Portage County District Library is beginning its phased reopening procedure. While it will be some time before we are able to operate in the way that our patrons are accustomed to, we are taking steps to make sure that when we do open our doors, we will be able to keep our communities and our staff safe.
We are currently in the process of sourcing and procuring personal protective equipment and sanitizing supplies, and making sure that we will be able to have a continued supply of both. Once this has been accomplished, we will be resuming some aspects of library service in separate phases.
Phase one has the library resuming service to our Library Express pick-up lockers throughout the county. While some of our patrons may be familiar with this process already, it allows patrons to put holds on materials and pick them up at a locker of their choosing. More information can be found here: https://www.portagelibrary.org/content/library-express
Phase two of the reopening plan involves some form of curbside service at many of our locations. Under this model, patrons will be able to place holds online or over the phone and schedule a pick-up time at their preferred branch. It is possible that not all of our branches will be able to fulfill this role due to the size and staffing of each facility. It is also possible that the branches that offer this service will utilize different hours of operation. We will be communicating updated hours as we move into this phase.
Phase three of the plan involves reopening our doors to the public. Please understand that when we do so, there will be adjustments to our normal procedures. We are currently in the process of procuring screens for our public service desks and there will be rules on occupancy and physical distancing in place. The library will not be presenting any programs during this phase.
These phases are not built on a strict timeline, but will be decided based on best practices for public health. We hope to be able to begin phase one of this plan starting on or around Monday, May 18. Throughout this process, we encourage our patrons to make use of our digital resources that can be found through the library’s website, https://www.portagelibrary.org
We appreciate your care and patience during this time and we look forward to being able to serve you in person when we are able to do so.
