University City Public Library To Reopen To The Public On March 23

From the City of University City:

March 19, 2021

Beginning Tuesday, March 23, University City Public Library will reopen its doors to the public, allowing patrons to use computers and browse the Library collection for short periods of time.

UCPL is allowing up to 20 people into the building at a time. All seating, aside from the chairs used at the computers, has been removed from the Library, and patrons are allowed up to one hour in the building at a time. Reservations are not required. In accordance with the St. Louis County order, the Library is requiring all patrons and staff to wear masks. The St. Louis County Department of Health has generously provided free masks for those who don’t have one.

The Library has also instituted temporary limits on computer time, which allows staff members to thoroughly clean the public computers after each use. For those that have wifi-enabled devices, the Library’s wireless internet network has been extended, and is now accessible in the parking lot. Printing is available by sending printable attachments to ucprint20@gmail.com.

At this time, the Library will keep the same hours that it has been operating during curbside-only service: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 1-5 p.m. on Saturday. The Library will be open from 1-5 p.m. on Sundays beginning on April 11. Patrons will still have access to curbside service for picking up items they have placed on hold, as well as items that have been printed for them, during all open hours.

Additionally, while the Library is accepting returned items (including audiovisual materials) in its book returns, all returned items are being quarantined for 48 hours before staff members interact with them. During this quarantine period, items will still appear on the patron’s account.

Since returning to curbside-only service due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in November 2020, UCPL has provided patrons with a variety of online resources — including e-books, downloadable audiobooks, e-magazines, and streaming video and music — as well as staff-created digital content and phone reference assistance. Reference assistance will continue from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 1-5 p.m. Saturday, by calling 314-827-5669.

University City Public Library has been working in conjunction with the leadership teams at the other eight member libraries of the Municipal Library Consortium, as well as St. Louis County Library and St. Charles City-County Library, to make coordinated decisions in the best interests of the public. Ongoing updates about services and reopening plans will be posted on the UCPL website (www.ucitylibrary.org), as well as on the Library’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

This press release was produced by the City of University City. The views expressed here are the author’s own.