The Central Library will reopen on Monday, June 15, as part of a phased reopening of in-branch patron services by the Indianapolis Public Library. The Garfield Park, Spades Park and East Washington branches will open on Monday, June 22.
The planned re-openings will occur with certain limitations to ensure the safety of patrons and Library staff resulting from the COVID-19 crisis.
By June 29, all branches will have reopened if the schedule holds. That doesn’t include the InfoZone, located within The Children’s Museum, which will remain closed until further notice. The Lawrence Branch continues to be closed for major renovations and the Fountain Square branch is closed permanently, as previously announced. Indy Reads Books is set to move into that space when the situation allows.
Curbside delivery of materials, which began on May 18, will continue each day that a branch is open from 12 noon to 5 p.m. All book drops will be open and are advised as the preferred method for returning materials.
Safety measures being instituted include a requirement that all patrons over two years old wear masks; placing a Library staff member at building entrances to limit capacity; installation of plexiglass barriers at transaction points; social distancing of six feet; a one-hour time limit on public computers; no “over-the-shoulder” help from staff; and regular cleaning of all facilities.
Patrons will be asked to maintain proper hygiene and to keep their visits brief, both to limit the number of people and to allow the next patron to enter when a building reaches its designated capacity.
The Library will continue to evaluate its ability to maintain a safe environment for staff and patrons. Safety standards will be subject to change as needed.
