AlbertC
Superstar
The backlog is looking ominous....like how much time do these books think I have?
Novels can be a tough commitment, start with the casual poetry ones first. ?
The backlog is looking ominous....like how much time do these books think I have?
The Toronto Public Library has announced that 67 of its branches will be accepting online reservations for curbside pickup starting Monday.
A spokeswoman for the library system says that depending on what items are requested patrons will be able to get their materials as soon as Tuesday.
The Toronto Public Library says it has done an intensive clean of all of its locations and consulted with public health authorities on how to best go about curbside pickup.
Branch staff will be required to wear personal protection equipment and all materials returned to the library will be held in a 72-hour quarantine before being put back into circulation.
Physical distancing will be observed and the library suggests that anyone coming to pick up their materials should wear a mask.
The library had already opened the dropboxes at 70 of its branches to accept returns of some borrowed materials.
Books, magazines, DVDs, CDs and audiobooks are currently being accepted for returns, but the library asks that customers hold on to other materials.
Public libraries across Ontario have been closed since mid-March to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
The Toronto Public Library says it is not accepting book donations or any other items.
TPL began making appointments for curbside pickup on June 8 at 67 of its branches, a week after 70 of its locations started accepting returns in their drop boxes. Customer appointments are 10 minutes apart, with their books, DVDs, or CDs waiting for them in bags. Those bags are put in order of the time they're to be picked up to streamline the process and put them into the customers' hands as quickly as possible and minimize contact.
Bradley said that the positive feedback has been immediate, with customers flocking to the libraries offering curbside pickup.
"We just started this week and in the first three days we had 3,685 appointments booked online overall," said Bradley. "Now we're booking into the 8000s so it just keeps growing and growing."