88 days ago, I announced the closure of the Library to the public. 3 days after that, I had to stop circulation. We've come a long way since then, but I still can't say when we will be opening our doors to the public once again. It isn't that we don't want to, because we really, really do. Safety, however, must come first. Even before books!
What we
can
do at this point is bring items to you. Our delivery program has been working out great! I can't deliver outside of Douglas, though, so delivery doesn't allow us to reach those of you from neighboring communities who are frequent patrons of our library. So starting next week, we will be offering curbside pickup for Douglas materials on Tuesdays from 12pm to 7pm.
Here is how it is going to work:
- Browse the catalog and place holds! If that is a foreign concept to you, call us. At this point, you can place holds on items regardless of whether they in Douglas or not. Interlibrary delivery has not yet resumed, but we are monitoring holds and purchasing materials accordingly. We can't guarantee with 100% confidence that non-available holds will be filled, but we will do our utmost to make it happen.
- Starting tonight, holds notifications will be re-activated. As soon as an item is ready for pickup, you will get an email or text just like before.
- If you want to pick it up, simply drive into our parking lot between noon and 7pm on Tuesday. Call us and we will bring it out to you. If you do not have a cell-phone, use the buzzer on the back door (it's not there yet, but it will be by Tuesday).
- On Thursday, we will deliver anything you have on the hold shelf to your home, provided you live in Douglas.
- When you are done with your items, drop them in our book drop outside. Don't take them to another library right now, or else we won't see those items again until delivery resumes.
If you want to pick up items on Tuesday, place your holds in advance! We will be busy running items out, so if you place a hold after 11:30 or so, don't expect it to be ready for you when you arrive. Likewise, you have to place your holds before 5:00pm on Wednesday if you want them delivered Thursday.
I also want to add a very important caveat:
Managing parking lot pickups is actually going to be quite a bit more effort than delivery, so please do not switch because you think it will save us effort!
Delivery is still our preferred method of getting books to you.
Thanks for Reading,
Justin Snook
