Amber Reed/ The Broadside
Public libraries are beginning to reopen, and Central Oregon Community College’s Barber library has been able to accommodate the needs of students through curbside pick-ups and transition to online resources for textbooks. While spring term has come to an end, summer term is only a week away. Now is the perfect time to get updated on library use.
Deschutes public libraries are reopening to the public with some changes to their usual hours. The Downtown Bend Library, the East Bend Library, and the Redmond Library will be open Monday-Saturday from 9am-6pm, with the first hour of the day open only to community members who are seniors or immunocompromised. La Pine, Sun River and Sisters libraries will be open Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-6pm. Curbside pick-up for reading materials, magazine, and movies will be available during these business hours.
“Physical buildings closed mid-March, but library services have continued quite successfully,” said Library Operations Manager Holly McKinley.
Many changes were made due to the preexisting resourses the libraries offered online through websites and the Overdrive app, where customers can find a wide range of e-books, audiobooks, magazines and movies for all ages. The libraries will also continue to issue library cards to costumers through their website. Libraries have been able to keep patrons updated about the status of their reopening through social media and their weekly e-newsletter. There was an extension on due dates of books that were checked out before the buildings closed, which are now due on June 15. All physical items can be returned to the external portal located on the outside of the building, and the books will be quarantined for 72 hours to ensure they don’t carry the COVID-19 virus.
COCC’s Barber Library is following the same guidelines. To reserve a book, students will send an email to [email protected]. When the title is available, students are emailed a notification. It is requested that upon arrival students call the front desk so a staff member can bring out the books. While the building was set to be closed through the end of spring term this year, the website currently states, “at this time the physical building are not yet open to the public.” There is no official date to reopen the doors to students. The Barber Library is following the same 72 hour policy for quarantining returned items and is also accepting returns of technology.
