Stacks Are Open (Again)

The Nashua Public Library has finally re-opened to the public again which means so are the stacks (this time). 

That wording was because it's the third time since the March 2020 start of the pandemic that it has done so. Hopefully, this time it will remain open with more resources available in future months.

Early in the pandemic the library shut down, then reopened for a few weeks in early summer. Then it was shut down until the March 1 reopening.

Library occupancy now is limited to 45 people in the building at one time with social distancing. A monitor at the entry does a count and will provide a mask which is required. No mask, no service; if you can't wear a mask, a librarian will retrieve items and deliver outside the building.

Even though the library was closed, books and other materials (DVDs, CD, magazines) could be requested online and picked up through curbside pickup. An email would be sent that requested materials were available. You would park in a designed area, call and a librarian would deliver the items. Book drops remained open for return of materials.

Ebooks and audiobooks were also available for downloads and all my 2020 reading was done through books read on a Kindle or listened to on a cell phone. 

But, of course, the reopening comes with restrictions, as do most things these days.

Library users can enter the building to pick up reserved materials, browse and check out new materials. There's a limited collection of items for children and teens available for browsing.

Anyone who wants to browse the adult and teen stacks to select books and other items can do so specified hours from Monday-Thursday and Saturday. The library is closed on Friday and Sunday. After reopening, users had to call and select a browse time, but this requirement was lifted within a week. It may have been rescinded because of the scheduling effort and few callers. The library was rather empty when I was there over the weekend.

I didn't have any wait time to browse the stacks, which as shown above were rather very deserted. As an alternative, users can ask librarians to retrieve books from the stacks rather than doing it themselves. And, if you don't know what to read, you can ask a librarian for advice. That's never an issue for me, my problem is always too many books to read and too little time. Maybe it's yours as well?

Pre-pandemic, the library had a number of computer terminals available for public use. These could be reserved the day of a visit. Not so now, since most of the equipment has been removed and the use of computers and printers is by appointment only by an advance calling to the library. There's no walk-ins allowed now.

This area used to have tables and seating areas, but all that furniture has also been removed. And, the area is blocked off. Formerly busy areas such as the Children’s Room, Teen Room and meeting and study rooms are all closed now.

While the absence of computers, tables, chairs seating areas seemed excessive, the removal of paperback books seemed even more unusual. The arrow in the above photo shows the now-empty shelves which used to house this collection. 

Here's two books I checked out during my visit. Only a large print version of the Lennon was available which does make reading in bed much easier.

Checkout is self-service, just like a supermarket. The only items staff members check out are those for curbside pickup.

All returned items are quarantined 4 days before being checked in. This means that library users will find returned items still showing on their account even after being returned. 

But there's no late fines either right now.

I've missed going to the library these many months. While reserving books was possible, it was easier to download them to read or listen to. But, a major drawback was that not all books were available for downloading. 

How about where you live — did the local library close. If so, has it reopened?