WAUSAU – Al nine Marathon County Public Library locations will remain closed through April 26 because of the continued threat of COVID-19 and in compliance with Gov. Tony Ever’s statewide Safer at Home order.

This includes libraries in Wausau, Athens, Edgar, Hatley, Marathon City, Mosinee, Rothschild, Spencer and Stratford. All locations are tentatively set to reopen on April 27. However, the library’s reopening date is subject to change as developments occur.

All library programs and events that were scheduled to occur between now and April 27 have been canceled.

Some library services will continue to be offered throughout the closure. Patrons can still contact the MCPL Wausau reference desk for questions and assistance at 715-261-7230), [email protected] or online chat between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Wifi at each of the eight branch libraries will remain on 24/7, providing patrons outside of the library (within range) with access to high-speed Internet. The Wifi at MCPL Wausau will remain on during the hours of 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

No items will be due and no overdue fines will accrue during the closure. Items that are currently checked out will now have a due date of May 4 and any library cards that were set to expire within the next three weeks have been renewed. Library materials that are currently checked out may be returned during the closure to one of the library’s many book drops, if the patron so chooses.

The drive-through services at MCPL Wausau and at the Marathon City Branch are temporarily suspended while the library assesses contamination risk from the virus. Patrons can still place requests on items via the V-Cat catalog, though those holds will not be fulfilled until the library reopens.

Patrons can access thousands of free e-books and audiobooks during the closure through the Overdrive and Libby apps. These free apps work on most PCs, laptops, smartphones, tablets and e-readers, and all you need is a current Marathon County Public Library card to get started. For more information on Wisconsin’s Digital Library, visit www.mcpl.us.

Library staff members are planning a variety of virtual events that will continue to educate, engage and connect the community, including Virtual Story Time and Pandemic Writing Project, with more events to be added soon.