Cooling off with a good book (or computer game or comfy couch).
The Coquitlam Public Library (CPL) says a total of 4,222 people came to its two air-conditioned facilities on Monday and Tuesday (June 28-29) — the peak of the Tri-Cities' heat wave that saw temperatures reach the mid-40s with humidity.
This past week, CPL spokesperson Jay Peters explains the extended opening hours until 7:30 p.m. instead of 5 p.m. at the City Centre and Poirier branches allowed residents to come inside and cool off, even if that meant they didn't have a place to sit.
"There were people in every available space — including windowsills and study rooms — but customers were respectful of the physical distancing rules that were in place," he said in a release to Tri-City News.
"The day before, on Sunday (June 27), with the temperature moving toward record highs, the Library relaxed its COVID-19 occupancy limits to allow all customers into the Library, asking only that people maintain physical distancing."
At City Centre, a total of 2,858 patrons walked in, including 251 inside the library at one time on Monday, which was the hottest day Mother Nature pinned down on to the Lower Mainland:
At Poirier's building, there were 1,364 customers, including 98 people during its busiest time on Monday.
CANADA DAY VISIT?
The CPL says its City Centre branch will be open tomorrow (July 1) during its regular hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Poirier branch, however, will be closed.
And starting Thursday, both branches will be lifting their capacity limits with B.C. starting Step Three of its COVID-19 restart plan.
Masks are recommended, not mandatory, as of tomorrow as well as physical distancing requirements.
For more information, you can visit the Coquitlam Public Library's website.
