Gainesville, Fla. – The Alachua County Library District will offer browsing hours six days a week at five branches and update operating hours across all 12 locations starting Monday, Sept. 28. Patrons are required to wear a face mask and practice social distancing while in buildings and complete a brief health screening, including a touchless temperature check, before entering.
Starting Monday, patrons can browse as follows:
- Headquarters Library and Millhopper, Tower Road, and Alachua branches: Monday, Friday, and Saturday 3-5 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday 3-7 p.m.
- Cone Park Branch: Monday-Saturday 3-5 p.m.
Curbside services will continue Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Headquarters Library and Millhopper, Tower Road, Cone Park, Hawthorne, High Springs, Library Partnership, and Newberry branches and Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Archer, Micanopy, and Waldo branches. Drive-through services will be available Monday, Friday, and Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Tuesday-Thursday 10 a.m.-7 p.m. at Alachua Branch. Computer appointments and copier services are available at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. at all locations on days when curbside/drive-through service is available.
Browsing will be limited to 10 percent of building occupancy at Headquarters Library and Millhopper, Tower Road, Alachua, and Cone Park branches. Patrons age 11 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Face masks must cover the nose and mouth and fit securely under the chin. Neck gaiters and face coverings with valves, mesh, or holes of any kind are not permitted.
The following services will be available during browsing hours:
- Browsing
- Checking out items, picking up holds, applying for a new library card, and renewing a library card
- Computer sessions by appointment or walkup, based on availability
- Copier and scanner use
- Reference services
The following services will not be available during browsing hours:
- Seating
- Meetings, study rooms, and Quiet Reading rooms
- One-on-one computer assistance
- Payments
- Inside returns (Please make all returns using the exterior book drops.)
The Library District has removed furniture, reconfigured computer areas for social distancing, installed sneeze guards, and equipped employees with personal protection equipment to prepare for the next phase in opening branches. For the latest information on available library services, please visit www.aclib.us/currentservices. For more information, contact Rachel Cook at 352-334-3909 or rcook@aclib.us.