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Service Update - 9 November 2020

Update 9 November, 2020

As part of the easing restrictions for Regional Victoria announced yesterday from the Victorian Government, Metro Melbourne and Regional Victoria borders have been removed. We are very happy to welcome back our Metro Melbourne members to West Gippsland Libraries.

Our priority is the health and wellbeing of our staff, visitors, as well as the broader community as we deliver you a phased re-opening of library services. We are currently in Step 2, please click the infographic below for more details.

Public Access

With the health and wellbeing of staff, patrons and the community our priority, there are some changes to how the library will operate which are outlined below.

A limited number of people will be allowed in each library at any one time and social distancing and strict hygiene rules apply at all times.

On arrival at the library, you will be asked to use our new self-check in app by scanning the QR code with your camera app on your phone and completing a quick registration form. Don’t worry if this is new or you don’t have a phone, our staff will help you out. We appreciate your understanding and compliance with the current Government directives to help keep our staff and communities safe.

Face masks or coverings are a mandatory requirement for all Victorians while outside their homes, so we’ll be wearing a face-covering in the library at all times and we ask that you do too. 

You will need a library membership or Libraries Victoria card to use the library services. This is to assist with contact tracing should it be necessary, a requirement of reopening from the Victorian Government and DHHS.

There is no longer a time limit for browsing at the library, however each branch will have a maximum number of people allowed at any one time. We ask that you consider keeping your visit to a reasonable duration to allow access for others. This may also mean there might be a wait to get into the library, so please be patient.

Self-checkout will be encouraged where available. The services available at the library include click and collect, Print-on-demand and photocopying, as well as WiFi access and up to 1 hour to use public pc.

There are some items that will not be available including games and toys (e.g. puzzles, board games, lego), casual seating area, print newspapers.

Library opening hours have been changed to accommodate additional quarantine and cleaning requirements. This will include a closure during lunchtime and libraries will not be open on weekends. The branch hours have been updated on our locations page, click through to your branch for details.

We ask that you follow directional signage and staff advice, maintain hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, physical distancing of at least 1.5 metres and if you are not well, please stay at home. Please be respectful of the rules in place and help keep everyone safe.

24-hour access at Foster will not be available at this stage. Due to Maintenance works, our Neerim South branch is currently closed and will reopen to the public from the 28th of November. 

Northern Mobile Library Public Access is now Available

Public access is now available on the Northern Mobile Library for up to one patron at a time. You will be asked to use our new self-check in app by scanning the QR code with your camera app on your phone and completing a quick registration form. Don’t worry if this is new or you don’t have a phone, our staff will help you out. We ask that you follow all directional signage and staff advice with COVID-safe procedures.

Print-on-demand & Photocopying

Print-on-demand and copy services will resume however, no cash payments will be accepted. An invoice will be emailed to you and payment can be made online via credit card. You will need to be a library member to access these services.

Click & Collect

Click & collect services will continue from library locations including: Warragul, Drouin, Foster, Inverloch, Korumburra, Leongatha, Mirboo North, Phillip Island, Poowong, Wonthaggi, Welshpool and Waterline (Grantville) at current branch opening hours.

Click & collect services will be available from Neerim South Library from Saturday 28th November.

The Northern Mobile Library will be resuming usual rounds schedule from Monday 5th October.

This service is currently unavailable at San Remo.

How it works:

1. Place a hold: To access Click & Collect, all you need to do is place your holds by calling your branch or place your holds online and select the branch you want to pick your items up from as normal. Once the items are available, you will be notified by email or SMS that they are ready to be picked up!

2. Collect: Simply visit your branch during current opening hours, to pick up your holds.

3. When you arrive: We ask that when you arrive at the library, to please follow directional signage, maintain hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, physical distancing of at least 1.5 metres and if you are not well, please stay at home. A staff member will greet you at the entry and you will be asked to read aloud your library membership number and to wait at the entry while your order is being prepared. A staff member will place your order on a desk at the front entry for you to take home. You can also bring in items you would like to return and you can also bring your returns and place them in the library returns chute. 

Public entry to the library is not be permitted and WiFi, PC bookings, printing or copying services are not available.

 

Home Delivery Service

Our Home Delivery Service via Australia Post is still available to all members within our area, we will continue to offer this service to all members.

 

Caring Calls

We’re continuing to call some of our most vulnerable and disconnected members to offer home delivery and any support we can.

 

Tech Talks

Call a branch or register online to receive a call from a Librarian to help talk you through signing up for ebooks and eaudiobooks on your tablet or another digital device.

 

Online Chat

Support is available via live chat on our website, where you can chat to a real person online, Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm.

 

Programs and Events

Library programming, live events and most outreach services remain suspended until further notice. However, we will continue our range of virtual events and programs that you can enjoy from the comfort of your home!

 

Digital Resources

All our digital resources continue to be available to library members while the library branches are re-introducing our library services. We have a wide range of ebooks, eaudiobooks, emagazines, digital newspapers, kid’s activities, kid’s reading resources, streaming movies and documentaries and even online study courses. Our team are working on adding new e-resources.

 

Library App

You can get access to our digital library online, anytime or download our app.

 

Already using our app? Our app is changing – to find out more, please click through to read more about changing over to the new app.

Not a library member? Join online >

For further support or enquiries, please contact your local branch.

 

Returns & Due Dates

The due date of all items currently on loan has been automatically extended to Monday 2nd November 2020.

 

Holds

Online holds on items held by other library services (inter-library loans and Libraries Victoria) are available. Holds are can be picked-up through our click and collect service at selected locations.  We also have book boxes available through our Home Delivery Service via Australia Post if you are unable to visit a branch. Staff will make every effort to include holds in this delivery. See our About Home Delivery Service page for more details.

 

Stay up-to-date

Information about plans to reopen or any other changes that arise will be published on our website, in our e-newsletters and on our social media channels.

 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates

For up-to-date health information, please visit the Department of Health and Human Service’s website: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/victorian-public-coronavirus-disease-covid-19

Thank you for your understanding. Take care, we look forward to welcoming you back again soon.

 

 

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