Stage 1 of Palliser鈥檚 Path to Reopening was introduced on March 16 ... the day after, branch libraries in southern Saskatchewan were restricted to virtual services on St. Patrick's Day.
All of Palliser's libraries closed on March 17.
鈥淧alliser will be closing all branches to the public tomorrow effective March 17, 2020. The staff have the option to work until this Friday tidying up the branches. We will be re-examining the situation on April 14,鈥� said Jan Smith, Director of Palliser Library in March.
Smith explained that the Palliser Library made the decision to close after the Moose Jaw Public library and the Regina Public Library were shut down. A week earlier, the Saskatoon Public Library closed in response to COVID-19.
In March, Smith further noted the Davidson and Bethune branches were requesting to have their libraries close immediately.
Virtual services at the library were expansive and included a digital academy, online programming, Overdrive/Libby, Hoopla and Tumblebooks.
Customers were allowed to order books at the Assiniboia & District Public Library since mid-June, when Stage 2 of Palliser鈥檚 Path to Reopening began by introducing the library's takeout option, where clients placed holds on quarantined materials at .
鈥淛une 16 was when we started doing library takeout,鈥� Assistant Librarian, Lois Seeley said. 鈥淎nd it was wonderful to see all the people again,鈥� she added. 鈥淎t this point, we don鈥檛 know the dates of the next stage,鈥� she said in reference to Stage 4.
Assiniboia鈥檚 public library moved from Stage 2 to Stage 3 on July 22.
Appointments for 15-minute, in-library visits are now available on Wednesdays and Fridays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Patrons can arrange their individual appointments by phone at 306-642-361 or online.
After each patron leaves the library, Seeley sanitizes the countertops, doors and other high-touch areas before another client enters. 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽
Although patrons are now allowed to physically return to the library for limited periods in Stage 3, they can鈥檛 use the library鈥檚 computers in this duration.
鈥淒istancing, sanitizing keyboards 鈥� these are things still being worked on.鈥� Seeley further discussed how Palliser is searching for ways to make the computers in their libraries convenient once again for patrons, but safe from transmission.
In Stage 3, stacks aren鈥檛 open for browsing, which remains at home and online. Also, patrons aren鈥檛 allowed to book rooms. 聽聽聽聽聽
Curbside services at the library are still available at the library on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Customers are reminded to call the library, or knock on their window when arriving for curbside pick-ups after receiving notifications about their holds.
Although services are limited, the town's assistant librarian has been busy arranging orders, quarantining materials and answering the phone. She鈥檚 also responding to online enquiries. All of these jobs have to be completed within a short window of time because of her reduced hours. 聽聽聽
鈥淚鈥檓 here in the afternoons from Tuesday to Saturday, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.,鈥� Seeley said.
After a client enters the library, they鈥檙e asked to sanitize their hands then participate in a survey.
鈥淭he questionnaire is about health-related and travel-related questions,鈥� Seeley said. 鈥淎 really big 鈥榥o鈥�, is for people to come in if they aren鈥檛 feeling well.鈥� 聽
鈥淢asks are not required at this time, but we practise social distancing,鈥� Seeley added.
鈥淥ur main objective is to keep the public and the staff safe while giving the best service we can.鈥�
Both Seeley and Assiniboia鈥檚 Librarian, Lori Crighton, are both looking forward to the time when the library will fully reopen, but the timelines for Stage 4 and Stage 5 are uncertain.
In Stage 4 of Palliser鈥檚 Path to Reopening, stacks will be accessible for browsing, the inter-agency will hold services and online programming will also be available.
However, the library鈥檚 computers will remain off limits. Also, in Stage 4 patrons are unable to book rooms in Palliser鈥檚 branches.
Full services for Palliser Regional Libraries will resume in Stage 5.
