Library grab a bag

Staff are ready to reopen the HB Williams Memorial Library in Level 2 on Monday. 

Pictured each holding an 'Amazing Read' grab-a-bag - a new service at the library post-lockdown - are Leon McCracken (left, homebased), Sophie Hemmington (processing), Anna Williamson (librarian systems and IT support), Cherrie Kaa (acquisitions), Rose Lee (collections librarian), Diego Pedrioli (children and young adult librarian), Raschel Eesa-Danes (principal librarian collections), Michelle Kupenga (stock maintenance), Coralie Campbell-Whitehead (customer experience librarian) and Lois Haddon (library service leader). Picture by Liam Clayton

 

A New Chapter

Gisborne Herald article published May 16, 2020 

Easier access to books as public library doors reopen

 

Readers around the region will be happy to hear they can head back to the HB Williams Memorial Library from Monday, but there will be strict guidelines in place to ensure the safety of visitors and staff.

Librarians are already back on site in readiness for the 10am reopening.

Hours will be limited to 10am to 3pm, services will be contactless and a limit of 50 people will be allowed in the building.

Contact tracing information will be collected from all people entering the building, which is open only from the Bright Street side.

Cultural activities manager Pene Walsh said staff were as excited at seeing visitors back as library users were at having access to books again.

“We're offering services to make it easier for people to get books,” Ms Walsh said.

Those include click and collect, ring and request or grab-a-bag for which librarians have prepared a bag of themed books. 

The book returns slot in the Bright Street carpark is already open 24/7.

Returns will be quarantined for three days as a precaution against any contamination and overdue fees will not be in effect until the end of June.

The research floor at the library is closed as are the meeting rooms.

Public programmes and services to rest homes are cancelled for now.

The Olympic Pool Complex remains closed as temporary repairs are made to leaks in the 50-metre pool.

It is hoped these will be finished by the end of next week.