New Pima County ublic Library Service Model To Begin Monday, December 21

Press release from the Pima County Public Library :

December 18, 2020

(Tucson, AZ) The COVID-19 pandemic continues to devastate our community. Swift and decisive action is needed now, more than ever, to protect the health and safety of our staff and customers.

As part of the effort to address the unprecedented spread of the virus within the community, Pima County is enacting a Stay at Home Plan for County employees.

On Monday, December 21st we will offer a new service model to help reduce the spread of the Coronavirus.

Starting Monday, December 21st, Library services will change as follows:

• 11 libraries will provide holds pickup and Grab-N-Go food services
• 3 libraries will provide Grab-N-Go food service
• All other libraries will close temporarily

We are focusing on services that we can provide with little to no contact, which includes holds pick up and Grab-N-Go food. There will be no access to any library buildings and we will not have any printing, faxing, or computer services available.

Here's what customers need to know:

• All due dates will be extended until February 1st
• Remember, we're fine free, opens a new window, so don't stress, we know customers have a lot on their plates
• Returned books will not be checked in immediately, and may stay on customer accounts until we expand services when it is safe to do so
• Current customer holds will be here, ready to be picked up until February 1st
• Customers can still place holds and suggest purchases, but holds may not be fulfilled until we expand services when it is safe to do so

We encourage customers to wait until we expand services to get materials. We understand it's hard to go without books, movies, and music, but we all have the power to mitigate this pandemic, and that means staying at home (and using our E-Library, opens a new window).

Curbside and Holds Pickup

For those who feel they need to get holds, they will need to be picked up at one of the following eleven libraries:

• Caviglia-Arivaca Library*
• Eckstrom-Columbus Library
• Joyner-Green Valley Library
• Martha Cooper Library
• Miller-Golf Links Library
• Murphy-Wilmot Library
• Nanini Library
• Oro Valley Public Library
• Salazar-Ajo Library*
• Valencia Library
• Woods Memorial Library

Library hours for these libraries will be Monday–Friday, 10 am–5 pm. Please note, we will be closed for Christmas, December 25th, and New Year's Day, January 1.

To make sure that holds are available at one of these locations, please fill out this form, opens a new window or call Infoline at (520) 791-4010.

In addition to curbside and holds pickup, these libraries will offer Grab-N-Go food during open hours (Monday through Friday 10 am to 5 pm).

*Please note, Caviglia-Arivaca Library and Salazar-Ajo Library will be open Monday through Friday from 10 am to 2 pm. These libraries will not offer food services.

Grab-N-Go food services only:

• Sam Lena-South Tucson Library
• Santa Rosa Library
• Southwest Library

Food will be available at Sam Lena-South Tucson Library and Santa Rosa Library Monday through Friday 10 am to 5 pm. Southwest Library will serve food Monday through Friday from 10 am to 2 pm.

There will be no curbside or holds pickup at these three libraries.

Closed temporarily (no services):

• Dewhirst-Catalina Library
• Dusenberry-River Library
• El Pueblo Library
• El Rio Library (closed until further notice)
• Flowing Wells Library
• Himmel Park Library
• Joel D. Valdez Main Library
• Kirk-Bear Canyon Library
• Quincie Douglas Library
• Richard Elías-Mission Library
• Sahuarita Library
• Wheeler Taft Abbett, Sr. Library

We are here to help – by email, phone, and chat!

A limited number of staff will be on hand to answer questions in English or Spanish. Looking for book recommendations? Having trouble with a streaming service? Need information about educational resources for kids, your small business, community resources for food and other basics needs, or authoritative health information?

• Email us at AskALibrarian@pima.gov, opens a new window
• Call Infoline at (520) 791-4010
• Chat with us on our website at library.pima.gov, opens a new window

This press release was produced by the Pima County Public Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.