WINNIPEG -- Five more libraries in the city of Winnipeg will partially reopen later this month.
The city announced on Thursday, the branches will reopen on June 22 and will allow residents to pick up holds, and have access to return borrowed library items.
The new libraries reopening on June 22 are below.
- St. James Library
- Louis Riel Library
- Transcona Library
- St. Boniface Library
- Sir William Stephenson Library
On Monday, the Millennium, Henderson, and Pembina Trail library reopened.
“We had to take a measured approach of what facilities, the physical location of each library, to be able to determine spacing for individuals inside to be able to maintain physical distancing of two metres, be able to maintain the different services around high-touch areas, and lastly, to be able to have the spacing required to be able to start returning some of the many, many books that Winnipeggers have been taking good care of for a while,” said Jay Shaw with the city’s emergency response centre.
The city said when library materials are returned, they will be quarantined for 72 hours before they can be re-circulated. Returns will be accepted starting June 22, Shaw said.
The hours of operation will be 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. from Monday through Wednesday, 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. on Thursday, and 10 a.m to 4 p.m. on Friday.
The city said when library materials are returned, they will be quarantined for 72 hours before they can be re-circulated.
Those looking to enter the libraries will be asked to use the self-assessment symptom checklist before entering the buildings. Anyone exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms will not be allowed to enter the branches. Plexiglas shields have been installed at each checkout station.
The city will assess the second phase of reopening and will enter phase three depending on assessment results. The third phase would see all library branches reopen, and full services restored.
