Dear Patrons,
The Library Director and Board of Trustees have decided that the Walpole Town Library will close beginning Wednesday March 18th at 12pm through April 4th. The North Walpole Branch Library will also be closed Tuesday March 17th through April 4th. We will then reevaluate the situation and decide if it is safe to open on Monday April 6th.
As of today, Monday March 16th, all programs are canceled through April 4th, including any reservations for the Hubbard Community Room. We will also be canceling Inter-Library Loans; we will stop requesting materials for our patrons and stop lending materials to other libraries.
While we remain open Monday the 16th through the morning of Wednesday the 18th, we ask that you don’t linger or congregate in the library and that you maintain a considerable distance from others (CDC recommends 6 feet)when possible. This is an opportunity to check out any materials you’d like, use the computer to check your email or do something else quickly (we’ll be implementing a 20 minute time limit for computers), and leave. We greatly appreciate your cooperation with this plan. Our open hours are: Monday the 16th 1-8pm, Tuesday the 17th 1-6pm and Wednesday the 18th 10am-12pm.
Please do not return materials to the library during this time. We do not charge overdue fines, and we will not penalize you for keeping materials out until we open again. The book drop will be locked and any materials returned Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday will be kept in quarantine for 24 hours.
While we are closed Wednesday March 18th through April 4th we will be answering phone calls and emails as normal. Please feel free to call with any questions, or email Justine at jfafara@walpoletownlibrary.org or Julie at jrios@walpoletownlibrary.org.
March 16th through March 21st we will be offering curbside pickup for materials. This service will be offered:
- Monday the 16th from 12pm through 8pm
- Tuesday the 17th from 12pm through 6pm
- Wednesday the 18th from 10am through 2pm
- Thursday the 19th from 10am through 2pm
- Friday the 20th from 10am through 2pm
- Saturday the 21st from 9am through 12pm
- This service will be reevaluated weekly and a new schedule will be circulated.
Please call the library and let us know what you’d like to pick up and when you will be here to pick it up. We’ll leave materials in bags on the front porch for you to grab and go. Remember, you do not need to return materials until we fully reopen.
As always our e-resources are available 24/7. You can download audio books and ebooks on the Libby app. You can now access New England newspapers on our website 24/7 as well. Please call us to get your library card number if you don’t have it handy or if you have any questions about these services.
Please know that a decision like this, to close the library for an extended period of time, is not taken lightly. We know how much this impacts our community and this was not a rush decision. We truly feel that this is the best way for the library to do our part in keeping our patrons safe.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. Stay healthy.
Justine Fafara
Library Director
walpoletownlibrary.org 