Dear Royal Oak Public Library Community,
The staff and Library Board of Trustees are excited to announce that we are getting ready to reopen! In response to the recently rescinded Stay at Home Order, I would like to provide an update on the current state of the library and timeline to be expected as we begin our planned reopening process. Over the past three months the staff and I, with guidance from the Library Board, were hard at work organizing a reopening plan that would best accommodate the needs of our community, while also taking great consideration for the safety and wellbeing of our many patrons and employees. Our plan consists of a six-phase process that will lead to our eventual full-scale reopening:
Current (Phase 1): Virtual services only. The staff is currently engaged in providing services and programs via our online platforms.
The week of June 8 (Phase 2): Staff will report back to the building for the first time in three months. During this time they will be trained on new procedures and policies for social distancing in the office, correctly using PPE, and other safety measures being instituted in the wake of COVID-19. Checkouts or returns cannot be accepted at this time; however, the staff will begin to contact those patrons who still have holds that were placed prior to the closure for pickup.
The week of June 15 (Phase 2 continued): Staff will begin putting in place our new contactless pickup service, which will be introduced to our patrons starting the week of June 22nd. This is a service that the staff and I are excited for, and one that we hope to continue in the foreseeable future. Also, during this stage of our reopening process all returnable materials checked out prior to our closing will be accepted in the south lobby (the entrance across from city hall). There are more than 15,000 items currently checked out, so to enable the staff to properly prepare these items to be returned to circulation (a process that includes a 72-hour quarantine period), the building will remain closed to the public.
The week of June 22 (Phase 3): Contactless pickup service begins. Detailed instructions will be made available before this service is rolled out, but it will allow for patrons to schedule a timeslot to make a contactless pickup of reserved materials. Patrons will also be able to schedule new holds during this time. The building will continue to remain closed to the public during this stage.
Future dates (Phase 4-6): Phase four through six will begin with limited capacity and time allowed within the library, to the eventual reinstallation of our full-scale, pre-closure operations. Although dates are not certain, we expect to be open to the public for walk-in services during the first or second week in July.
All due dates of materials have been extended to July 13 and no late fines will accrue before then.
I want to thank the public for your unwavering patience and understanding as the staff navigates through this new terrain, and I ask that you continue to bear with us during the reopening process. Our commitment is to ensure a safe, clean, and healthy environment for our patrons and staff while bringing our services to a higher level than ever.
For additional questions please reach out to us HERE. I invite you to check out our website for continuing updates on the library’s reopening. Also, do not forget to sign up for the online Summer Reading Program beginning on June 13, as well as the wide variety of virtual events offered all summer long.
Best regards,
Emily Dumas
Library Director
Royal Oak Public Library