June 4, 2020
Dear Friends,
I hope this finds you well.
I am excited to announce that we will begin contactless pickup of items on hold at all six branches on Monday, June 29. Hours will be 10 am to 6 pm, Monday through Saturday. Details on how to use contactless pickup will be posted on our website in the coming days.
Our team has been working tirelessly to prepare for a phased reopening. In addition to ordering PPE (personal protective equipment) and other needed materials, we have been preparing our reopening playbook and conducting site visits to plan physical distancing protocols. Our playbook outlines a phased approach that keeps the safety of both staff and customers paramount.
Members of our team will return to branches on Thursday, June 18 to prepare for contactless pickup. We will use rotating four-hour shifts to minimize time in branches for staff.
Meanwhile, our entire team continues to work remotely, teaching classes for all ages, making more eContent (e.g., eBooks, eAudiobooks, movies, online classes) available, and working with partners to address the growing needs of our community. If you’ve not yet signed up for Summer Reading, please visit hclibrary.org/summer to get started!
As we move forward, numerous uncertainties remain. However, we do know the return to our branches will not be a return to a pre-pandemic environment. Decisions about how and when to move to the next phase will depend on current health and safety guidelines and the availability and procurement of PPE. The health, safety, and well-being of our staff and customers has been and will continue to be our top priority.
Thank you for your ongoing support and for taking good care of yourselves and others.
Sincerely,
Tonya Aikens
Howard County Library System President & CEO
P.S. A reminder to keep and enjoy all materials at home until we reopen. Fines are waived until further notice.
