I want to thank everyone for their continued patience as the library begins implementing our phased reopening plan. We are taking things slow as safety is our highest priority for both our staff and patrons.
As we learn more, we continue to adapt our plan and so I ask that you follow us on Facebook and check out the website as more information becomes available. Below, are a few FAQs about our steps toward reopening. As always, if you have any questions please reach out to the library through social media or by email: uppermeriontownshiplibrary@gmail.com.
CURBSIDE PICK-UP HOURS
The Upper Merion Township Library is offering contactless curbside pickup. When your items are available to be picked up, you will receive an email or phone call from the library. Please do not come to the library until you hear from us!
Curbside pickup hours are as follows:
Monday, July 6 – 10am – 2pm
Tuesday, July 7 – 3pm – 7pm
Wednesday, July 8 – 10am – 2pm
Thursday, July 9 – 3pm – 7pm
Friday, July 10 – 10am – 2pm
Monday, July 13 – 10am – 2pm
Tuesday, July 14 – 3pm – 7pm
Wednesday, July 15 – 10am – 2pm
Thursday, July 16 – 3pm – 7pm
Friday, July 17 – 10am – 2pm
CURBSIDE PICKUP PROCEDURES
- When you arrive, please pull through the front parking lot of the Township building and park in any empty space.
- Call the library at 610-265-4805 and be prepared to give your name (the one that you placed your holds under) and the make, model, and color of your car.
- Please make wear a mask when interacting with staff.
- We will bring your material out to the car. Please check your account for your due date on all materials.
- If you are no longer interested in the material on hold, please call us and let us know that we can reshelve it and take it off your account.
- If you have items to be returned, please drop them off in the drive-up return just beyond the first set of parking spaces on the drive-side. It’s a big silver box with a library logo on it. Our staff will not accept any material from you when you pull up for curbside pick-up.
PLANNED REOPENING
When can I return to the building?
The Upper Merion Township Library continues to plan for reopening focusing on the safety of our staff and patrons. While there will be some restrictions in place when we reopen such as shortened hours, social distancing measures, and limited occupancy you will be able to browse the stacks and check out at the circulation desk.
What is the library offering right now?
Curbside pickup of holds continues to be an option for our patrons. When your item(s) become available you’ll be notified either by an automated phone call or email. Once you receive that notification, come by during any of our curbside hours to pick up your materials. Our hours are Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 10am – 2pm and Tuesday, Thursday from 3pm – 7pm.
Will you continue to offer curbside when you reopen?
While we will greatly scale back the availability once our building is open to serve residents we will still keep the service available for patrons needing or preferring this option.
When are my items due?
The easiest way to check when your items are due is to log in to “My Account” on our website and review your materials listed. Dates can vary depending on the loaning library and the type of materials.
How are you keeping me safe?
- The library will look very different when you come in during the coming weeks:
- We have installed sneeze guards at our public desks
- We will be checking out all material at our front circulation desk
- We are quarantining all returned materials for 72-hours to kill any germs
- Library staff are practicing social distancing and wearing masks at all times
- The toy collection and museum passes will be unavailable until further notice
How can you help keep us safe?
- Patrons are required to wear a mask to enter the building. If you are unable to wear a mask, the staff will gladly offer curbside service to you.
- Patrons will enter the library through our emergency exit doors on the far side of our music collection and exit through our main doors.
- To ensure we are all practicing social distancing, patrons may be asked to wait before entering the library for another patron to leave. We will only be allowing a limited number of patrons into the space at any given time.
- We encourage patrons to browse for materials, but to keep their time in the library brief. Our recommendation is less than 30 minutes.
- Patrons may make an appointment to use a public computer for 30 minutes per day, per person. There will be limited computer assistance available.
- Meeting spaces, study tables, and lounge chairs will not be available at this time.
Where can I stay up to date on the new hours and plans?
Our website is the best place to get information in the coming weeks about what our reopening will look like and also where we’ll be sharing how we’re keeping staff and residents alike safe throughout. You can also follow up on Facebook for updates.
FAQs
Is the book return open?
Yes! We will be emptying the book return on a schedule that allows all materials to be quarantined for at least 48-72 hours. This is to ensure the staff’s safety and the safety of the next resident to borrow those materials. For this reason please understand that if you check your online account it will take several days for your returned items to be reflected as such. No fines will be assessed.
When are my items due?
Please check your online account to find out when materials are currently due.
When can I start placing holds in the catalog?
You can now place holds through the catalog.
Currently, the district delivery service is still catching up from the last two months of materials that must make their way back to their home library. Please be aware that we are only filling holds for materials we have, here in the Upper Merion Township Library. If you’re interested in material from other libraries, we ask that you be patient as we continue to work to provide safe delivery of materials for all libraries.
We also have only 4-9 staff members in the library at any given time currently (our full staff is over 40 people). Everything takes time, so we ask that you only place a few holds at a time so that we can provide service to as many patrons as possible over the next few weeks.