While some Ontario libraries will begin offering curbside pickup today, Midland Public Library patrons likely won’t have that option until next month.
“Midland Public Library will be taking cautious and measured steps towards the restoration of all library services,” library CEO Crystal Bergstrome told Midland Today.
“The safety and wellbeing of our staff and community is of the utmost concern.”
Bergstrome didn’t respond to questions relating to staffing such as how many people the library employs, whether there have been layoffs due to the extended closure or what kind of things staff are doing while working from home.
She did, however, address why the library isn’t following the leads of libraries in the Toronto area or even neighbouring Penetanguishene, which will offer curbside pickup Friday with its book return open Tuesday and Thursday.
“Our focus at this time is working to restore library services as quickly as it is safe to do so,” she said, noting they hope to begin offering the service in early June.
“As more detailed information is finalized it will be shared with the community at large. We will continue to do our best to support our community and encourage everyone (to) take safe steps towards getting back to normal, whatever the new normal may look like.”
Bergstrome said that the Midland library is delaying an immediate launch of such services until protocols have been fully developed to ensure staff and patrons’ health and safety during these uncertain times.
“While work on these processes and procurement of necessary supplies for the safety of our staff and community has already begun, we are not yet in a place where we can predict exactly how and when all services will be rolled out,” she said.
“We will continue to keep everyone informed as more information becomes available and firm dates are established. We truly miss seeing our community members daily and are looking forward to taking steps to restoring additional library services.”
The library plans to open its book drop Tuesday with a possible early June option for curbside pickup.
As well, the plan involves quarantining all returned materials for three days before they are checked in and put back into circulation. All materials currently checked out have been renewed until June to ensure patrons have an extended opportunity to return items at their convenience once the book drop reopens.
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