The Monroe County Local History Room & Museum has been closed to the public since mid March due to Covid-19. Staff were permitted to return to the building in late May but social distancing guidelines have prevented reopening to the public. So, staff have been using this time to clean, paint, and improve public spaces in preparation of reopening. History Room staff have also been working with the county health department and conferring with other museums and libraries to develop a reopening plan so that we can return to something as close to “normal operations” while still keeping people as safe as the situation dictates and the guidelines require.
Reopening will be a phased approach. Phase 1, scheduled for June 15, will allow for patrons to reserve research time in the Local History Room Research Library from 1-4pm, Monday through Friday. The County History Museum and Deke Slayton Space & Bike Museum will remain closed to the public until Phase 2. Here are the specific guidelines we are implementing to allow the public back into the research library:
• Guests must reserve a research time slot by emailing mclhr@centurytel.net or calling 608-269-8680. No walk-ins can be accommodated.
• Slots are for 90 minutes: 1-2:30 and 2:30-4.
• There are two reservation openings per slot.
• No more than two people per single reservation
• All guests will be required to wash/sanitize hands upon entering the building
• Masks are encouraged but not required.
The Local History Room will continue to provide remote research assistance, and the public is encouraged to visit the History Room’s research website, www.MonroeCountyHistory.org, to access nearly a million names found in county newspapers, censuses, school records, cemeteries, and more.
We are working on finalizing the plans for Phase 2 when we will open the History Museum and Deke Slayton Museum to the public again, and will announce those plans soon.
The Monroe County Local History Room & Museum is located at 200 West Main St., Sparta. For more information please visit Facebook.com/MCLHR or call 608-269-8680.