Westport Library reopened to the public on Tuesday last following several weeks of operating behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 restrictions.
The good news is that, while there are changes to the service and opening hours, patrons will still enjoy a warm welcome and excellent service from Westport’s library staff.
Westport Library will be open from 10am to 1.30pm and from 2.30pm to 5pm, Tuesday to Friday, until a review of hours later in July. The library will offer priority services to vulnerable persons from 10am to 11am, Tuesday to Friday, and the contact and collect service and the Library Link delivery service for cocooning readers will continue.
Numbers will be limited to no more than 15 people in the library and no visit should last longer than 20 minutes. Patrons will also have to observe hand-cleaning and social distance requirements and children u12 will have to be accompanied at all times by an adult to ensure they are social distancing.
Books that are returned will be quarantined for 72 hours before they can be issued so that patrons can borrow stock with peace of mind.
The library will be cleaned on a regular basis throughout the day and a deep cleaning will be conducted three times a day. Perspex screens have been erected at the counter to protect patrons and staff and the self-service machine will be available. Books can be returned via the Book Returns Slot and in the Library hallway.
Regrettably, there will be no weekly or daily newspapers and there will be no study areas available. Photocopying will be done by the librarians and for the time being there will be no public computer or printer access, this is to comply with the social distancing regulations.
Patrons are reminded that they must not borrow from the library if they or someone in their household has symptoms of Covid-19 and if they have borrowed and then they or a household member has developed symptoms, then they should not return borrowed items until they have completed a 14 day isolation period and are fever free for the last five days.
Inter library and Inter service requests will be resuming in the coming weeks and in the meantime patrons can chose from the large range or new books and DVDs they have in stock.
Online services, eBooks, Audiobooks, online magazines, newspapers and Language courses are unaffected and can be accessed using your library card and pin via www.mayolibrary.ie
For further information on the library reopening, contact and collect, Library Link or any other library issues, please give Westport Library a call on (098 ) 25747 or email [email protected].
