The Mary C Moore Public Library in Lacombe isn’t quite ready to open, despite given the go-ahead by the Province.
The Province recently announced libraries could reopen as part of Phase 2 on June 12, but Head Librarian Christina Petrisor is holding off until they have all safety equipment and protocols in place.
”We are waiting for the installation of Plexiglas for the front. We ordered it at the beginning of the closure, but we are still waiting,” she said.
Petrisor was unable to provide an exact date but hopes to reopen before July 1. That time allows them to ensure they are protecting their guests and staff.
“I started looking at the workplace and we are going to have to barrier off places where people would typically sit; we won’t have newspapers when we reopen; and we may have to have a booking system for the computer because they will have to be highly disinfected between uses,” she said.
“I was really excited waiting for this date, but we need to make sure everything is in place before we set a date.”
Until then, the library is continuing curbside pick-up.
“We on the phones Monday to Friday 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.,” she said. “The City has fielded tonnes of calls and we have had so much support for our service.
“We have thousands of books waiting for pickup and anyone who has anything from before March — stop by our staff door 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. and someone will greet you safely.”
Now and going forward books and other items will be quarantined for 72 hours — including items that have been touched during browsing.
“We need to ensure we do a total risk assessment on our workplace, which we have been doing all along. We need to know what our service levels look like and whether we can maintain those levels,” Petrisor said.
The library is also looking to reintroduce programming — including Ms. Mary’s kids program.
“We are doing a modified program in the LMC over the summer with Ms. Mary. We will have a schedule and we will get the word out there through the newspaper and the website,” she said. “We have been busily preparing a blog for our summer reading program and Ms. Mary is preparing some songs and stories for the outdoors.
“I now have two part-time programmers for all ages and we will start deploying programs for all ages.”
Once open, the library will welcome around 25 guests at a time in order to ensure social distancing.
“The Government has been deploying information to us to ensure the safety of their residents. I have a checklist, we will go through it,” Petrisor said.
She added, “On behalf of our staff and myself — every one has been excellent following what we have asked and the support of the community has been overwhelmingly amazing. We have all worked together and I am very impressed with our little community.”