By Robert Haugh
The Santa Clara City Library will open some services in the coming weeks.
Next week, the Mission and Northside Branch Libraries will expand in-person services. The Central Park Library will do the same during the week of Aug. 23, 2021.
Library patrons will be able to:
- enter the library to browse the collection,
- return borrowed books,
- use the self-checkout machines and public computers, and
- get answers and assistance from Library staff.
The Library’s community and study rooms will remain closed. The City anticipates that the rooms will be used as voting places for the gubernatorial recall election in September.
Here the are new branch hours:
- Starting July 26, Mission Branch Library —
Hours: Monday and Wednesday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. (closed Thursday through Sunday) - Starting July 29, Northside Branch Library —
Hours: Thursday, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (closed Monday through Wednesday and Sundays) - Starting August 23, Central Park Library —
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Wednesday, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. (closed Sundays)
Here are some safety protocols:
- All library patrons, users and staff are required to wear face coverings while inside library facilities or while attending library programs unless otherwise exempt by State and County guidelines.
- Hand sanitizer will be available at the entrance and at various service points
- Available public computers will be spaced out to encourage social distancing when possible.
- Sneeze guards have been installed at all public service desks.
City staff anticipates that all Santa Clara libraries will return to regular hours and operations by the start of the next calendar year.
This is almost as bad as the school board district and the teachers union. Since the shutdown started the libraries have retained all employees, none were furloughed or laid off, all collected full salary with out doing much of anything. Now that it is time to actually get back to work, hours and services need to be phased in? BALONEY!!!! GET BACK TO WORK NOW!!!!!
As far as this part of the announcement, “All library patrons, users and staff are required to wear face coverings while inside library facilities or while attending library programs unless otherwise exempt by State and County guidelines.” It appears that fully vaccinated are allowed to enter the library without a mask since they are exempt by current State and County guidelines.
Why facemasks? What’s that about? This isn’t a health care facility, which is the only place still requiring them.