Londoners who burned through all of their reading material while in lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic will finally be able to get their hands on some new books.
The London Public Library will begin offering curbside pick-up at select branches as of Monday. The service will run Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
It was two weeks ago that Premier Doug Ford announced that libraries throughout the province could re-open for curbside services. However, the move to curbside pick-up was delayed in London as library officials first had to hammer out a plan to ensure physical distancing measures and other safety guidelines were in place.
While library-goers won't be able to peruse the rows of books in the libraries in person, they will be allowed to scan the online catalogue and then place holds on physical materials electronically or by phone. The library will then issue a notification by email or phone when the items are ready for pick-up.
Individuals picking up materials from the library will line up outside of their branch, keeping a safe distance from others. They will be required to show their library card to staff before getting their hold items.
Library staff will schedule a time for borrowed library materials to be returned over the next few weeks. These items can be dropped off at the library using the return chutes. They will then be placed in quarantine for a period of time, before they can be signed out from the library again.
Branches that will begin offering the curbside pick-up as of June 8 include Beacock, Byron, East London, Jalna, and Masonville.
Bostwick, Crouch, Landon, Pond Mills, and Stoney Creek branches will open for curbside services on June 22. The Central Library on Dundas is also tentatively scheduled to offer the service on that date.
No date has been set to launch curbside pick-up at the Cherryhill and Sherwood branches.
Due to physical distancing requirements Carson, Glanworth, and Lambeth locations won't be offering the service.
