T-R PHOTOS BY JOE FISHER — Sarah Rosenblum, director of the Marshalltown Public Library, demonstrates how to use the library’s contactless checkout machine.

A “walkthrough phase” for the Marshalltown Public Library will begin Feb. 1 — pending low COVID-19 numbers.

The library board met virtually to discuss its next phase of opening the doors on Tuesday evening.

The library has been limited to curbside services since Nov. 12 when COVID-19 cases were on a sharp rise.

During the walkthrough phase the library will be open for limited hours. On Monday-Friday it will be open 12-6 p.m except on Thursdays when it opens at 10 a.m.. Staff will be available by phone from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Only 25 people will be allowed in the building at a time. Face masks and social distancing will be required and there is a temperature check device near the entrance which will be used to monitor everyone entering.

Sarah Rosenblum, director of the Marshalltown Public Library, goes over the guidelines for the library’s ‘Walkthrough phase’ of reopening. The library is scheduled to reopen with mitigation guidelines on Feb. 1.

Visitors are allowed 45 minutes to browse. All gathering areas such as tables and meeting rooms are covered or closed and gathering will not be allowed. Computers will be available by appointment as they will be limited.

The same reopening strategy was used last July.

“We’re hoping this is a return to our new normal,” Sarah Rosenblum, library director said. “It’s dependent on our COVID numbers staying where we are. People are very eager.”

Curbside pickup will continue to be a large part of daily operations.

There are several contactless options which are available even while browsing in person. For children, there is an enclosed bookcase filled with dozens of titles which the library has multiple copies of. A contactless checkout kiosk is located near the checkout desk. The staff is also preparing bags of books either of a specific genre or author which visitors can grab and go. If you are a fan of an author like Danielle Steele or John Grisham there may be bags featuring several titles from those authors.

Rosenblum said the online catalogue and calling in for books have been effective during the pandemic but there are still many who prefer to browse. Options like ebooks have also been very popular.

When people are back in the library, ongoing book sales will be available but the annual Friends of the Library book sale is up in the air. Rosenblum said the library is not actively seeking donations for book sales right now, although they would be interested in Marshalltown High School Pebbles annual yearbooks from the early 1900s.

On-site programming like storytime is not imminent but Rosenblum said she hopes to restore those types of services to the community soon.

Two programs the library is doing which people can do from home are the Winter Reading Challenge and the Read-Aloud Challenge. The Read-Aloud Challenge is a packet, which can be picked up at the library, and includes a 24-day reading calendar, reward coupons, a comic book and more. Readers are challenged to spend at least 10 minutes a day reading and mark their calendar to earn prizes, including a free prize book from the library. Packets are available through the end of January or while supplies last.

Children in grades K-12 can participate in the Winter Reading Challenge by using the library’s Beanstack Reading Challenge online portal. They can read any book they want and log progress to earn tickets and win prizes.

T-R PHOTO BY JOE FISHER — Dozens of bags of books are prepared and picked up daily with the public library’s curbside pickup service. It has become a popular way to get books in the hands of readers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We just want to thank the community for their patience and understanding,” she said. “Our number one priority is to keep them safe and keep our staff healthy.”

WINTER READING CHALLENGE

Participate in the Marshalltown Public Library’s Winter Reading Challenge by signing up at marshalltownlibrary.beanstack.org/reader365

MARSHALLTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY

Visit the Marshalltown Public Library at www.marshalltownlibrary.org or call 641-754-5738

Contact Joe Fisher at 641-753-6611 or jfisher@timesrepublican.com

Sarah Rosenblum, director of the Marshalltown Public Library, files away books on the shelves of donations for the library’s ongoing book sale.

Marshalltown Public Library director Sarah Rosenblum looks at book packages set aside for a dozen book clubs in Marshalltown.

Sarah Rosenblum, director of the Marshalltown Public Library, said the stack of curbside pickup packages was light on Wednesday compared to what it looks like on Monday’s, which are the busiest days for curbside pickup.