Gaston County recently issued the following announcement.
The Gaston County Public Library plans to reopen its doors and offer some services to its patrons. Beginning on Tuesday, May 26, the Main Library in Garrison Boulevard in Gastonia will offer curbside pickup and appointment access to computer services.
County leaders closed the libraries to the public on Tuesday, March 17 in concert with the closing of most other county facilities.
Now the libraries are re-opening some services in line with the county’s Phase A of reopening. While the buildings themselves are still closed, up to 10 people at a time can schedule appointments to utilize computers inside the library’s Main Branch. Those individuals will have a temperature check and health screening before being allowed to use the computers. Staff will be subject to the same temperature check and health screening that is part of Gaston County’s plan for all of its facilities.
Appointments will be for one-hour increments and each person may reserve no more than one per day. Those appointments must be booked in advance.
This aligns with Board of Commissioners Chairman Tracy Philbeck’s desire to see the county provide aid to residents who are trying to apply for unemployment or looking for work, but lack the resources at home to do so.
Library director Laurel Morris and her team have been hard at work over the last several weeks crafting a plan that will keep the public and staff safe while also resuming the offering of much-desired services.
“Our staff is really excited to open back up some of our services to the community,” Morris said. “We know with many parents, students and seniors still primarily staying at home, the books and materials we provide are all the more in demand.”
The library’s Main Branch will undergo a deep static cleaning on Friday, May 22, before staff re-enters to begin working on May 26th.
Cleaning will also be performed at branch libraries before they are allowed to begin curbside pickups, printing of tax forms and faxing.
The curbside pickup service begins at the Main Branch on May 26th, and at the branch libraries not under construction on June 1. Curbside pickups of held materials will also be scheduled in advance by calling the library. Library employees will not take library orders curbside, so as to protect staff and residents and allow for proper social distancing.
Starting on May 26th, the library will again encourage patrons to begin returning checked-out materials via the outdoor book drops. Residents can arrange for document printing, tax forms and received faxes for curbside pickup by calling the library in advance.
Some of the library’s typical offerings – such as storytime and its summer reading program – will continue, but in a virtual capacity. Curbside pickup of summer reading packets begins June 1st at all libraries not closed due to construction.
More information about construction schedules at some of the branch libraries, as well as ways to make appointments for computer use, can be found online at GastonLibrary.org.
Original source: https://www.gastongov.com/news_detail_T32_R336.php
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