Ravenna – On June 15th, Reed Memorial Library opened their building to patrons once again. This phase of the library’s restart gives access to the building for limited services and limited capacity, following the Governor’s Responsible Restart Ohio Guidelines and complying with public health recommendations. “We know people want to use their library,” explained Library Director, Brian Hare. “but this will really only be a grab-and-go type of service with no areas to congregate or sit.”
Patrons will be able to use the library’s copying, faxing, and notary services and get in-person help from staff. A limited number of public computers will be available and patrons can browse only through new materials. The bulk of library materials will still be accessed only by staff. Patrons not wishing to go inside the building can continue to use the library’s curbside pickup service. “We started curbside pickup on May 14th. It has been very successful and will continue into the foreseeable future,” explained Hare.
Library events will continue to be virtual, with kits distributed so patrons can participate at home. “We launched our summer reading program in late May and have had great participation this year. I’m pleased with the creative thinking our staff has applied to events and our ongoing programs. The take-home kits have been very successful in our children’s department and we are using that creative thinking to reinvent our events and services during this time.”
Following ODH and CDC guidelines, the library follows a strict cleaning and sanitizing protocol. Shared surfaces will be sanitized daily, with high-contact areas sanitized by staff as needed throughout the day. All returned materials are quarantined for a minimum of 72 hours and the public is encouraged to use self-checkout stations instead of interacting with staff, when possible. All library staff are required to wear masks and patrons are strongly encouraged to wear masks as well. The library will continue its phased approach to restarting services, moving forward again when it is deemed safe for staff and community to do so.
“Library services will look different for a while, similar to every other industry. We’re glad to open the building back up to the public, even though visits at this stage will be short and for specific services. What hasn’t changed is our dedication to serving the community. We know a library visit probably won’t be as fun but we are excited to re-open and see our patrons in person again,” Hare emphasized.
Find up-to-date information on services at the library’s website, reedlibrary.org, and on Facebook and Instagram @ReedMemorialLibraryOH.
