Carryout books: Public libraries in Hendricks County offer curbside pickup
By Lindsay Doty
The calls poured into Avon-Washington Township Public Library on Monday as staffers took requests and pulled books from the shelves for the first day of curbside book service.
Public libraries including Avon-Washington Public Library offer curbside pickup. (Photos by Eric Pritchett)
“We are very excited that we can once again provide our patrons with actual materials. Judging by the number of cars we saw waiting for curbside delivery, our patrons are excited too!” said Laurel Setser director of the Avon-Washington Township Public Library.
Cars line up at Avon-Washington Public Library for curbside pickup.
Several of the public libraries in Hendricks County, including Avon-Washington Township Public Library, Brownsburg Public Library, and Danville Center Township Public Library started offering curbside pickup today.
It’s the first step in non-virtual book sharing since the libraries closed in March due to coronavirus.
Setser said the library is taking precautions to keep patrons and staff safe by keeping books on the quarantine shelf before they can be checked out again.
“As items come back in through our scanner/sorter, staff members wearing gloves move the items to holding shelves where they will be quarantined for 72 hours. If an item looks dirty or wet, we will wipe them down with a mild bleach solution,” explains Setser.
To use curbside service, library patrons can either go online and select books or call the library to place a request, if they don’t have online access.
The staff will then email, text, or call when the books are ready for pickup.
Patrons are asked to pull up and pop their trunk or roll down a window so the staff can bring out book orders, similar to curbside pickup for retailers or carryout.
In Avon, library employees are also reminding patrons to call before getting into the car to make sure materials are ready.
While most of the public libraries don’t have a reopening date just yet, Plainfield-Guilford Public Library announced it will reopen with limited hours and services on May 18.
“Library access will be limited to the outside porch and the lobby; the main part of the library will remain closed to the community. Please bear with us as we sort out the details on how best to safely serve our community,” said staff in a message posted to the Plainfield-Guilford Library Facebook page.
Until things are fully back open, local libraries continue to host options like virtual books clubs and online programs.