topic Re: Libraries in Book Club

Libraries

Travone — Tue, 12 May 2020 16:26:00 GMT

Has anyone's library reopened yet? Ours hasn't and we haven't had any word on when to expect them to reopen. If yours is open, what types of changes have taken place? TIA.

Re: Libraries

Mz iMac — Tue, 12 May 2020 16:36:33 GMT

@Travone What state are you in?

N.J. NOPE!

Re: Libraries

happycat — Tue, 12 May 2020 16:38:02 GMT

Mine has opened up, I think it was yesterday. I don't know what changes have taken place. I am not sure if I feel comfortable going back or not and I use to go on a regular basis. Mine is usually pretty full of people on the computers.

Re: Libraries

Travone — Tue, 12 May 2020 16:38:50 GMT

@Mz iMac I'm in Ohio.

Re: Libraries

qualitygal — Tue, 12 May 2020 16:41:02 GMT

Not ours, but not much can until the 28th, and then we'll see. Bummer.

Re: Libraries

songbird — Tue, 12 May 2020 16:45:21 GMT

Not ours at all. I personally won't check to around mid June or beginning of July to be honest.

Which is crazy. Opening for the summer, to be shut down by late Septemember....

What will happen to elementary & high schools? Do they repeat? Will they start in June and end in October?

Re: Libraries

Icegoddess — Tue, 12 May 2020 16:44:45 GMT

I have not heard yet, but I'm sure I will know immediately as I will lose my at-home access to the library version of Ancestry.

Re: Libraries

KKJ — Tue, 12 May 2020 16:50:46 GMT

Ours is curbside.

Re: Libraries

m0rgan — Tue, 12 May 2020 16:51:31 GMT

Ours re-opened with 2 sites opening last Friday at 25% capacity and the rest of the sites opening this Friday. We can (at all sites) order books via the internet and then when they come in, drive to any of the sites where you ordered your holds and call them from the car. They will connect you with your branch. You give them your card # and your address and what you need to pick up. They put them on your card, then bring the books to a table outside the library. After they go back inside you pick them up from the table and take them home. To return books you put in outside drop box and they stay on your card for 3 days and then they are checked in and removed from your card.

Re: Libraries

AuntG — Tue, 12 May 2020 16:54:29 GMT

It's open, but our Governor's plan only allows for curbside pick up. Drop offs have specific hours which I don't understand. Maybe they are afraid of overflowing the bins.

Re: Libraries

Biftu — Tue, 12 May 2020 16:54:40 GMT

Our library is closed and I miss it so. However, I will have reservations about checkouts. I may be overreacting, but obviously all those books and videos cannot be cleaned and who knows people's habits or who had been or came in contact with those who have/had been affected by this virus. I must get past this concern since I rely on my library.

Re: Libraries

Biftu — Tue, 12 May 2020 17:00:51 GMT

@AuntG wrote:
It's open, but our Governor's plan only allows for curbside pick up. Drop offs have specific hours which I don't understand. Maybe they are afraid of overflowing the bins.

@AuntG Our library is completely closed. When they closed the drop boxes were locked and we were told to hold on to our returns as the bins were filled. Obviously no charges will be assessed for late returns. They will fill up quickly when they do open, so you are right about overflowing bins.

Re: Libraries

kaydee50 — Tue, 12 May 2020 17:09:06 GMT

In Chicago the libraries are closed. Along with Supercuts I miss it the most and it will be the second place I go to when we are allowed.

Re: Libraries

ValuSkr — Tue, 12 May 2020 17:26:43 GMT

I'd be wary of physical books and the viruses they could harbor. That's always been the case, of course, but it's more dangerous now. It would be nice if books could be sterilzed somehow - like by being zapped in a microwave.

Re: Libraries

walkingal — Tue, 12 May 2020 17:35:48 GMT

@Travone I'm in MD and our county public library is still closed. The web site says until further notice. I submitted some Suggestions for Purchase, and they were approved. Apparently, some of the staff is working from home.

Re: Libraries

Bhvbum — Tue, 12 May 2020 18:38:57 GMT

Our Library has been closed since early March. I download books on my Ipad or phone. All from my library, book and audio books.

The Library is a couple blocks away and I never go because all my books are available on line. If not I just reserve them and they auto download when it is available again. Just like a regular book.

If the Library doesn't have it, I recommend it and they buy it. Then when it comes in, they notify me and down load it.

Just go to your Library site and look for e-books. You just have to download the App to get the books. Simple. I read tons of books and have not missed a beat during this shutdown.

Re: Libraries

hgsuddle — Tue, 12 May 2020 20:02:41 GMT

@Travone : I work at the Public Library of Cincinnati and the library is planning to have some branches curbside operational in approximately 2 weeks. No returns accepted yet, and curbside will be only for those people who still have holds left prior to closing. We will be calling patrons to see if they still want them and if yes, they have the option of curbside service.

Bookdrops will be open for four three days at the end of this week and quarantined for 3 days prior to checking in. Then bookdrops will be closed again and locked. The library is asking that only patrons who HAVE to return their items (death, moving, etc.) do so. Everyone else is still being asked not to return anything.

We will not be up and running for quite a while and I cannot see anyone having access to computers or copiers or browsing in the immediate future.

Re: Libraries

Travone — Tue, 12 May 2020 20:15:44 GMT

@hgsuddle Thank you for the information. I picked up my hold items that were available. the last day the library was open. When I was checking out the librarian told me it was the last day. She knew I would want to check out more books as I am a regular. At the time, I didn't dream it would be this long. I am in the northern part of the state, so hopefully we won't be far behind you with the opening.

Re: Libraries

Nutzy — Tue, 12 May 2020 20:31:57 GMT

I live in Wisconsin. About 2 weeks ago libraries were allowed to begin curbside service only. Books and other materials that are returned are quarantined for 72 hours before the library processes them to protect the librarians and customers. Online materials and books for my Kindle through the library's Overdrive service have been a godsend to me during the last couple of months.

Re: Libraries

SparklesMcGee — Tue, 12 May 2020 21:20:15 GMT

@AuntG The library's limited drop off times are most likely because of the extensive sanitizing that needs to happen on materials before they are returned to the shelves.

As a public librarian working from home, I am not looking forward to the multi-step procedures to just check a book in we have to look forward to once the state opens the library.