County Library Plans To Reopen In Phases

Ste. Genevieve County Library last week announced its planned phased-in reopening plan.
From May 4 to May 18, dropbox service will resume. Patrons are encouraged to return their library books in the newly updated dropbox. All items will be quarantined for 48 hours before being checked back in with a return date of March 17 to alleviate any late fee concerns patrons may have.
May 12 will mark the beginning of Virtual Story Time. Library staff will use Facebook at 10 a.m. each Tuesday with a Virtual Story Time where staff members will read a few of their favorite books.
On May 18, curbside pickup will be available between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. This will continue until it is deemed safe to resume normal operations with the guidance of the Ste. Genevieve County Health Department. Patrons are encouraged to place holds on their items via the library website or by calling them between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. beginning on May 18. When patrons arrive, they will call the library to let staff know of their arrival. Staff will confirm patrons’ information, check their items out to them, bag the items and bring them to their vehicles.
Phasing in of services is something many libraries across the state are doing. It not only ensures the library opens effectively, but also ensures that patrons and staff are safe when services resume.
“The goal is to open our doors to patrons again when many of the precautions we are taking now are lifted,” director Shawn Long said. “Not only will it be safer for everyone who comes to the library but there will be as little disruption to our services as possible with this type of opening.”
He said if the library opened right away, many patrons would be seeking help with information technology, copies or faxes but those services would be nearly impossible to offer with social distancing.
For more information about the Library’s services or programs, contact the library at contact@sgclib.org or 573-883-3358.
(Information in a release from Ste. Genevieve County Library.)