Message from Mary George (Director of Placer County Library Services)
Good Morning,
I wanted to share with you some news about the library. Thank you for your patience. You may see staff in and around your local library even though we are still closed to the public. We are glad to have staff back to complete several projects including RFID tagging all materials in anticipation of self-service checkout machine installation and Automated Materials Handling (AMH) in Rocklin. Moving more toward self-service is efficient and prevents repeated handling of materials which is safer in a post COVID world. We are thankful that our Board of Supervisors approved these projects in FY 2019-20 for completion in FY 2020-21.
It’s been a long time since we’ve seen our patrons. Libraries are moving closer to understanding what is needed to provide services in a responsible fashion with guidance from State and local authorities. It’s likely that we’ll be reinventing what community looks and feels like as we do this.
With that new vision of library community in mind, I wanted to share with you our plans for resumption of modified library services.
- Beginning Monday, June 22nd, customers will be able to return their library materials to the Auburn Library between 9:00AM-4:00PM Monday-Friday.
- We anticipate 30,000 items could potentially be returned over the next few weeks.
- We will only be accepting returns when staff are present. The purpose of this is to ensure that the materials remain quarantined for at least 72 hours before being handled safely.
- Also starting Monday, June 22nd, customers will be able to place up to 10 new holds and pick them up via contactless up. Initially, Library Administration will evaluate this process and analyze our capacity to meet demand.
- Curbside pickup will currently be available only at the Auburn Library between 9:00AM-12:00PM Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday.
- We anticipate that we will continue to expand contactless curbside pickup with returns to other library locations as we move into the summer months.
- We are currently developing plans to offer curbside pickup in Tahoe and South Placer libraries.
Additionally, the Summer Reading Program is in full swing electronically effective Saturday, June 20th. Please share with your friends, family, and community. This is a new way for us to connect with our customers and young readers throughout the County. We look forward to virtually supporting reading during the summer months to help mitigate the “summer slide.”
Social media posts and a website update start today. That update is attached here in the form of Frequently Asked Questions; you may also access this information directly on our website at www.placer.ca.gov/library. Please look for a new letter to the community from me too! It will be on the website next week.
Thank you,
Mary George
Director of Library Services