Opening your Great Falls Public Library
Opening Up Your Library: Service and Safety During COVID
The Great Falls Public Library is committed to protecting the health of our community while continuing to meet the needs of our patrons. As COVID-19 transmission in our community slows, vaccines become more available and the risks from COVID-19 are reduced, the Library will expand services.
This plan lays out the hopes of the Library staff. Any increases in COVID-19 transmissions and increased community risk will result in adjustments to the plan. All changes in COVID-19 precautions will follow the recommendations of the Cascade County City-County Health Department.
CURRENT STATUS:
As of April 1, 2021, Library COVID precautions include the following:
- Masks or other face coverings are required while inside the library. Masks will be provided free of charge. Children under the age of 5 are exempt from this requirement, with the understanding that they are accompanied by an adult able to help them comply with social distancing guidelines. Masks provided for those who need them.
- All in-person programming is canceled. Staff are providing on-line programing.
- A pick-up window has been installed to provide for safe, contactless pickup of hold materials.
- Physical barriers are installed at all public desks
- Hand sanitizing stations are available in all public spaces and work areas
- Staff are following vigorous cleaning and sanitizing protocols for public high-touch spaces and staff work areas
- Staff complete a health screening at the start of each shift and practice proper quarantine and isolation guidelines if they are exposed to or infected with COVID-19
- Furniture and computers have been arranged to promote social distancing
- WiFi signal has been boosted to allow access from the parking lot and front plaza (password: gfpl1234)
- Library return bins are available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week
- Providing pick-up and drop-off Bookmobile service only
- Library meeting rooms are only available to Library staff and partners (no public use of the rooms)
- Library is open limited hours.
PICKUP WINDOW
Monday: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Tuesday-Saturday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
OPEN TO ALL
Tuesday through Saturday: : 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS ONLY
Tuesday: 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Thursday: 10:00 am to 11:00 am
MONTANA ROOM
Tuesday through Saturday: 1:00 am to 4:00 pm
NEXT STEPS:
EXPANDING HOURS:
Starting April 19th, the Library will be open more hours.
- OPEN TO ALL: Tuesday through Saturday 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
PICKUP WINDOW: Monday through Saturday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm - PHONES: Mon 9:00 am – 5:00 pm; Tuesday through Saturday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
RUNNING THE NEW BOOKMOBILE:
In mid-April, the NEW Bookmobile will be here. Library will continue to deliver holds and will start to allow limited Bookmobile browsing.
CHANGE MASK REQUIREMENT:
Starting May 25th, Masks will be RECOMMENDED but not required while in the Library.
RE-START VOLUNTEER PROGRAM:
Starting May 25th, volunteers will be invited to return to working inside the Library.
OPEN MEETING ROOMS:
Starting May 25th, the public will be able to use the Library meeting rooms.
PLAN OUTDOOR IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING:
Starting in May, the Library will begin to hold outdoor in-person programming. (The Library will continue to provide online programming.)
PLAN LIMITED INDOOR IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING:
Starting in July, the Library will begin to hold indoor in-person programming. (The Library will continue to provide online programming.)
FUTURE PLANS:
EXPANDING HOURS:
As volunteers return and all staff are able to work with the public, the Library will return to being open to the public at least 50 hours a week.
EXPANDING PROGRAMING:
As risk continues to decrease, the Library will return to providing more in-person programming.
EXPANDING COMPUTER ACCESS:
As risk continues to decrease and social distancing is no longer recommended, the Library will allow more public computers to be used by the public.
EXPANDING SEATING:
As risk continues to decrease and social distancing is no longer recommended, the Library will return furniture to allow patrons to sit in larger groups.