Ottawa – As part of its phased approach to resuming physical Library services, select OPL branches will begin offering additional in-person services on Monday, August 17.
New in-person services include browsing, use of public computers by appointment, and card registration. Employees at these select OPL locations will also be available to assist customers with readers’ advisory and related questions.
Branches offering new in-person services
Branches currently offering contactless services will begin offering these enhanced in-person services on Monday, August 17. These branches include:
- Alta Vista
- Beaverbrook
- Blackburn Hamlet
- Carlingwood
- Carp
- Centennial
- Cumberland
- Elmvale Acres
- Emerald Plaza
- Greely
- Greenboro
- Main
- Nepean Centrepointe
- North Gloucester
- Ruth E. Dickinson
- Stittsville
- St. Laurent
The following branches will be opening on Monday, August 17, and will also offer the enhanced in-person services:
- North Gower
- Richmond
- Vanier
Branches offering returns and holds pickup service
Due to space constraints, some branches will not be offering the new in-person services, but will continue to offer returns and holds pickup service:
- Rosemount (temporary location) will continue to offer curbside service.
- Metcalfe Village branch will reopen on Saturday, August 15 with hours of operation: Saturdays, 10 am to 3 pm. It will offer contactless service.
Holds pickup is by appointment only at these locations, but items can be returned anytime during opening hours.
The Bookmobile will begin offering contactless returns and holds pickup service on Monday, August 17, with a modified schedule. No appointment is needed to pick up holds or return items at the Bookmobile.
**
Following this new wave of reopening, Ottawa Public Library will have reopened 22 of its 33 branches.
The following branches were tentatively scheduled to reopen in August, but due to staffing challenges in the context of COVID-19, the opening dates for these branches will be determined at a later date:
- Sunnyside, Hazeldean, Manotick, Orléans, and Rideau
In addition, due to staffing and operational challenges, the reopening dates for the following branches also remain to be determined:
- Constance Bay, Fitzroy Harbour, Munster, Osgoode, Rockcliffe Park, Vernon, Kiosk
Customers of these branches can access library services at nearby locations. In its reopening plans, OPL aimsto offer physical library services equitably across the City, while responding to the operational challenges of the current situation.
The health and safety of employees and customers remains OPL’s priority. OPL’s phased plan to resume physical services incorporates physical distancing requirements, enhanced sanitary controls, and protocols for employees and customers. Branches will respect capacity limits in line with indoor gathering limits established by the provincial government as part of phase 3 of reopening. As a result of branch capacity limits, customers will be encouraged to limit in-branch time to ensure equitable access to everyone.
Ottawa Public Library continues to follow direction from the Province of Ontario and guidance from Ottawa Public Health to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community.
For additional details on current services, please visit BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca.