With rising case numbers in the metro and throughout the state, we’ll be scaling back our in-building services as outlined in the message below that I sent to library trustees today. In addition, we will cease volunteers working in the library which may mean that shelving and other tasks get backed up–that’s ok. Please remember to try to practice social distancing between each other and between yourself and patrons whenever possible. There is no end-date for these changes, we’ll make further adjustments one way the other as circumstances warrant.
Trustees,
In response to the rising case numbers in Iowa and the Des Moines metro, we will be scaling back our in-person services, ceasing volunteers working in the library, and having some of our full-time staff work from home when possible. Changes to our services are outlined below:
Browsing
We have changed the spacing of browsing appointments–where groups of up to 4 can browse in the library for 30 minutes–from every 20 minutes to every 35 minutes so groups don’t overlap. No walk-ins will be allowed unless there is not another group here or scheduled to be here within 30 minutes.
Computer Use
We have changed the spacing of our 1 hour PC appointments from every 30 to every 45 minutes. We will also reduce the number of available PCs from 5 to 3. Walk-ins will be allowed if a computer is available.
Curbside Holds and Printing Pick-up
Curbside services will continue as-is.
As you can see from the chart included below, visits to the library building since we reopened in June are down by 80%-85%. We think these new steps, which will reduce daily computer appointments from 14 to 9 and browsing appointments from 23 to 13, along with our mask requirement and social distancing put us in a position where we can safely continue to offer services that patrons can’t get anyplace else and continue to offer work to part-time staff who can’t work from home. From the public’s perspective, these changes will be mostly invisible as we will continue to offer the same services as before; same-day appointments may just be harder to come by.
Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
