Homer Library offers Contactless Curbside Pickup Service

The Homer Township Public Library (HTPL) will be open for Contactless Curbside Pickup service beginning June 15th. The library book drop will be opened June 8 for returns. While the library remains closed to help limit the spread of coronavirus and ensure the health and safety of our patrons and staff, the library wants to start fulfilling holds and getting books into patron hands. It’s a high priority. “We miss our many visitors and want to serve them safely,” noted Library Director Sheree Kozel-La Ha.

“The library continues to monitor recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and local health authorities. Opening the book drop June 8 and beginning Curbside Pickup June 15 is the next phase in our reopening plan. Our priority and concern are to insure the safety of our customers and staff.”

Homer Library has a 24/7 range of quality electronic resources, including e-books, audiobooks, databases and video, movie and television streaming resources that have been available through the library’s website since the building closed March 14 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We thank our patrons for their patience and support and know that these first steps will make our customers happy” notes Sheree Kozel-La Ha, the Library Director.
HOW DOES IT WORK? Visit homerlibrary.org and clock on Curbside Pickup for full details. It’s easy!

1. Log into our online catalog to place items on hold. Choose items listed as "available" at Homer Twp. Public Library. To place a hold, you’ll need your library card and PIN (your PIN is the last 4 digits of your library card).
2. Complete the easy online form developed for curbside pickup.
3. Call (708)-301-7908 to have a staff member pull items for you.
4. Email us at homercurbside@gmail.com with an item request.
5. When your items are ready for pickup, you will receive an email or phone call to confirm a pickup date. The library remains closed at this time and we will confirm your pickup.
6. Scheduled pickup Items that have been confirmed for pickup dates during designated pickup date/hours will be checked out and bagged on a designated table at the front of the library. The bag will have your last name on it. Grab your bag and head home to read!
Library Staff will select items requested, and get books ready for pick up. Patrons can file requests 24 hours a day, seven days a week at homerlibrary.org. Those needing assistance can call the library at 708-301-7908 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday starting June 8, or send an email with questions to Homercurbside@gmail.com. Put the word “holds” in the subject line.

Patrons who had materials on hold when the library closed in March will be the first recipients of the curbside pickup. To begin there will be a limit of 20 items for pickup.
Once the request is processed, patrons will receive a call or email that the items are ready for pick up. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays, and Saturday and Wednesday evenings from 3-7 to begin.
Tables will be anchored with pickup items at the entrance of the library at 14320 West 151st Street. Simply look for your last name on the brown paper bag, pick up and go home to enjoy your items. Items will have been already checked out to your library card.

Circulation Manager Jody Studer notes: “Our plan is to have contactless pickup – easy for customers and logical for everyone during this time of heightened safety. This is new for all of us and the procedures may be adjusted as needed,” she said.
Library staff has been working through the closure conducting virtual programming and book clubs, adding to the electronic and virtual resources, revamping summer reading plans and ordering materials. For returned materials they will be collected and immediately place into quarantine for 7 days. Afterwards they will be checked in and shelved.

A date to reopen the library has not been determined.

Homer Library has two other curbside concepts they are initiating. FREE bags of books by genre/type will be available on select days first come first served, until they are gone. Secondly, FREE craft kits will be also offered at least once a week, individually bagged for pickup.