Keep your used books out of Georgina Public Library drop boxes, please and thank you

Read between the lines: Georgina Public Library starts curbside pickup services during COVID-19 crisis

Yorkregion.com
June 8, 2020
Amanda Persico

Curbside pickup and drop-off services will be available at all three branches of the Georgina Public Library starting on June 10.

Curbside pickup is available on the following days:

• Pefferlaw Branch -- June 10, 17 and 24;

• Peter Gzowski (Sutton) Library -- June 11, 18 and 25;

• Keswick Branch -- June 12, 19 and 26.

Library card holders can start placing holds on library items through the online catalogue or by calling and leaving a message at a particular library branch.

“We truly miss our patrons and are eager to start offering physical materials for people to enjoy again,” said library CEO and director Valerie Stevens. “But we need to make sure we can do so in a safe manner.”

Residents are asked to make requests for curbside pickup once every two weeks to ensure as many requests are fulfilled as quickly as possible.

Due dates are now up to four weeks for regular items and one week for express items.

The library is also implementing a schedule for residents to return materials at the drop boxes, based on last name.

Items returned are put in isolation for 72 hours to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and will be checked in and ready for borrowing again.

Residents can still access #GPLfromHome, a collection of online resources and programming hosted by the library on its website and social media channels.

The provincial government gave libraries the green light for curbside pickup starting May 19.

The public library decided to delay the launch of curbside pickup and drop-off services to ensure proper health and safety measures were fully developed, Stevens said.

“While we have been proud to stay open to serve the public amid storms and other emergencies, the best way we can serve our valued patrons now is to help contain the virus and ‘flatten the curve,’ especially as our patrons include many seniors and others at high risk.”

As there will be new drop boxes at each branch location, the library is asking residents to not donate books or other materials at this time, as there is limited branch space to quarantine circulating library materials.

For more information on curbside and drop-off schedules, visit georginalibrary.ca.