THUNDER BAY — The Thunder Bay Public Library has released details of its phased reopening plan.
In an announcement Tuesday, TBPL said In-person services at the Mary JL Black and County Fair branches are currently targeted to resume on Sept. 7, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
However, inside service at the Waverley and Brodie libraries won't start up again until Sept. 27.
New hours of operation will also be implemented on Sept. 27, and will include evening hours as well as Saturday openings at selected locations.
Details will be announced later.
In the interim, curbside service will continue at the Mary JL Black, Waverley and Brodie locations.
As well as taking care of pickups and returns, library staff are offering take-and-make craft kits, book bundles, online programming, the TD Summer Reading game, a new technology loan program, and a 24/7 virtual library which includes eBooks and eAudiobooks.
TBPL said its reopening plan takes into account the provincial Roadmap to Reopening, key public health indicators and vaccination rates.
"We'd like to thank the community for their patience and continued patronage online and at curbside during the pandemic," Chief Librarian John Pateman said. "We recognize that it has been a challenging time for everyone and we look forward to getting back to the new normal in library service."
The statement said the library has viewed the pandemic as an opportunity to "reset and re-imagine" itself.
The two large downtown libraries are being transformed with new lower shelving, custom-built furniture for the Indigenous Knowledge Centre at Brodie, mobile desks, mobile technology and other capital improvements.
Some additional building work, ground improvements, repairs and painting are also being completed at the Brodie and Waverley sites.
