Update: As of 7/13/20, all libraries are back to operating at regular hours. We are still practicing COVID precautions–see post below for details and information on limited services. Curbside pickup will continue to be offered indefinitely for those who don’t wish to enter the library.
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Mesa County Libraries plan to reopen to public visits on a limited basis Monday, June 8.
The libraries closed March 14 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Since that time, library staff have been rearranging shelving and furniture to enable better social distancing in the buildings, as well as installing see-through shields around patron service desks and planning how to offer modified services upon reopening. Take a virtual tour of the changes at Central here.
- Until at least July 1, we are asking users to plan for brief visits.
- We will not enforce time limits right now, but as we have visitors waiting to enter, we may ask users who have been in the library longer to complete their visit.
- Computer users will be limited to one 60-minute session per day.
- Lounging-type furniture and children’s toys and games have been removed from the library.
- The number of visitors in the Central Library will be limited.
- Please be prepared for wait times to enter the library.
- Please enter at the West door (the Fifth Street side) and exit at the East door (the Sixth Street side).
- All other doors will be inaccessible, except in case of emergency.
- Families are strongly urged to limit the number of members entering the building so that we can allow more households to access the library at once.
- Curbside pick-up will continue for those who are not yet ready to enter the library. Please see this page for how to schedule a curbside pick-up.
- Catalog computers are available to look up books.
- Patrons may browse the shelves with one person/family in an aisle at a time.
- Patrons are encouraged to use the self-check kiosks or may check out by holding up cards and books to a stationary wand at the Checkout Desk.
- To protect you, staff will be masked at all times when outside of their offices.
- Please protect us and your fellow library users by wearing a mask.
- Separation of six feet from non-household members must be maintained.
- Increased cleaning by staff is in effect; cleaning frequency will be posted on frequently used equipment and spaces.
- All service desks will have “sneeze guards.”
MODIFIED LIBRARY HOURS
All eight locations throughout the county will reopen on a limited basis, and initially, their hours of operation will be as follows:
- Central Library in downtown Grand Junction: Noon-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday; Noon-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday; closed Sunday
- Clifton and Fruita branches: Noon-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday; Noon-5 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday
- Palisade and Orchard Mesa branches: Noon-6 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; Noon-5 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
- Collbran Branch: Noon-6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; Noon-5 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
- De Beque Branch: 9 a.m.-4 p.m Friday
- Gateway Branch: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday
- 970West Studio: Reservations open July 1st.
- Public computers / Chromebooks and printing
- Browsing the collection and checkout
- Copying
- Wifi
- Limited tables and chairs for studying and work
- Limited staff assistance
- Branches are open with the same limits
- Holds and assistance via the Call Center at 970-243-4442
- eBooks and streaming video
- eResources
- Book-A-Librarian and tech help via computer or phone – call 970-243-4442
- Online programs – on Facebook, Instagram and You Tube
- Live story times happen at 10 a.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays on the Mesa County Libraries Facebook page at facebook.com/mesacountylib
- In-person events, programs, and classes
- Study rooms and community rooms
- Meeting up and hanging out
- In-depth, in-person assistance
- Volunteer opportunities
- Toys and games in the play area
- Most lounge seating
- Digital conversion station
- Magazine exchange
- Book donations
- We will gradually increase the occupancy limits.
- Hours will be returned to normal on July 13.
- There will be no in-person gathers (program/events) through July.
- 970West Studio reservations begin July 1.
SUMMER READING AT MESA COUNTY LIBRARIES
This year’s Summer Reading at Mesa County Libraries will be an all-online program, and online registration for Summer Reading opens Monday, June 1.
Special online entertainment and activities are scheduled throughout the summer on Mesa County Libraries’ social media channels. All ages are welcome, and there’s no charge to participate in Summer Reading at Mesa County Libraries.
So, to confirm, we as of JUne 8, can pick up our holds IN the Library or call in when we are notified of a received hold at the Library and schedule a pick up time? Thanks, never realized how important a library is until its closed – thanks for reopening!
Yes. We will continue to offer curbside pick-up of holds as an option after we reopen the buildings to visitors.
Hi, first Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Some questions: Where should people with a handicap sticker on their car park?
I am also confused about which entrance is in and which is out? Do you go in on the Fifth St. side or the Sixth St. side?
Now while I have been waiting feverishly for the library to open, I want to make sure that the houseless people who use the the library for refuge will still be able to go in.
I can escape the heat by staying in my home and have access to fresh water and clean toilet facilities.
Please let me know what I should do to make sure people who need the library more than I do, can have access to it.
At the Central Library, there is designated parking for people with disabilities outside both the West door (the Fifth Street side, which will serve as the entrance) and the East door (the Sixth Street side, which will serve as the exit). We will work with individuals to ensure that people with disabilities can enter and exit the library on the same side of the building where their car is parked.
As to your other question, the library is open to everyone. Our operation plan for reopening requires that we adhere to limits on the number of people we allow inside our buildings at any given time. The library buildings will be open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, and during busy times, it is possible that some patrons may need to wait outside before they can be admitted. We want to do everything we can to minimize inconvenience to patrons and will work to ensure that as many people as possible who need to access our buildings can do so.
Will we be able to use the computers and printers? There’s really no place in town to use them.
Hi Carri,
Yes, we will have our public computers and printers available for patron use 🙂
Are the family Museum passes available this summer?
Hi Gini,
Those passes will be available soon hopefully–we’re waiting on the Museum to send us new cards, as ours expired in March. As for our other pass programs, the Art Center is currently open, but the Botanical Gardens is closed. We are currently lending Colorado State Parks backpacks. This page will have the most current updates when the passes become available: https://mesacountylibraries.org/booksandmedia/passes/
Please let us know if you have any more questions.
Thanks, Cari
Thank you for bringing back the library! Unfortunately as an elder person I don’t feel it is safe. You all worked so hard to make it so, but the unmasked liberators and defenders of (their own) freedom make it yet one more place not advisable for people at risk. Thank you so much for your hard work.
Thank you for your comment. For patrons who do not feel comfortable entering the library, we are continuing to offer curbside pickup of holds. In addition, we have a large number of ebooks and eAudiobooks available for download through OverDrive.
Thank you so much for all you do! My daughter, my grand children, my husband and I all appreciate our community libraries. Thank you for be careful in these times of Covid 19.
Stay safe!