WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach will open for business Monday with limited in-person services and a variety of COVID-19 safety measures in place.
The library will have new hours to allow for cleaning and sanitizing. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The library staff asks that you limit your visit to one hour, which includes computer time. Materials that are checked out and used will be sanitized and quarantined for 96 hours before they are returned to library shelves.
Everyone, including staff members, will be required to wear masks while visiting the library and a reduced number of people will be allowed inside.
You'll also notice a limited number of computers available and rearranged seating to allow for social distancing.
If you are not comfortable visiting in person just yet, there are a variety of digital resources still available. You can access a free library card, the library's digital collection, get resume and job help by phone or email, participate in virtual programs and workshops and access virtual homework centers for kids and teenagers. You can also put items on hold directly through the library’s online catalog to then pick up and use a self checkout counter.
Library director Lisa Hathaway says they’ve put a lot of work into making the library safe for patrons and staff.
"We are limiting what they can do because we are thinking about their health and our staff’s health, but what we’ve done as library staff is pivoted during this time so if you are still looking for programming, we have a ton of programming that we are doing (digitally),” said Hathaway.
Hathaway says they are looking forward to seeing familiar faces back in the library.
“What’s really important is people need to use computers, and so even though we are putting an hour limit we are allowing people to use our free computers and to print for free as well and I think that’s really important during these times,” said Hathaway.
The library is located at 411 Clematis St. in downtown West Palm Beach.