The Rock Island Public Library introduced contact-free curbside pick-up by appointment for library material holds on Tuesday, May 26. There will be no public access to library buildings during this phase of the library’s gradual reopening plan.
Curbside pick-up is available during limited hours by appointment only at the Rock Island Public Library Downtown and Southwest locations. Materials must be requested in advance, either through the Library’s online PrairieCat catalog, or with staff help via phone, email, and Ask a Librarian chat. Library staff will contact the borrower once items become available and establish a pick-up time. Five items per car, per appointment, are available for pick-up.
The following procedures will keep contact as limited as possible during the Curbside transaction:
- Curbside pick-up spots are along the south alley side of the Downtown Library, 401 19th Street, and in front of the Southwest Library, 9010 Ridgewood Road.
- When patrons arrive for their appointment, they will pull into one of the marked spots, stay in their closed car, and call the number on the sign.
- Library staff will deliver items, placing them in a trunk or back seat. Participants should show their library card as identification.
- Materials will have already been checked out, so cardholders may depart once items are safely loaded.
- Patrons picking up items on foot or by bike should let the library know when the appointment is arranged.
Items available for curbside pickup include books, audiobooks, magazines, Playaway audio, movie and television series DVDs, and music CDS from the Children, Young Adult, and Adult collections of the Rock Island Public Library. Specialized library items such as WIFI hotspots, video games, and cake pans are not available for Curbside.
The following transactions cannot be handled at curbside:
- Returned items must be placed in the library’s outside drop boxes. Library staff cannot accept returns of any kind at curbside.
- Fines/fee payments should be made online only. Library staff cannot accept payments.
- Due to COVID-19 concerns, material donations of any kind will not be accepted.
Following return, items will remain on a patron’s account during the seven-day quarantine period. Due dates have been extended until June 26 for items checked out before the COVID-19 shutdown. No fines will be assessed.
Rock Island Library reference staff will provide help with selecting or reserving materials by phone, email, and Live Ask-A-Librarian Chat. With the exception of Memorial Day, library staff may be contacted during the following hours:
- Monday-Thursday: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
- Friday: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
- Saturday: 9:00 am to 12:30 pm
NoveList Plus, an online tool for finding new authors, author information, and read-alike titles, is also available via the library website 24 hours a day.
For assistance with placing holds or finding materials during this curbside-only period, call 309-732-7341, email Reference staff at RiLIbRef@rigov.org, or use the Ask-A-Librarian chat option at the library website.
Rock Island Public Library summer reading challenges and programs will be provided virtually this summer. For details, see the Rock Island Library calendar or 2020 Summer Reading links at the library website.