Lanie Holtsclaw, 12, was delighted to be able to check out books again at the Wood Place Library in California. She checked out books the first chance she got when the library reopened again Monday.
"I'm checking out books to read for the summer," Holtsclaw said. "So my brain is not mush."
Her first selection is "The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall" by Mary Downing Hahn.
Debbie Staton came with Lanie, her granddaughter, and decided she would start off with a book by Richard Paul Evans, titled "The Walk." She was relieved the library is open again, even though it is only part-time right now.
"The library is more than a place to check out books. It's also not just a place to use the computers or apply for a job. The library is the hub of the community," Staton said. She felt sad when she drove by the library when it was closed. "I really missed it."
Lee McKee was rereading some of her Readers Digest books after the library closed recently.
Monday, McKee was finally again able to check out more current books she hasn't read at the local library.
"I can't say enough good things about this library," McKee said.
She checked out eight on this first trip, including ones by James Pattewrson, Jance James, and Mary Higgins Clark.
But which one will she read first?
"Whichever one is on top," she said.
Connie Walker, director, said she is looking forward to seeing everyone back at the library soon.
"Just be aware of the part-time hours," she reminded folks. "The new days and hours are on the library's website, facebook, and posted in the front window."
Current hours of operation are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. The phone number is: 573-796-2642.
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified Lanie Holtsclaw and Debbie Staton. The error has since been corrected in the text above.