Dear Library Community,
Since we closed our doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic seven months ago, we’ve been serving our community in new ways. We know you, our customers, are anxious to walk back through our doors and we are anxious to welcome you back. Our teams have been working hard to plan for reopening and we had hoped that we could make the announcement that we would be reopening several branches this month. However, due to rising COVID-19 case numbers in Denver, we have had to postpone our plans. We know this is disappointing for you and it is for us as well but we are continuing to prioritize the safety of our staff and customers.
At this time we do not have a new target date to reopen our locations. We are working closely with public health officials and monitoring the data to inform a new opening date.
When we do reopen you can expect us to open with a limited number of locations geographically spread across the city with limited hours and limited capacity to start. Our locations will also look a little different with meeting rooms, study rooms and ideaLABS closed and furniture and technology spaced out to allow for physical distancing. We’ve also installed sneeze guards at our points of service and have already begun disinfecting high touch surfaces frequently. Customers will be asked to wear a face covering when in the buildings and initially, to refrain from eating inside our locations - though covered drinks will be welcome.
We hope to phase in the reopening of other branches after some initial branches are able to open. The Smiley and Byers Branch Libraries remain under construction for planned renovations through 2020. The Central Library is also about to undergo planned renovations and will not reopen until at least mid-2021.
This pandemic has changed almost everything about all of our lives and has been challenging for all of us. We know the community relies on us for resources, services, programs and safe spaces. Please know that your library is still here for you, just in different ways.
While we work to set a new reopening date, you are still able to access our programs and services virtually or on the phone, place holds for curbside pick up, use laptops outdoors at several locations, or visit a Bookmobile stop.
We hope that you are staying safe and hope to see you soon.
Sincerely,
Michelle Jeske
City Librarian