After months of waiting, the Newcastle Library is officially opening its doors to the community again. However, as bibliophiles prepare to visit the municipal institute, there are a few changes in the operation of the library.
Newcastle Library’s operating hours are as follows:
- Monday to Friday from 9 am until 10 am – this time is reserved for library patrons from the ages of 60 years and over.
- Monday to Friday from 10 am until 3 pm – All patrons can visit the library.
- Saturday – The library will remain closed during the course of the weekend, this is for sanitisation purposes.
Fines for overdue books:
All fines accumulated for materials that were on loan prior to the lockdown will be waived
Access to the library:
Certain restrictions will be implemented at the library in the coming weeks.
- Mega Library – Up to 50 people allowed, including staff.
- Study/Standard Library – Up to 25 people including staff.
- Small/Modular Library – Up to 10 people including staff.
- Study areas – Up to 20% of the current allocation.
- Public Internet – Up to 10% of the current allocation.
Rules for patrons
- Patrons should wear a face mask for the duration of their visit.
- Complete a register for the purpose of contact tracing.
- Patrons with a temperature of 37.5˚ and higher will not be permitted to enter the library.
- No children under the age of 13 years will be permitted to visit the library.
- Visits to the library will be restricted to 30 minutes.
Permissible services
- All services will be based on the approved standard operating procedures, as received from the Provincial Department of Arts and Culture.
- Wi-fi access: Library patrons can access the internet inside and outside the library building (within a limited range) using their own devices during the library operating hours.
- Public internet access: Library patrons need to make a booking for this service, either via telephone or e-mail.
- Study area: Library patrons need to make a booking for these services either via telephone or e-mail.
- Returning of library materials borrowed before lockdown
- Library patrons will not be able to browse library shelves but will be allowed to request information or library materials via telephone or e-mail for collection 2 days after the request is made. This will allow staff to retrieve and prepare the materials required.
- Registration of new members
- Photocopying from but only from internal library materials only
Restricted services
- Use of Group Activity Rooms
- Library and outreach programmes
- Group and school visits
- Toy libraries and children’s services (Story hours etc.)
- Gaming
- Use of newspapers
- Reading corners/lounging areas
- Photocopying from external materials/sources
With a series of strict protocols being implemented at the library, what are your thoughts on the regulations? And will you be visiting the Newcastle Library?
Share your views with us in the comment section below.
