Racine Public Library to Offer Curbside Pickup

RACINE, WI — The Racine Public Library has found a way for people to check out books and other library materials amid the coronavirus public health emergency and stay-at-home order in Wisconsin.

Effective Monday, April 27, 2020, library users will be able to call 262-217-7631 or email Racine_Reference@racinelibrary.info to request items owned by the Racine Public Library, 75 7th Street, Racine, and schedule a time for curbside pickup.

Curbside pickup will be on Lake Ave., on the east side of the building, beginning Monday, April 27, 2020. Hours will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays for the next two weeks, and after that, hours will be re-evaluated, according to the library.

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“We are so excited to be able to offer these services again. The library team members and I are eager to get library materials safely into the hands of our users,” said Executive Director Jessica MacPhail. “The Library has patrons of all ages and from every background, but with schools being closed, we know there is a need to get more books into the hand of our children."

Library officials said staff members will be wearing masks and gloves when handling books and other library loan materials.

When the patron arrives, they will be asked to verify their identity, and then the items they are picking up will be placed on a table in a tent outside the library. The patron can then pick up the items from the table.

If a patron is unable to leave their car, they must notify the library at the time they schedule their pickup, so team members are prepared to deliver materials to the trunk or back seat of the car. Team members will not be able to hand materials directly to users.

The library encourages patrons to keep their library materials at home, to minimize the risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus. CDC guidelines say that the virus might live on library materials for up to 72 hours. Any returned materials will be quarantined for 72 hours before being shelved. Any brand new materials will also be quarantined for 72 hours before being processed.

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