As restaurants and business across the nation plan to reopen, skepticism towards the long-term safety of these initiatives continues to grow. Although many in the U.S. approach these coming changes with forethought and understanding, several individuals throw caution to the wind and believe the virus is no longer a "serious issue." Be that as it may, public institutions like libraries are planning for their reopening, yet the nature of "going to the library" may be forever changed.

In a piece written by The New York Times writer Elizabeth A. Harris, she discusses how libraries across the U.S. are planning to provide modified services to the community. These public institutions foster a safe space to learn, sit, and participate in community-led activities for children, adults, and seniors alike. However, as safety precautions and social distancing initiatives increase demands on these "community living rooms," as Harris puts, they may change forever.

"Libraries around the country are tiptoeing toward reopening, but they're not just trying to figure out how to safely lend out books," Harris writes, "These are community hubs where parents bring their toddlers for story time, where people come to use the computer, where book groups meet. Now all of that has to be rethought."