Thanks to the generosity of the Bayard community, the Bayard Public Library finally got their new interior and exterior automatic doors installed at the beginning of the year.  The Friends of the Library collected more than $4,000 to fund the project through a variety of fundraisers, including a fish fry last fall.
Bayard Librarian Jeanie Stone had hoped these would have been in place by last year’s November election, but said there were delays in getting the correct pushbuttons ordered.
Stone says that in getting these installed she can see how much easier it is for patrons getting in and out of the library, especially if they have their hands full, whether it be by carrying books or babies.  Patrons are adapting to the doors well in that she’s seen them push buttons with their elbows while carrying items to and from the library.  Stone is forever hearing comments like “Boy, this is nice” or “Thank you for getting these put in”.
Stone would like to remind the patrons that they never need to pull the doors shut behind them; the doors have an automatic feature that closes them after a certain amount of time.   I’m happy that they are concerned with getting the door closed behind them, but this is one of the features that make these doors valuable to the library Stone added.