Waupaca, Weyauwega begin service April 27
By Angie Landsverk
Curbside delivery is set to resume at one area library and begin at another.
The public libraries in Waupaca and Weyauwega are both starting the service on Monday, April 27.
The state’s revised Safer at Home order allows libraries to provide this service.
Waupaca
“Our library has a plan in place,” said Library Director Peg Burington.
In Waupaca, the service will be available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Burington said those hours will allow the library to have two shifts of about four hours each for staff.
Social distancing will be maintained, and employees will wear masks, she said.
Patrons may only request items that are available at Waupaca’s library.
Monday, April 27 is the first day they may begin requesting materials from the library.
Those with access to the internet may visit www.infosoup.org to search for items.
They then need to call the library at 715-258-4414 or email [email protected] to request them.
An online form is also being added to the library’s website, she said.
Patrons who do not have access to the internet may call 715-258-4414 to request items in the adult department and 715-258-4416 to request items in the children’s or teen departments.
“We will do our best to meet the volume,” Burington said.
She noted the library was “very busy with curbside delivery the six days before” it closed.
That was about four weeks ago.
“We can have limited staff in the library at one time,” Burington said. “If it’s a big order, it could take 24 to 48 hours.”
Pickup times will be arranged during the phone conversation, she said.
There will be three spots in the parking lot for pickups.
“When they arrive in the parking lot, they will see a phone number to call to let us know they’re there,” Burington said.
Items will be in a bag, and will either be placed on the ground next to the vehicle or into the passenger side of the vehicle, if no one is sitting there, she said.
Noting the library typically has a lot of foot traffic, she asks those people to ring the bell on the main door to the library and City Hall and step away from it when a staff member arrives to speak to them.
Patrons should not use the curbside delivery service if they are sick, Burington said.
After picking up items, they should wash their hands.
She said they recommend quarantining items for 24 hours to be safe.
Burington said the library also has some puzzles.
“If you need puzzles, let us know when you call,” she said.
In addition, library staff will continue stocking the Little Free Libraries in the Waupaca area.
“The most important thing for us now is to get peoples’ things in their hands safely,” Burington said. “We’re going to go old school and just use the phone.”
She said the library will have to discontinue the service if anyone working in the library tests positive for COVID-19, if case numbers in the county ramp up or if not enough staff members are comfortable working in the building.
Burington is glad the library can provide curbside delivery.
“We will do what we can to fill requests,” she said.
The library also reopened its drive-up book return in the parking lot on Thursday, April 23.
Returned library items are only being accepted in that book drop at this time.
Burington said items placed in the drop will be quarantined for 72 hours before processing.
“Obviously, there are no overdue fees at this time,” she said.
Burington said it is up to patrons whether they choose to return items.
She hopes people do not initially overwhelm the library with returns.
“With one drop, we may have to close the drop if it gets too full,” Burington said.
If a patron returns an item from another library in the Outagamie Waupaca Library System, that item will be held at Waupaca’s library until deliveries resume in the system.
Weyauwega
The Weyauwega Public Library will also begin accepting requests for curbside delivery on Monday, April 27.
Its curbside pickup hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.
Library Director Kelly Kneisler said pickups may be scheduled either by calling 920-867-3742 or emailing [email protected].
“Items we can circulate at this time are items from our own collection and items currently on the hold shelf,” she said.
The library’s collection may be viewed at www.infosoup.org.
She said patrons will not be able to request items through InfoSoup, but will be able to see if they are available at Weyauwega’s library.
“We are imposing a patron limit of five items and family limit of 20 items,” Kneisler said.
There will be no exceptions.
The library will remain closed to the public.
There will be no in-person requests at this time, she said.
Kneisler said this is to stay in compliance with the extension of the Safer at Home order.
When someone calls to request library materials, a pickup time will be arranged.
Those who email the library with requests will receive an email about when they may pick up their items.
“You must call us when you arrive to pick up your items at your appointed time,” she said.
The number to call – 920-867-3742 – will be posted on the sign outside the library.
Kneisler said all items will be in bags.
“Bagged pickup items will be placed in the pickup location on our walkway, away from the door at the pickup time,” she said. “It will be labeled and very visible.”
Staff will wear masks and gloves while handling the items, Kneisler said.
“One order at a time will be out for pickup. If the items aren’t picked up before the next scheduled pickup time, they will be brought inside, and the patron will be contacted to arrange a new pickup time,” she said.
Patrons may also return materials in the library’s outside book drop, she said.
Items are not to be returned in the pickup location.
Kneisler said they miss seeing the library’s patrons.
“We are so happy to offer this service to our community,” she said.