Ovitt Family Community Library will reopen for limited services on Monday, June 29, 2020. Temporary operating hours are Monday – Saturday from 10am-6pm. Library staff are excited to welcome back patrons after over three months of closure due to the pandemic.
A new COVID Code of Conduct for the library has been created which includes the state-mandated wearing of face coverings for anyone age 3 and up, physical distancing of six feet between patrons, and touchless temperature taking upon entering the building. Any patron with a temperature reading of 100 degrees or higher will be asked to return home.
Library seating has been temporarily removed to prevent unintended large gatherings; patrons are being asked to limit library use to one hour only. Public computers will be available for use but limited to one hour; computers have been spaced-out to provide the suggested six feet of distance between people.
The library has designated 10am-11am every day for the comfort of seniors aged 65 and older. From 11am-12pm each day, the library will welcome families with small children who have difficulty wearing face coverings; older siblings may accompany family members. Minors entering 8th grade in the 2020-2021 school year and younger must be accompanied at all times by a person at least 18 years old. High school-aged youth are welcome to use the library unaccompanied.
Check Out, Ontario, the library’s pickup service, will continue to be available to allow for contactless pickup of holds for customers who feel uncomfortable entering the library building.
The library is only able to accommodate a limited number of people inside the facility during open hours. Customers may be asked to wait outside, maintain six feet of distance between themselves and other customers, and wait until asked to enter the library. Once inside the building, customers will be asked to stay at least six feet (about two arms’ length) from other people whenever possible.
The Robert E. Ellingwood Model Colony Local History Room, Lightspeed Makerspace, and Workforce Development will be available by appointment only. The Veterans Resource Center will be open.
Lewis Family Branch at Colony High School will remain closed for the duration of the summer for installation of a new air conditioning system and new carpet installation.
The new limited services will be re-evaluated weekly, and may be adapted or changed due to federal, state, county or city guidelines and/or the reemergence or flattening of coronavirus cases. Library staff created the new services and COVID Code of Conduct based on bi-weekly virtual discussions during the closure with representatives from all 186 California library jurisdictions as well as new published guidelines from the California State Library on the reopening of libraries.