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Contact: Tess Mayer
Director of Library Services
Berkeley Public Library
510.981.6100
tmayer@cityofberkeley.info

Express Indoor Browsing, Holds Pick-up & Computer Use begins at Three Library Locations
North on May 28; West on June 7; Central on June 15

Berkeley, California (May 20, 2021) – This past year, the Library has been proud to serve Berkeley in ways that center staff and patron safety, helping to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the community while also ensuring access to physical library materials, information services and a robust schedule of virtual programs.

Now, three Library locations will open to the public for additional services including indoor browsing, holds pick-up, self-checkouts & computer use:

• North will begin offering these indoor express services on Friday, May 28
• West will begin Monday, June 7
• Central will open the 1st floor for indoor express services on Tuesday, June 15

Indoor service hours at all three locations will be Monday-Saturday, 2pm-6pm.

Outdoor Pickup of holds will continue at four locations:

• Central: Mondays 12-6; Tuesday-Saturday 10-6
• Claremont: Monday-Wednesday 10-6; Thursday 12-6; Friday-Saturday 10-6
• Tarea Hall Pittman South: Monday-Wednesday 10-6; Thursday 12-6; Friday-Saturday 10-6
• Tool Lending Library: Monday-Tuesday 10-6; Wednesday-Thursday 12-6; Friday-Saturday 10-6

The information line (510.981.6100) for reference questions and library account customer service will continue to be staffed Monday 12-6pm and Tuesday-Saturday 10am-6pm.

Other services that began during the pandemic, such as chromebook and wifi hot-spot lending, personalized book picks by librarians and virtual programming, will continue.

“We built community online when we needed to and this helped us to expand access to our services in important ways. But there is nothing like being inside the Library, browsing books and making new discoveries,” said Director of Library Services, Tess Mayer. “We are looking forward to being able to offer that experience again.”

Two staff teams, one for Central and one for the Branches, are continuing to meet and plan for additional indoor access and services. The teams continue to work in coordination with the City of Berkeley, Labor Unions and Public Health.

Additional facility openings and services will be announced via the “Library Happenings” e-newsletter, on the Library’s Facebook and Instagram feeds and on the Library’s website. Patrons may also call 510.981.6100 for updates.

“Libraries build community and will help bring us back together after a long time of being socially distanced,” notes Ms. Mayer. “As we begin our phased reopening of indoor library services, things will look a little different at first but we are all excited for things to get back to normal and to enjoy all the wonderful in-person programs and services we regularly provide the community. We are thrilled by this first step to welcome you in, Berkeley!”

To learn more about Berkeley Public Library programs, services, collections, hours and locations, please visit the Library’s website at http://www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.

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