NMPL Announces Contactless Curbside Pick Up Service

Library Curbside Service is coming to North Manchester! Beginning Wednesday, May 6th, library patrons can place material requests online on the library website (www.nman.lib.in.us), or by calling the library (260-982-4773). The first pick up day will be Monday, May 11th from 12pm to 4pm. The library will loan out books, DVDs, laptops, WiFi hotspots and iPads to all card-holding patrons. Patrons will be limited to 10 items per car.

Due dates and fines are as follows:
BOOKS - 3 Weeks Check Out, No Late Fees
DVDS - 3 Days for New DVDs (DVDs with yellow tape), 1 Week for Old DVDs (DVDs without yellow tape), $5 Late Fee Per Day, Per Item
WIFI HOTSPOTS - 1 Week Check Out, $5 Late Fee Per Day
LAPTOPS & IPAD - 24 Hour Check Out, $25 Late Fee Per Day

“Library staff realize how much our patrons have missed checking out print books and DVDs during the Stay at Home order! We are excited to be able to resume these services,” said Diane Randall, Library Director.

Pick Up days will be Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 12pm to 4pm and any requested items will be available for pick up on the next pick up day.

The library is putting the safety of the staff and patrons first by maintaining contactless pick up service. “When a patron comes to get their order, they will call the library from the parking lot,” stated Jeanna Hann, Adult Department Manager and Marketing Coordinator, “A staff member wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) will place the order in a plastic bag and take it to the bench outside. Once the staff member goes back inside the building, the patron can then retrieve their order.”

All returns will be disinfected with Concept 256, a hospital grade cleaner, approved to kill CoronaVirus. The books will then be placed in quarantine for 48 hours before circulating again. Staff will all wear PPE while cleaning and disinfecting books, and will be practicing safe social distancing and hand washing habits.

Every library patron is invited to take advantage of this service! Patrons without cards can call the library for information on how to get a card. New library cards can also be issued via curbside service.

The library will also begin Document Days, where patrons and non-patrons alike can set up curbside appointments with the library to get essential documents faxed and copied. “We plan to start Document Days by mid next week,” said Diane. More information will be released via the library website and social media pages.

The library plans to phase in reopening of the building, slowly and in stages, following the Back on Track Indiana plan with the purpose of keeping everyone safe. “The library is working to implement safety measures to ensure a safe environment for staff and the community based on the five stages of the Back on Track Indiana plan and suggested guidelines, as well as CDC guidelines.”, explained Diane. The library is closely monitoring the situation and staying in contact with local Wabash County health officials. All updates and changes will be announced on the library website, social media pages and through press releases.

“Throughout this whole quarantine process, we’ve been finding new and innovative ways to serve the community,” said Jeanna. “We continue sharing with the community, ‘The building is closed, but the library is not!’ We’re still here and we’re still serving North Manchester. We’re excited to keep doing that in a more tangible way with Curbside Services.”