Dear Lewis & Clark Library Patrons,
It has been a rough month for this Library and its staff and patrons. The Library’s purpose is to provide high quality services, materials, programs, and joy to our patrons. We have not been able to do that for the past four weeks, and it is breaking our hearts. We have all missed you very much and hope that we can slowly begin to get back to business very soon. The Library is closely following Governor Bullock’s guidelines and continue to review when we will be able to get back to providing some semblance of Library services.
Please remember that we are remaining closed for now to help combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The steps we have taken have helped to flatten the curve.
As of now, we are making plans on how to slowly return to normal. We will get staff back in the building and begin the process of checking in material, cleaning material and work areas, making deliveries to and from the branches. When the stay at home orders are lifted we will begin the process of making holds available again. Due to the construction at the Main Library, that may not be as quick as we would like. Parts of our collections are currently unavailable to even us, and work spaces are under construction.
The Capitol Branch location is still in our plans to be our off site location. The Library has had to delay that branch rollout, but will make plans there as soon as we are all back at the Main Library to begin the move.
Holds pickup and some services will likely happen at the branch libraries in Lincoln, Augusta, and East Helena, as well as the Bookmobile sooner than at the Helena Main Library.
The Governor’s current order is set to expire on April 24. The Library will evaluate our situation as we get closer to that date.
I have been incredibly proud of the strong support of our communities here in Helena, Lincoln, Augusta, and East Helena, as well as all of our bookmobile stops, and we are proud of how positive and hardworking library staff have been over the past four weeks.
Lewis & Clark Library wants to ensure that even if you cannot physically visit your library, you will have as much access as possible to our services during and after COVID-19. Here is how our libraries continue to serve you:
Borrowing, account extensions, and services
- Remember that nothing that you have checked out will accrue fines.
- Library card accounts that were due to expire will be extended through April 30.
- Any requested items held at a closed library will remain on hold for you until the library re-opens.
- You can get digital materials — including eBooks, eMagazines, eAudiobooks, eVideos — through our website and corresponding apps for your personal devices. Look for the Libby, OverDrive, and Hoopla apps on your device app store; all of them are free.
- We have increased the availability of items in digital formats.
- Access educational and informative databases on our website.
- Get questions answered by staff via voicemail Monday through Friday from 10 am to 6 pm.
- Please keep your library materials at home. There is no need to return items during the building closures.
We hope to see you all very soon.
If you have questions, please feel free to reach to me at jfinn@lclibrary.org.
Sincerely,
John Finn, Director
Lewis & Clark Library