announced on Tuesday it was immediately reopening the Summit Pierce County Library, followed by the reopening of the Sumner Library on Wednesday, and the Eatonville Library by Friday.

All three libraries will run on abbreviated schedules: the Summit Library will be open four days a week, three to four hours a day, the Sumner Library will run three days a week, four hours daily, and the Eatonville Library will be open four days a week, for four hours per day.

The news means that, by the end of this week, the library system will have reopened 15 of its 20 libraries. It had previously announced plans to open 18 or more by summer's end.

The library system says all libraries are opening with limited services to start, but visitors can now come inside, browse bookshelves, and check out books, movies or magazines.

In an effort to keep the libraries safe during the tail end of the pandemic, study rooms, conference rooms and meeting rooms will remain closed. The libraries will require visitors to wear masks while inside and practice safe social distancing. Customers will also be encouraged to keep their visits quick, and maximum capacity will be restricted.

On top of book browsing, visitors can use library computers to surf the internet or for scanning, printing and faxing documents. The library system says seating inside the buildings will be restricted and reserved mostly for visitors using computers.

19 libraries also continue to offer curbside pickup to rent out books, movies and other items.