We've all been on quite a ride when it comes to the last twelve months. Every business, school, organization.....right down to every single person...has a story to tell about how COVID-19 has affected them since things got serious last March. There's no doubt, so many people have faced hardships and uncertainty. I feel like one place that's had a pretty wild ride is the Missoula Public Library.

I did a quick search of all the articles we've posted about the library in the last year and it's pretty crazy how many times they've announced plans and had to change those plans because of the pandemic. Here's a list of headlines we've used about the library since early 2020:

New Missoula Public Library Sets Date for Grand Opening (Feb. 2020)
Library Closed - County Services Revised Due to COVID-19 (March 2020)
New Missoula Public Library Opening Slowed by COVID-19 (June 2020)
New Missoula Library Aiming for September Opening (August 2020)
COVID Continues to Delay Missoula Public Library Grand Opening (November 2020)
Missoula Public Library Closes Downtown Branch Until December 28 (December 2020)

Whew! It's been quite the adventure for the new building that looked like it would be open to the public by last July. Maybe this will serve as the final announcement the library has to make when it comes to the opening of their new location. An NBC MONTANA article says only a couple weeks of construction remain - and once completed, along with the library staff becoming fully vaccinated in phase 1C - they'll open up. The article also says to expect a reduced capacity at the library as well as having visits documented to assist with contact tracing in the event of a positive COVID-19 test. The library will continue to provide curbside lending services six days a week until the building opens.

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