Happy 2021 -- and welcome to our 2020 'Year in Review' issue (...insert sound of needle screeching across a vinyl record).

Yes, our year-end issue usually arrives before the new year, but 2020 was one of a kind...the kind that makes you want to grab a stuffie, binge on TV and comfort food, and hide under the covers only peeking out to ask, 'Is it over yet?'

It's over, and we were not sad to see it end. In fact, we were so eager to leave it behind that we briefly considered forgoing our year-end issue this time.

Once we eased into a new year and 2020 was firmly in the rear-view mirror, though, we missed having a 'digital time capsule' of the year we had just survived. Despite the fact that it was full of challenges, it also had its moments -- and proved that our large and amazing EPL family is resilient, resourceful, and strong. Thank you for being a valuable part of it, and thank you for your continued support. Enjoy.

Maryellen Kanarr, director

...and every day from 10 a.m. on, patrons browsed, read newspapers, and caved to the lure of the community jigsaw puzzle, beaming with pride when the last piece found its home.

Life was normal.

On March 7, a standing-room only crowd watched the St. Ann's Church cast of Seussical Jr. perform the opening song to celebrate Read Across America and Dr. Seuss's birthday.

Just a week later, at the direction of the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, we closed for what we thought would be two weeks -- and overnight our attention shifted to safeguarding our loved ones, supporting front-line workers, and stocking up on essentials and PPE (personal protective equipment), adding a new acronym to our vernacular.

Two weeks ultimately turned into three months, during which in-person events became Zoom calls, Miss Sue's block parties went virtual (with cats), and EPL turned 80 -- but without the party and birthday cake we had planned.

Book clubs took their discussions online, Miss Sue started weekly Monday morning live streams on Facebook (sometimes in fun hats), and staff checked in from quarantine.

Our Pinterest page filled up with quarantine crafts and recipes, we recreated famous paintings with everyday objects, and used our Easter Peeps in dioramas. Some even wore teeny masks.

As lockdown stretched on, the Friends of the Library were forced to cancel their big annual spring book sale (their biggest fundraiser of the year), and our three municipal partners felt the financial impact of the pandemic, putting some of our funding in jeopardy.

In June, staff and volunteers were able to return to the building, offering curbside service while getting ready to reopen for in-person visits, which became a reality in early July.

In addition to implementing measures to keep patrons, staff and volunteers safe, we made some changes to better serve our patrons:

We also kept our spending for new items at pre-pandemic levels and expanded our collection (physical and digital) to offer more choices:

While browsing and checking out items in person was not possible for portions of the year, digital borrowing spiked up 42% for books and 67% for magazines in 2020, introducing some previously 'paper-only' readers to an alternative they can now access from anywhere 24/7/365.

Website traffic nearly doubled in 2020 and loans to our sister LCLC libraries were up 11% last year.

One of the areas hardest hit in 2020 was our programming. Not only were indoor events no longer safe, but the Margaret Knoll Gardner Lecture Room became the 'book spa,' where returned items spend a week in quarantine before returning to the stacks.

Even outdoor events took a hit. We were sad to forgo the annual Summer Reading Club kickoff, which normally draws a large crowd. Nevertheless, hundreds of readers of all ages still signed up for SRC, read, and collected rewards. In lieu of our closing pool party, we capped SRC 2020 with a Butterfly Release on the back lawn.

We did take advantage of the great outdoors when we could, though, shifting the remaining ART@EPL workshops to the back lawn and holding sessions 'en plein air' through many weather delays (both sweltering heat and thunderstorms) as well as the arrival of shorter days and loss of daylight. Undeterred and armed with masks and bug spray, patrons still came out to create and connect.

Miss Sue hosted online watch parties all summer long and drew activities along the sidewalk on Ridge St. for self-paced play. There was also a bike safety event and helmet giveaway.

Take-home kits became the enhancement to online events such as storytime -- and the alternative to hands-on events such as Pinterest parties, Harry Potter's birthday, and Old-Fashioned Christmas.

We lamented not being able to host the 20th annual Community Heroes Day last year, or the annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon to honor our incredible volunteers. Without their time, energy and contributions, we would not have been able to operate as we did.

The pandemic also curtailed our participation in community events. We were happy to participate in the Emmaus Farmers Market, Rocktoberfest, and Farewell to Summer, since so many other events were canceled, including the much-loved Emmaus Halloween Parade. That's why we were tickled pink to see so many of you trick or treat at the library and send us your photos for our virtual Halloween parade.