On Monday, May 17, the Hampstead Public Library staff is delighted to welcome patrons back into the building without an appointment. We’ll be open for short walk-in visits to browse, borrow, make copies, fax, print, etc. For the rest of the month, Library open-hours remain as Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 am to 4 pm, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 am to 7 pm, and Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm. Visitors should try to limit their time in the building to 30 to 60 minutes. The number of people in the building will be monitored to keep to an established maximum. Computer use is available but with some limits on access. The children’s playroom and other meeting rooms remain closed for the time being. Study rooms may be used with limits. Guidelines about social distancing are still in effect and masks are required for all visitors over age two, regardless of vaccination status.
Curbside Service is still available for all who enjoy its benefits. Returned items are quarantined for one day, down from three days, which will safely speed up hold wait-times. At this time, we continue with a grace-period before fines are assessed. As always, the staff monitors local health conditions very closely and will adjust practices as necessary. We are happy to enter this newest reopening phase and hope to see more library visitors soon. The staff plans to announce further changes in June.