FOUR of Limerick’s libraries re-open today offering a ‘Contact and Collect’ service which will allow members pre-order and collect books, audiobooks, and DVDs, while the buildings will remain closed to the public.
The service is available at either Dooradoyle, Watch House Cross, Kilmallock or Newcastle West branches, which will operate between the hours of 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm, Tuesday to Friday. The Granary Library cannot re-open at present as it is part of a multi-office building with no direct library access to the street.
A Limerick City and County Council spokesperson said, “Members of the public will not have access to these libraries during this period. Instead, all you need to do is contact us by phone or email and let us know your reading interests. Staff will then make a selection for you. You will be allocated a ‘collection time’ to pick up your books, audio books or DVDs at the library’s entrance area.”
Stock currently on loan to members of the public may be returned to these four branches. When it is returned it will be placed in special sealed containers and quarantined for 72 hours before it can be handled by staff, checked in or re-loaned to other members.
As the public cannot enter the building during this phase, computer services, printing and photocopying will not be available.
This is the first phase in a phased re-opening of the entire service, which will be done in accordance to government guidelines and advice.
Libraries had been closed since 12 March until now as part of the wider restrictions aimed at stemming the spread of Covid-19.
In the interim the library’s online services providing free access to eBooks, newspapers, magazines, local history, language learning, courses and online story time have proved hugely successful, helping to easy somewhat the burden of the lockdown.
These services will continue.
