The dog days of summer still have some bite.
An ongoing heat wave is expected to push temperatures into the triple digits through much of this week, with heat indices approaching 120 or beyond in pockets of Allen County until Thursday.
The National Weather Service has an ongoing excessive heat warning in effect until 10 p.m. Thursday.
Iola Public Library Director Sharon Moreland said folks wishing to escape the heat are welcome to spend an afternoon or three at the library, which has plenty of reading material and a water fountain at the ready.
The library has a regular group of visitors who often come in when temps are at their hottest, Moreland said, because of inadequate air-conditioning at home.
The library is better equipped with this heat wave, she added.
“Our air conditioner was broken in the last heat wave, so it was hitting 80 degrees inside,” she said. “It’s much better this time.”
The biggest change for the library when temps are at their most extreme is the number of users who ask for curb-side pickup.
“We’re happy to take their books out to them,” Moreland said.
Iola City Councilman Josiah D’Albini has been meeting with local merchants and others in the community to develop an official network of weather relief sites, for extreme weather hot or cold.
That work remains ongoing.
“We’re not an official cooling station, but people still are welcome to stop by,” Moreland said.
The library is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Temperatures are expected to return to a more seasonal range with highs in the 80s on Saturday.
