The Emporia Public Library remains closed to the public, but the process to resume services is now into its third phase.
Director Robin Newell says library services are reopening on a limited basis Monday, May 11, after staff had been working from home since mid-March and then started working on a part-time basis last week. Phones now will be staffed from 9 am to 5 pm weekdays and the outside book drops will be open from 8 am Mondays to 5 pm Fridays.
Newell says all materials need to be returned through the book drops. They are then quarantined for 72 hours to prevent COVID-19 getting to staff and patrons because the virus can live for hours to several days on surfaces like books or other library materials. Newell also says no newly-donated materials will be accepted until further notice.
No-contact curbside pickup will begin June 1. Details on that service will be announced later. There is currently no set date for reopening the library to the public, and Newell says it probably won’t be accessible to the public for a significant period of time. Once that changes, Newell anticipates a “transactional library” instead of a destination library because there simply isn’t the staff to clean after every patron.
Newell says staffers have been working since March to develop online resources and make sure WiFi is working smoothly. The library is also having its summer reading program completely online this year.
More information is available at www.emporialibrary.org.
