The Kansas City, Kansas, Public Libraries will reopen to the public on March 22.
The library buildings have been closed to public access, while still providing curbside access since June 1, 2020. Patrons were able to contact the library, request a book, and pick it up outside the building through curbside service.
The public will be able to engage in most of the previous services offered by the library, though some safety restrictions will continue to be in place while COVID-19 remains a community issue, according to Kim Woolery, library spokeswoman.
Curbside service will continue for patrons, the spokeswoman said. Masks will be required, hand sanitizer will be available around the buildings and temperature scans will be taken at the door, she said. Social distancing will be required.
“We have modeled good safety measures over the past year with mitigating strategies in place,” said Carol Levers, library director, in a report to the Kansas City, Kansas, school board at the March 9 meeting. Now they can safely reopen, within CDC guidelines, she said.
Capacity of the library buildings will be limited, Woolery said. Only 30 library patrons at a time can be in the Main, South and West branch libraries, she said. The Schlagle Library at Wyandotte County Lake Park is allowed only 10 patrons inside at a time because it is a smaller area, she added.
Because the Turner Community Library is small, it will not be opening to in-person visits because if it did, only one or two people could have been allowed in at a time, she added. Turner will continue its curbside services, she added.
Levers reported at the March 9 school board meeting that the total circulation in January for the five branches was 12,874 items, with 6,574 items placed on hold.
With the reopening, those who do go into the library buildings will be allowed to stay only 30 minutes because of the limited capacity, according to Woolery.
Library patrons will still be able to browse, use the computers and other services, she said. However, the meeting rooms cannot be reserved or used because of their small space, Woolery said.
The library will not have in-person classes, programs or workshops at this time because of the space restrictions, she said.
For the past several months, the library has offered video programs, as well as take-home craft kits for patrons, which will continue.
One of the recent library video events, with guest author and Pulitzer Prize winner Isabel Wilkerson, who wrote, “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents,” attracted a large national audience, Levers said at the recent school board meeting. Another recent video program was, “Black Men in White Coats,” with a discussion about minorities in the medical field.
Levers said at the school board meeting that some seating has been removed in the library so people are not too close to one another. Computer labs would have a limited number of people, and would have extra attention for cleaning, she said. Bathrooms and vending machines will be open to the public. The library will continue to quarantine returned items and use enhanced cleaning and sanitation on all surfaces.
Loitering inside or outside the libraries will not be allowed, she said, because social distancing is being required.
Library hours will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Main, South and West Wyandotte branches.
The Schlagle Library will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and every third Saturday.
