Takeout service is becoming a new means of borrowing books from libraries during these extraordinary times with COVID-19.
The new Chemainus library is among the Vancouver Island Regional Library branches that opened back up again with takeout service.
The takeout hours for the Chemainus branch are: Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m.-noon and 2-3 p.m. and Tuesdays from 2-4 p.m. and 6-7 p.m. The location is closed Sundays and Mondays.
VIRL is providing access to the full library collection of physical materials through delivery, takeout and a new walkthrough service pilot project in Nanaimo, as it continues a phased approach to resuming library services. VIRL’s delivery trucks are once again transporting books, DVDs, magazines and other materials to branches across Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii and the Central Coast.
“We’ve been careful and methodical every step of the way since temporarily suspending in-branch services in response to the pandemic,” noted Emily Mathews, VIRL’s Divisional Manager of Collections of Support Services. “Our approach has always been about protecting the health and safety of customers and staff, and we now have a plan in place to safely resume the flow of materials between our branches.”
As inter-branch deliveries resumed, VIRL’s top priorities remained shipping Personal Protective Equipment to branches, delivering new materials as they arrive and fulfilling holds at the local level. This means, for the time being, that customers can expect inter-branch holds to take longer to arrive than under normal circumstances.
The expanded access does not change the process for using VIRL’s takeout services, designed to minimize physical contact and ensure robust safety measures are enacted and enforced.
Customers can place holds by visiting search.virl.bc.ca or calling 1-877-415-VIRL. Staff will contact customers by phone to set up an appointment and customers are asked to visit their branch during the appointed time to pick up items.
All 39 branches in VIRL’s service area are officially open for takeout service.
“Opening all branches across a vast geographic area is a tremendous feat and a groundbreaking milestone for a multi-location library system,” observed Rosemary Bonanno, VIRL’s Executive Director. “I am exceptionally proud of the job staff have done to safely open for takeout in communities large, small and remote. This marks a significant milestone in our road to recovery amid this pandemic.”
More information about VIRL’s takeout service, including a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions, is available at virl.bc.ca/takeout/.
Meanwhile, VIRL’s Books by Mail service is back up and running, helping to put library materials back into customers’ hands who live in remote locations and don’t have access to the library. In mid-March, this service was temporarily suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
All reserved materials will first be shipped to the Nanaimo North branch where they will be sent to BBM customers once ready.
More information is available at https://virl.bc.ca/branches/books-by-mail/.
Library patrons in Nanaimo can now return to the Harbourfront branch in a limited capacity as part of VIRL’s walkthrough service pilot project. The service includes safety measures to limit the number of people accessing the branch at any one time, adherence to all prescribed physical distancing measures and access to a limited browsing collection for customers to check out.
“We have never lost sight of people’s desire to return to the library and access books, DVDs and other library materials,” said Melissa Legacy, VIRL’s Director of Library Services and Planning. “We are extremely pleased to be offering this new service at the Harbourfront branch, a model we plan to replicate and expand across our service area in the days and weeks ahead.”
The downtown Nanaimo branch now offers: a walkthrough area to browse a limited collection; self checkout; fee payments; increased returns and photocopying service.
The new Chemainus branch had its grand opening March 7 and unfortunately had to shut down 10 days later when pandemic restrictions went into effect.