Summit County Library awarded for pandemic pivots

Summit County Library Director Dan Compton spoke virtually at Monday's county council meeting. Photo: Summit County, Utah

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah — The Utah State Library has granted the Summit County Library the “Impactful Service Award” for the staff’s assistance to the community during the beginning of the pandemic.

Summit County Library Director Dan Compton worked with the IT department to expand the internet to parking lots, allowing residents to surf the web from their cars. The move helped those without internet when the pandemic sent everything online and virtual.

The team at the library also worked to establish picnic tables and other safer outside workspaces to allow for social distancing.

“At the beginning of the pandemic, they were instrumental in supporting the Emergency Operation Center,” Assistant County Manager Janna Young said at this week’s county council meeting. “The libraries were the ones manning our phones, doing the phone bank, answering all the questions and concerns from the community. They stepped up big time, and did that for an extended period of time, in addition to helping with all sorts of other efforts.”

“I just want to thank the library team as well,” Compton said. “They really did step up… I was just so impressed with them.”

“Their actions allowed community members to safely access the internet, reading materials, educational and entertaining programs, and more even when many entities were shut down. Internet access in particular proved to be necessary during the pandemic,” wrote Chaundra Johnson of the Utah State Library.