#CaribooRD's Libraries restart lending program with COVID-19 precautions

Courtesy of the Cariboo Regional District:

Williams Lake branch librarian Anton Dounts
demonstrates new curbside book pickup

Book lovers of the Cariboo have reason for celebration this week, with the launch of a curbside lending program by the Cariboo Regional District Libraries. The service will be available Tuesday – Saturday at three library branches in the Cariboo (Williams Lake, Quesnel, and 100 Mile House) beginning June 9. Rural branches that are able to participate will be added on June 22. Days and times for pickup at rural branches will vary and patrons are advised against showing up without a scheduled pickup appointment to avoid disappointment.

How the service will work:

• Library customers place holds on library material they want to check out using the library’s catalogue that is available at cln.ca, and choose a pickup location at a participating library. Alternatively, customers can call a participating library to request that staff place holds for them.
• When the items are ready for pickup, staff will contact the customer by phone to arrange a time for pickup.
• This is a no-contact service. Pickups will happen outside the library following appropriate physical distancing requirements.
• At the appointed time, staff will meet the customer outside the library to pick up their items. Physical distancing will be observed during the exchange. Customers are asked to observe proper physical distancing from other customers at the pickup location.
• Staff will not accept returns during the pickup appointment but will encourage customers to use the library book drop for all returns.

Staff and customer safety is the top priority with this modified service plan.
A number of COVID-specific precautions are being put in place:

• Items that are returned in library book drops are quarantined for at least 72 hours before being checked in and returned to collection.
• Items that are checked out to customers for pickup are placed in a bag and are quarantined for a further 72 hours after being handled by staff.
• Staff are following all WorkSafeBC and provincial health authority guidelines regarding physical distancing, hand washing, and cleaning. Staff who are sick are staying at home.
• We encourage customers who are sick to stay at home and not schedule any pickups. Please contact the library to re-schedule your pickup appointment if you are ill. We are happy to set your items aside until you are well enough to reschedule

Other information:

• The Curbside Holds Pickup service will run until we are able to welcome the public back into our library buildings.
• All library card expiry dates have been moved forward one year to 2021.
• All due dates that fell during the COVID-19 shutdown have been moved to a future date.
• No fines are being charged for overdue material.
• Library book drops are now open. Library material can be returned as long as a book drop is available at your branch. Please do not leave library material on the ground outside the library.
• The Library will continue to offer access to a wide range of digital resources including e-books, e-audio, e-magazines and learning resources.
• Cariboo residents who do not already have a library card can email or phone any of the three Area branches to sign up for a library card.
• There is no date set for when customers can access our library buildings. We have a lot of work to do before that can happen. We are working to restore as many library services as we can offer safely, following WorkSafeBC and provincial health authority guidelines.