Uncategorized

Kokomo Howard County Public Library To Open May 26th

by OneAdmin
May 19, 2020

KHCPL REOPENING STARTING MAY 26

The Kokomo-Howard County Public Library will reopen starting on Tuesday, May 26.

“Due to COVID-19, the world’s changed since we last saw each other, and to keep you, the community, and KHPCL staff safe, we’ve made some changes,” said Director of Marketing Lisa Fipps. “When you step inside any of our locations, look around and you’ll see the changes.”

Here’s what you can expect when you come to any of our locations.

Limited hours. For now, all KHCPL locations will be open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, except KHCPL Russiaville, which is closed on Wednesdays. Bookmobiles will not resume service at this time. However, we have resumed Homebound Delivery.
Think of these three words for each visit: Grab and Go. We need your help to limit the number of patrons in our buildings at one time. So submit your print job or fax ahead online at https://www.khcpl.org/remote-printing. Pick it up when you get here or pick it up via our Curbside Pickup system. Stop by for quick computer use, but note that a computer may not always be available. Select your items quickly.
We have fewer computers available and spaced apart. A patron may use the computer for up to one hour at a time. A session will not be extended. You may log on only once per day so we can allow more people to use the computers. Staff will be assisting from a distance, as best they can. This may include notifying you that they have to remote in to help from their stations.
We have temporarily removed some seating and spaced the remaining seating farther apart. We removed the seating that is harder to clean. This allows us to focus our cleaning efforts on high-touch surfaces, such as doors and hand rails. It also helps us encourage people to Grab and Go.
We’ve installed sneeze guards at the service desks. Service desks are where there will be the most interaction between the public and the staff. Sneeze guards help keep everyone safe.
We’ve placed X’s on the floors. Use the X’s to ensure you are social distancing when in line.
Staff will be wearing masks. All staff are required to wear masks while on duty. We encourage you to wear one when you visit.
We sanitize select materials. Some materials are not easily cleaned because of the harsh chemicals and heat restrictions. We quarantine all returned materials for at least 24 hours. If you would feel safer leaving the items in the bag for a day or two in your trunk before you handle them, that is, of course, an additional precaution you can take.
Wash your hands. Patrons and staff will have access to restrooms where hand-washing guidelines are posted at the sinks.
Use hand sanitizer. Depending on market conditions, we’ll make hand sanitizer available at key locations throughout all facilities.
We’ve changed our cleaning protocols. We clean high-touch surfaces multiple times a day.
To keep everyone safe, we need your help, and we’re doing our part. If you have any symptom of any illness, please delay your visit until you are symptom-free. Likewise, KHCPL check themselves daily for COVID-19 symptoms, including taking their temperatures, and, if they have any, self-quarantine at home.

“Even though we’ll be open starting on May 26, you can still enjoy our Curbside Pickup service,” Fipps said. “However, please note that we’ve made some changes to Curbside Pickup to make it even easier.”

Curbside Pickup service changes

Call 454.4710 (KHCPL Main), 453.4150 (KHCPL South), or 883.5112 (KHCPL Russiaville) to schedule Curbside Pickup.
Our Curbside Pickup hours will change on May 26 when we reopen. It will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Mondays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays, but we won’t have Curbside Pickup at KHCPL Russiaville on Wednesdays because that facility is closed on Wednesdays.
You no longer need to schedule a day to pick up your materials. Once you’re notified they’re ready, just arrive during Curbside Pickup hours and at KHCPL Main text HERE to 765.410.1700 or at KHCPL South text HERE to 765.410.1701. You can call KHCPL Russiaville at 883.5112 when you arrive to pick up your materials on Mondays and Fridays.

“We’ll continue to offer virtual programs, and you can still enjoy ebooks, audiobooks, livestreamed music and downloads, movies, magazines, and more through HOOPLA, Overdrive, Freegal, Flipster Magazines, and RB Digital Magazines. Plus, you can access our 97 free databases, such as Lynda.com, Creativebug, Universal Class, Mango Languages, Howard County Memory Project, NUWAV Legal Documents, and Chilton Library.”

To find all of KHCPL’s databases, go to https://www.khcpl.org/all-databases.

“We might have to make more changes in the future and will do so, as needed, to keep everyone safe,” Fipps said. “Just like every other business and organization around the globe, we constantly monitor the news, government requirements, and statistics and adapt as needed. We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding. We’re excited about reopening, and we know patrons are, too.”

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email Fipps at lfipps@KHCPL.org.

To stay abreast of all KHCPL news and happenings, follow us on social media through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.