Library Service & COVID-19

No contact holds pick up and returns services will resume on Monday, August 24, 2020.

No contact holds pick up

Pick up your holds Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm at two of our locations: Mary J.L. Black and Waverley.

How will no contact holds pick up work?

We will phone patrons to let them know their hold is available and to confirm the pick up location
Once patrons have received a phone call about their hold, they can pick up at the confirmed location (either Mary J.L. Black or Waverley) between 10 am and 4 pm Monday through Friday
Look for a table outside the front entrance at Mary J.L. Black or Waverley. Staff will ask for a library card or ID and safely deliver requested items
During inclement weather the Waverley site may be closed; check social media or call 684-6814 before making the trip

Returns now accepted

Return your library materials Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm at two of our locations: Mary J.L. Black and Waverley.

How will no contact returns work?

At Mary J.L. Black: use the outdoor book return 24/7
At Waverley: look for the table and place items in the bin or use the book drop after hours
Physical distancing measures will be in place
No donations of books will be accepted
No bags please
Items may remain on Library records for up to a week after you have returned them (we eliminated all fines as of January 1, 2020)
During inclement weather the Waverley return may be closed; check social media or call 684-6814 before making the trip

More detailed info from the library web site

What is a hold?

A ‘hold’ is created when an item has been reserved for a specific library member. Go to search.tbpl.ca to search our online catalogue.

How do I place a hold if I don’t have a computer?

You can call the Library at 684-6814 between 10 am and 4 pm to request up to five titles to be placed on hold for you. Holds can also be placed online at search.tbpl.ca

How will no contact holds pick up work?

We will phone patrons to let them know their hold is available and to confirm the pick up location.
Once patrons have received a phone call about their hold, they can pick up at the confirmed location (either Mary J.L. Black or Waverley) between 10 am and 4 pm Monday through Friday.
Look for a table outside the front entrance at Mary J.L. Black or Waverley. Staff will ask for a library card or ID and safely deliver requested items.
During inclement weather the Waverley site may be closed; check social media or call 684-6814 before making the trip

Can I pick my holds up at any branch?

No contact holds pick up is available only at the Mary J.L. Black and Waverley libraries in this phase.

I placed a hold on a title before the library closed due to COVID-19. Can I still get it?

Yes. We are calling people about holder holds to see if they still want the items and to arrange for a pick up location.

Can I get into the Library when I come to get my holds?

No. That will not be possible until a later stage of our phased service plan.

Should I wear a mask?

We recommend that people wear face masks when picking up holds and interacting with Library staff.

Can I pick up holds for everyone in my family at once?

Yes, please bring everyone’s library card or identification with you when doing the pick up.

Can I pick up holds for my neighbour or friend?

Yes. Arrange to get his/her card or identification and you can pick up their holds.

Can I pick up Book Club bags?

This service will be offered in a future phase of our plan.

Can I get Home Service deliveries at this time?

This service will be offered in a future phase of our plan.

How long will you keep my holds for me to pick up?

After the phone call to indicate that the hold is available, we will keep the item reserved for pick up for one week. After one week, it will be returned to the collection or to the next person who has it on hold.

Can I phone the Library with questions?

Library staff are taking calls at 684-6814 from Monday through Friday from 10 am to 4 pm.

What have staff been doing since the buildings closed?

We had a small group of staff working from home since mid-March focusing on a variety of priority tasks, such as online services and collections, technology needs for staff and the public, preparing to return to the buildings and on our phased approach to offering services again. Unfortunately, the majority of library staff were placed on declared emergency leave and some are just returning to work within the past week.

What are the challenges that TBPL is facing in terms of offering service in a safe way for both staff and the public?

Buildings – two of our buildings are very old and present physical distancing challenges
Collection – browsing the collection cannot be done safely. Scientific evidence indicates that the virus can survive on surfaces such as books, which are difficult to sanitize. TBPL is quarantining all returned items for 96 hours as a result, again according to scientific advice. We want to ensure staff and patron safety.

Why is TBPL starting with Waverley and Mary J.L. Black?