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Irvine library ‘raring to go’ after reopening Monday

Posted on June 24, 2020 by 40 Mile Commentator

By Justin Seward

Commentator/Courier

The Irvine Community Library reopened to the public again on June 22.
The library spent the last three months wiping, washing all the books and shelves in and getting rid of old items in preparation for reopening.
“Now we’re all set up and we’re raring to go and quite excited to be back open again,” said Joan Côté, library manager.
Restrictions include: three people in the library at a time-with the exception of a families, hand sanitizer will have to be used before entering the library, the chairs will be either covered or moved because most of them are fabric and will be off limits to the public, and a 10-15 minute maximum to find books.
“All of the books they return are going to go on a trolley. They are not going be touched by the librarian, and at the end of the day will go into the back room and be quarantined for three days and wiped before they are checked in,” she said.
“That means some people might end up with fines. But I’ll cancel the fines as I check the books in.”
Additionally, children will be allowed in the library if a parent accompanies them.
Gloves will be available to wear for library patrons and a plexi-glass shield will be installed at the checkout desk.
Any holds will stay in the library for three days before the person is contacted to come and pick the book up.
Curbside pick up will also be an option.
“If they want us to choose books and put them in a bag, there’s a garden right beside the library. I just put them on the bench in the library at a specific time and they can pick them up within five or 10 minutes,” she said.
One out of the three-computer station will be available for the public’s use.
“All of the surfaces in the library are going to get wiped regularly. The doorway will be wiped regularly. We’re just taking as many steps as we can to ensure safety,” said Côté.
There will be no Summer Reading program because that will be more numbers allowed than they’re allowed to have, she added.
Hours are 3:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. from Monday to Thursday.

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