The Easton branch of the Talbot County Free Library reopened on August 17, 2020 with limited hours and services and at a reduced occupancy limit. The St. Michaels branch will open Monday, August 24. To celebrate reopening, fines will not be charged through September on items owned by and checked out from the Talbot County Free Library. Library material owned by other Maryland Libraries may still incur fines.
Hours for both branches for this phase of service include:
Monday and Thursday: 10 a.m. – noon and 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday: 9 a.m. – noon and 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
The library is closed mid-day for cleaning. At this time, the library is closed on Saturday.
According to Executive Director Dana Newman, services that are being offered during this phase of reopening are designed for convenience, safety, and efficiency. Patrons are invited to pick out items, use the self-checkout stations, access public computers, and ask quick account and information questions. New books and DVD displays are located near the entrance so that patrons can easily grab something and be on their way.
Visits and public computer use are limited to a maximum of one hour a day. The library WiFi is available both inside and outside the buildings with no time limits for use.
“The staff is excited to be open again and to welcome people back into the building,” said Newman. “Talbot County Free Library puts the safety of our patrons and staff first and foremost, and to that end, we have adapted our buildings and services to minimize the risk of exposure to potential illness. We have installed Plexiglas at all service desks, 6-feet distancing markers, and limited available furniture and computers which have been placed at least six feet apart. Library staff will regularly disinfect all high-touch surface areas, and hand sanitizer and wipes are available for public use. We hope these changes will make our patrons’ experience comfortable.”
Newman cautioned that at any time, depending on the number of COVID-19 cases in Talbot County or other circumstances related to the pandemic, the library may be forced to close one or both branches once again for an extended period and return to more limited offerings, such as the Books-to-Go service.
To provide the best visiting experience for everyone, library patrons are asked to read the reopening FAQ which can be found at tcfl.org/reopeningFAQ. For questions about library services and programs visit tcfl.org, email askus@tcfl.org, or call 410-822-1626. While the library is not offering physical programming at this time, please check out the host of virtual programming for both children and adults on the website at tcfl.org. Patrons may also take advantage of a myriad of eResources also available at tcfl.org/eresources.
Celebrating its 95th anniversary, Talbot County Free Library’s mission is to inspire the community to discover ideas and information to enrich and renew lives.
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~ Talbot County Free Library