Phoenixville Library News & Job Openings
Library Named Mail-in Ballot Drop-off Location, Beginning October 13
Phoenixville Public Library has been designated a drop-off location for mail-in ballots for the November 3rd election. The ballot boxes will not arrive at the Library until Tuesday, October 13. Please do not drop off ballots at the Library and do not place them in the book drops.
Contact Chester County Voter Services with any questions on voting at 610-344-6410 or https://chesco.org/elections. Thank you!
Library Book Bundles for Adults
Since you can’t browse the Library’s shelves right now, we can do it for you! Fill out this form or call 610-933-3013 x132 to receive a surprise book bundle for checkout at the Library with your Chester County Library System card. Library staff will select 4 books for you from the Adult Library’s fiction or nonfiction sections. See our website for more information on this free service.
Support the Library: Buy a Book Surprise Bag!
Looking for more great reads? Enjoy surprises? Want to support your favorite Library? Purchase a Book Surprise Bag! For $3.00, you can take home 3 books selected for you at random from the Library’s book sale carts. You CAN ask for books from a specific genre — like mystery/thriller, science fiction, biography, etc., but otherwise, it’s a surprise! So ask for a Book Surprise Bag on your next visit to the Library!
Updated Library Service Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday:
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM: In-Library Pickup of Holds
2:00 – 6:30 PM: Curbside Pickup of Holds
10:00 AM – 6:45 PM: Computer Center Open (45-minute appointments on the hour required)
10:00 AM – 6:30 PM: Passport Application Acceptance Appointments
Notary Appointments 10:00 AM — 6:30 PM on Monday and Thursday only
Wednesday:
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM: In-Library Pickup of Holds
2:00 – 4:30 PM: Curbside Pickup of Holds
10:00 AM – 4:45 PM: Computer Center Open (45-minute appointments on the hour required)
10:00 AM – 4:30 PM: Passport Application Acceptance Appointments
Notary Appointments 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Friday:
10:00 AM – 1:30 PM: Curbside Pickup of Holds
10:00 AM – 1:45 PM: Computer Center Open (45-minute appointments on the hour required)
10:00 AM – 1:30 PM: Passport Application Acceptance Appointments
Saturday:
10:00 AM – 4:30 PM: Curbside Pickup of Holds
10:00 AM – 4:45 PM: Computer Center Open (45-minute appointments on the hour required)
COVID-19 Library Patron Use Policy
This policy has been adopted by the Phoenixville Public Library Board of Trustees in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The rules outlined below address the changes in services and procedures due to the pandemic and shall remain in effect for the duration of the pandemic or until amended by the Board of Trustees. The principal consideration in the adoption of these rules is the health and safety of library staff and users. The library is operating under limited hours and services.
- Access to the library will be limited to one visit per day.
- The number of people simultaneously in the library and the duration of their stay will be limited and that information will be posted at the entrance to the library.
- All library users 2 years of age and older must wear a face covering which completely covers the nose and mouth while the in library.
- For those unable or unwilling to wear a face covering, reasonable accommodations will include delivery of library services (checkout of materials, reader’s advisory, and reference) via contactless pick-up, phone, and email.
- People who are sick or have a fever shall not enter the library even if they have face covering.
- All library users will practice social distancing during their visit.
- While in the building, library users will practice good hand hygiene by using hand sanitizer.
- Children (those under 12 years of age) must always be accompanied by and under the supervision of their own parent or caregiver.
- No food and drink will be allowed in the library.
- Restrooms are available for patron use on the upper level of the library. Access is with a key available at the Circulation Desk.
- Meeting room spaces are not available for use.
- All borrowed materials shall be returned via the outside book returns.
- There will be no loitering on library property.
The existing Behavior Policy remains in effect.
Approved by the Board of Trustees 7/7/2020
New Library Service Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday:
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM; 4:30 – 5:30 PM: Curbside Pickup of Holds
1:00 – 4:00 PM: In-Library Pickup of Holds
10:00 AM – 5:45 PM: Computer Center Open (45-minute appointments on the hour required)
10:00 AM – 5:30 PM: Passport Application Acceptance Appointments
Wednesday, Friday:
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Curbside Pickup of Holds
1:00 – 4:00 PM: In-Library Pickup of Holds
10:00 AM – 4:45 PM: Computer Center Open (45-minute appointments on the hour required)
10:00 AM – 4:30 PM: Passport Application Acceptance Appointments
Saturday:
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM: In-Library Pickup of Holds (no curbside pickup)
10:00 AM – 12:45 PM: Computer Center Open (45-minute appointments on the hour required)
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM: Passport Application Acceptance Appointments
Library “Yellow Phase” Announcement
Dear Patrons and Community Members,
Per the Governor’s orders, Chester County will be moving to the Yellow Phase on Friday, June 5. For the Phoenixville Public Library, this means that library staff will be able to enter the buildings for the first time since March 13. We are very excited to begin the process of reopening the library.
We have been working hard behind the scenes to provide you with resources online through our newsletters, website, and social media. We will continue to provide information about databases, access to eMaterials, and a selection of virtual programming, as we did while we were unable to access the buildings. In addition, we have developed a thorough plan for reopening to ensure the safety of staff and patrons.
Although staff will be allowed in the buildings on June 5, the library will remain closed to the public for the next several weeks. While in the building, the staff will be quarantining and processing returned items, moving furniture and workstations to ensure social distancing, setting up a quarantine area, designating traffic patterns, and developing a process to provide curbside pick-up as soon as possible.
Effective June 5, we will begin to accept returns of materials in the book drops. However, due to the backlog of materials we are experiencing, it will take a week or two before they are checked in and removed from your records.
On Monday June 15, the library will begin walk-up pickup of materials that are on hold. We are excited to bring this service to you all. We will send out more information about this service soon.
Please know that we are doing everything we can to help ensure the safety and well-being of our staff and patrons, and we ask that you continue to be patient while we work toward reopening. We look forward to seeing you all again, at a safe distance!
Sincerely,
The Phoenixville Public Library
FREE ONLINE BUSINESS AND TECH RESOURCES
The Library has secured a free, 30-day trial of online eBooks and video courses from O’Reilly, a publisher of business and tech content. Thousands of books and videos are available in such areas as managing your home office, job searching and networking, personal electronics, photography, home based finances, basic programming, and broad business skills. Access these resources, which will be available through June 14, here.
Free Online Reference Resources from World Book
Reference publisher World Book is currently offering free online access to all of its digital resources for students in all grade levels through May 31. Access them here.
Buildings May Be Closed, but Libraries are Still Serving Their Communities!
Read all about it from the Pennsylvania Library Association!
