When will the libraries open?

[Anonymous]

Would they have opened if we'd been allowed to go to Phase 3, here in Montgomery County?

I feel like they could have reservations and keep congestion down. No one thinks it travels on surfaces anymore. Keep the doors open, come in at your own risk, 2 hour slots, wear a mask.

I am dying. Need my library to open.

[Anonymous]

If the mall can open....

[Anonymous]

And schools can't...

[Anonymous]

At least give us the #&$&% libraries!

[Anonymous]

You could come over to Fairfax county, which has reciprocal privileges with MoCo. Our libraries are open, no reservation needed but masks required and they ask you to stay no longer than 30 minutes, which seems reasonable. I've been to my local branch twice since it opened back up and it's not crowded at all. I was so glad when ours reopened!

[Anonymous]

You can request books via the web catalog and pick them up at a library of your choosing in MoCo. I believe they are doing this via appointment already.

Otherwise you would have people hanging out for hours.

[Anonymous]

https://montgomerycountymd.gov/library/services/holds-to-go.html

[Anonymous]

I would love for the libraries to re-open! I can and do reserve books on Libby but the wait is very long for the more popular titles.

It was actually easier to find popular books in the different branches.

[Anonymous]

Weird that they’re not open. I’m in Chicago and ours opened up in June; basically ‘normal’ with paths for walking and time limits and plexiglass and quarantines on returns. I’m so glad they’re open.

Not to rub it in.

[Anonymous]

What? I went to the library today.

I went inside, picked up my holds, got some recommendations from the librarian at the charge station, and headed out.

You can make reservations to work on the computers or even go in to use the bathroom.

You can't hang around and browse, but you can get books and DVDs and plenty of library services, plus get a dose of that institutional-architecture vibe while you're in there.

Look it up:
https://www.dclibrary.org

[Anonymous]

DCPL has several branches and you can access them as a MoCo resident. We have been picking up books regularly. You cannot browse but you can hold online and then pickup at your convenience.

Bathrooms inside the libraries are closed. Computers have a time limit. Books are returned to quarantine bins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCPL has several branches and you can access them as a MoCo resident. We have been picking up books regularly. You cannot browse but you can hold online and then pickup at your convenience.

Bathrooms inside the libraries are closed. Computers have a time limit. Books are returned to quarantine bins.

This. Use dcpl. Their online portal is not great but it works.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. I have reserved books online for pickup (I’m in MoCo). I will go over to Fairfax. I really need to browse- it’s my happy place and even if I only stay 15 minutes it somehow recharges me. And yes, Chicago- I’m jealous!

[Anonymous]

And I didn’t know that Fairfax and MC had reciprocal privileges like DC and MC. Yay!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPL has several branches and you can access them as a MoCo resident. We have been picking up books regularly. You cannot browse but you can hold online and then pickup at your convenience.

Bathrooms inside the libraries are closed. Computers have a time limit. Books are returned to quarantine bins.

This. Use dcpl. Their online portal is not great but it works.

Adding on, the library branch I go to for holds (Woodridge) has one shelf and one table of books and movies available for browsing and checking out. We always find books to check out for my kids (4 and 6) and I often see interesting things for me. We also rent dvds. I actually appreciate the quaintness of it and just working with what's available. We're picking up holds at least one per week and supplementing from the shelf.