AMHERST — Though books, compact discs and DVDs that have been on hold for more than three months are getting into the hands of Jones Library patrons, new materials will not be able to be checked out until after the Independence Day weekend.
In a recent online community chat, Library Director Sharon Sharry said she is anticipating a slow process to resuming lending, likely to begin sometime in July, though people should be able to begin placing online holds for items they want.
“Our target date is Monday, July 6 for walkup, pickup service to resume,” Sharry said.
As part of this effort to distribute items, Sharry said library workers will put materials in bags and have tents set up in the front yard for the pickups to take place. The library is also working with the town to have several parking spaces in front of the building reserved for people to park, get out and grab the bags containing the items they are checking out.
Last week, the Jones began accepting returns at the main branch, setting up a book drop at the back of the building, closest to the town parking lot between North Pleasant and North Prospect streets and the CVS Pharmacy.
This book drop can be used from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays.
The traditional outdoor book drop on Amity Street will be open after those hours and on Sundays, and locked at other times.
Items returned will not be available for checkout to another patron for at least a week.
“We’re going to assume everything has the virus,” Sharry said, adding that items will be kept in isolation in the building’s Woodbury Room.
Sharry said she has no idea when patrons will be allowed back into the building, but when that happens there will likely be a one-dimensional loop through the interior, no close contact allowed and no browsing of materials permitted.
A laptop checkout system could be established for people who have depended on the building’s computer lab, which will not reopen immediately.
Sharry said personal protective equipment — such as masks, bleach, wipes and other cleaning supplies — have been on back order. When the library does open, hand-sanitizing stations will be set up, and staff will use paper towels with sanitizing solution to keep the building clean.
To comply with social distancing, staff is already working on a staggered schedule.
The branch libraries, North Amherst Library and Munson Memorial Library, will remain closed to the public, as well, though Sharry noted that the reference desk is operating out of the North Amherst site.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
