Starting Monday, June 22, Botetourt County Libraries will offer curbside hold pickup services, once again getting physical books, movies, music and more into people’s hands.
“We’re really excited to see everyone again,” Library Director Julie Phillips said. “Curbside pickup is something we’ve never offered before, so it’s a new experience for us and our patrons.”
For at least the first two weeks, curbside pickup hours at all four library locations will be:
- Monday/Wednesday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Tuesday/Thursday 2 p.m.-6 p.m.
The steps for curbside pickup are simple:
- Request items online at RVL.info or by phone.
- Wait to be notified that items are ready for pickup.
- Come to the library during curbside pickup hours.
- Call the library to let staff know you’ve arrived.
- Pop your trunk so staff can place your materials inside.
Curbside pickup will be a no-contact service, keeping a six-foot distance between people at all times for everyone’s protection. All library materials have been quarantined and handled according to the latest safety guidelines. “There’s no need to sanitize or treat them when you get them home,” Phillips said. “In fact, please don’t – our materials can be permanently damaged by some methods, so talk to us if you have concerns.”
At curbside, services will aim for efficiency as well. “We’ll be checking out materials to patrons’ accounts as soon as we retrieve them so we can deliver materials faster. We don’t want people to be surprised if the items they requested suddenly show up on their accounts as checked out,” Phillips explained. “All materials will be due on August 31, so there’s no rush to bring them back.”
At curbside pickup, families can request “make-and-take” craft kits for children, and pick up Summer Reading Challenge prizes as they earn them.
Patrons may also take advantage of copy and fax services as an additional curbside service, although printing may not be available right away. Put your papers to be copied or faxed in a container. Staff will retrieve the papers, copy or fax them, then return them for you to pick up. Leave payment, preferably in exact change, when you pick up the papers.
The libraries will reopen services gradually in phases, starting with curbside pickup services and progressing to allowing limited numbers of people inside with specific restrictions. The time frame for future phases is still to be determined.
“The library will look different for a while,” Phillips noted. “Even when we open the doors later, it’s not going to be like it was before we closed. We may need to close off certain areas, ask people to wear masks, offer computer help from a distance, and so on. But we’re working hard to provide as many services as we can, as soon as we can, and we’ll still be smiling and eager to help.”
Keep up with the latest developments at BocoLibraries.info or call your local library branch.
