COVID-19 Library Updates & Information

Library COVID-19 Updates

New library hours starting Tuesday, June 1.
Curbside pickup by special request.
Building open Monday - Thursday from 10am - 8pm
Friday from 10am - 6pm
& Saturday from 10am - 2pm.

Starting on May 21, materials are no longer quarantined for 24 hours.
Thank you for wearing a mask if you are not fully vaccinated.

Starting on May 14, there is no longer a pass system.

Updated hours starting on Saturday, April 3
The library will be open to come inside the building Monday - Friday from 12-6pm and Saturday from 10am-2pm.

Curbside pickup will be available Monday - Friday from 10am - 12pm and by special request during open hours as time permits.

To enter the library, please wear a mask if you are not fully vaccinated and clean your hands.

Checking Out
The circulation desk will be staffed and available, although use the self-checkouts whenever possible.

Once you have checked out any items or completed your visit to the library, you will return your pass to the grey bin located directly outside the main entrance gate.

Returns
Items coming back to the library can be returned using either the outside book drop on the Union Street side of the building or in the grey bins on the return cart in the lobby.

The book drop at the circulation desk is permanently closed and all items will be returned in the lobby going forward. Items are quarantined and will be checked in within 2-7 days.

Services
Some library services have changed.

Bathrooms in the lobby are open, but water fountains and the coffee station are currently unavailable. The bottle filler will still be available.
Much of the library furniture has been removed, including the toys in the children’s area. This is to encourage moving quickly through the space and to discourage visiting and lingering in the library.
Meeting rooms will not be available at this time.
Library programs will continue to be virtual until further notice.
Two laptops and printers will be available in the Union Street.
The Request a Library Care Package form will still be active for people who do not wish to come into the library, but would still like to have access to a selection of library materials.

October 29, 2020
There are two laptop computers with printers available for use in the foyer on the Union Street side. Please wear a mask and limit your time to 30 minutes.

Pay for prints when the library reopens. One of the printers has a scanner. Restart the computer to delete any documents you saved on the computer.

September 21, 2020
There have been many inquiries about when the River Falls Public Library will open. Library Director Tanya Misselt reviews our service-level status daily, with the hope of finding an opportunity to open doors for limited hours with limited occupancy. However, due to the recent increase in the Pierce County COVID-19 activity level, the library will remain closed. The good news is that we are able to continue curbside pickup services and online programs. We receive over 650 phone calls a week; most of which are between 10 a.m. and noon. If you are calling during those hours and unable to get through, please leave a message and we will return your call as quickly as possible. Thank you for your continued support and patience.

For more information about COVID-19 in Pierce County, please visit
https://covid-piercecounty-wi.hub.arcgis.com/

September 2, 2020
There is a laptop and printer outside of the library on the Union Street side of the building. Please limit your time to 30 minutes. Pay for your prints when the library opens again. Everything saved on the computer disappears when the rebooted. Tech support from library staff is not available.

July 13, 2020 - News from the Library Director Tanya Misselt

The COVID-19 activity level in Pierce and St. Croix County is currently high. The library will reopen with limited hours when the activity level for both counties is low or medium. The library director will review the Pierce and St. Croix County Health Department's COVID-19 dashboards for weekly updates. Please look for library opening updates on our website and Facebook page.

The health of our community and library staff are our first priority. A special meeting of the Library Board of Trustees was scheduled on Monday, July 13 to discuss the possibility of reopening the library. Unfortunately the recent increase in the COVID-19 activity level has been a disappointment. Last week the activity level in both Pierce and St. Croix counties shifted from "median" to "high" and the library was advised to remain closed. This means that we can continue with curbside pickup but opening the library is not recommended at this time. The library director and library board will continue to stay in communication with city administration and follow the recommendations of the Pierce County Health Departments. We will have limited open hours when the activity level returns to “low” or “medium”. Please watch our website and Facebook page for updates.

Intra-library Loans
We are happy to report that intra-library loans between most but not all libraries in our system are running again. This has increased the use of our very popular curbside pickup service. Thank you for your continued patients as we are experiencing a high volume of calls.

Wi-Fi Hotspots
Thanks to the generosity of the River Falls Library Foundation, the River Falls Public Library has added 15 Wi-Fi hotpots to check out for the next two years. During the COVID health crisis, the Wi-Fi hotspots will be available for curbside pickup, the $30 deposit is waived, and the checkout time has been extended to two weeks.

Place a hold on the River Falls Wi-Fi Hotspot in the MORE catalog. When a Wi-Fi hotspot is ready for pick-up, call the library Monday through Friday between 10am and 6pm at 715-425-0905 to schedule a curbside pickup.

Summer Reading Program
The River Falls Public Library is offering a virtual Summer Library Program this year. Like in past years, this program allows participants of all ages to earn prizes by completing reading and other activities. You can find detailed information on the program at our website.

If you would like, you can download the Beanstack Tracker app from the App Store or Play Store, search for River Falls Public Library and register right from your phone.

Diverse Stories
In light of the current movement toward equity and social justice, the River Falls Public Library is offering a Diverse Stories reading challenge. This challenge is virtual and uses our online software, Beanstack. You can earn digital badges by reading books, watching TED talks, and completing activities that explore justice, activism, and anti-racism. We are also hosting a virtual book club based on this challenge that will start in August 2020 and meet monthly to allow for people to engage with each other on these topics. Please check our website for more details.

June 29, 2020 - Update from the Library Director Tanya Misselt
We have some important library service updates to share with you.

Holiday notice
Curbside services will not be available on Friday, July 3, 2020. Services will resume on Monday, July 6, 2020.

Due dates and returns

The book return on the Union Street side of the building is open for returns. All returned items will be quarantined for a minimum of 72 hours.
July 15, 2020 is the earliest due date for all checked-out materials.

Changes to curbside pickup and holds

Patrons will begin receiving an automated notice from the MORE system to let you know that your item(s) are ready for pickup. You will need to call the River Falls Public Library at 715-425-0905, Monday through Friday from 10 am to 6 pm to schedule your curbside appointment. We will continue to call patrons with holds ready through Thursday, July 2, 2020.
Hold cancellations will resume beginning on June 29, 2020. Your items will remain on the holdshelf at the River Falls Public Library for only 14 days. You will need to call to schedule a curbside pickup before the hold expires. We will not be able to hold items on the holdshelf longer than 14 days.

Interlibrary loans
Due to the adjusted library services in our library system, the amount of time that your item will take to arrive and be available for pickup will be delayed. Patrons should continue to anticipate longer wait times for their library holds and in-transit items for the remainder of the summer.

Reopening update
You may be noticing a few public libraries in the area are planning to reopen in July. The River Falls Public Library Director and Board of Trustees has not set a date to reopen. The Library Board will be meeting in mid-July to discuss a possible reopening date.

Thank you for your continued patience and support of the River Falls Public Library as we continue to make every effort to provide you with access to library materials while doing our best to keep our patrons and staff safe. Please continue to watch our website for updates.

June 8 - Update from the Library Director Tanya Misselt
Thank you for your patience and support of the River Falls Public Library during this transition period as we continue to make every effort to provide you with access to library materials while doing our best to keep our patrons and staff safe.

The River Falls Public Library continues to remain closed to the public and will be following the guidance of local officials when considering any changes to our current service level. At this time we will continue to provide curbside and virtual services only. The book return on the Union Street side of the building is open for returns. All returned items will be quarantined for a minimum of 72 hours. July 1, 2020 is the due date for all checked-out materials.

You might be hearing that a few other libraries in the area are opening to the public. The River Falls Public Library has not set a date to reopen and we cannot predict when that may happen. In keeping with the CDC and state health recommendations there will be several noticeable changes in place when we do reopen to the public. To get you prepared, here are a few of the changes that we have planned for when we reopen:

Curbside pick-up is still available and encouraged.
If you are not feeling well, please stay at home and take advantage of our online services.
As recommended by St. Croix and Pierce County Health Departments and the CDC, wearing a mask is recommended when entering the library. All staff will be wearing masks and some will be wearing protective face shields. We encourage you to bring your own mask. However, a limited supply of disposable masks will be available for those who do not have one.
Protective plastic shields will be installed at service desks.
The restroom in the Children’s area will be closed. Only bathrooms on the first floor in the lobby/foyer will be open. They will be cleaned nightly, but we are unable to clean them throughout the day. If you must use the bathroom, please use hand sanitizer outside the bathrooms.
We encourage you to keep your hands away from your face at all times. Continue to be mindful of social distancing recommendations of 6 feet or more.
The library will be operating with limited hours and will only be open to the public on specific days of the week. See website for updates as they become available.
The library will be operating under limited capacity and limiting the number of people in the library at any given time. If you are able, please limit the number of people in your family that you bring to the library. We encourage you to leave small children at home.
Passes with time limits will be issued to patrons when they enter the library. (Computer Passes=1 hour, Browsing & Self-Checkout=30 minutes and Interior Hold Pick-up and Self-Checkout =10 minute Fast Pass)
All toys, puzzles and most chairs will be removed from public areas. To aid in social distancing, fewer computers will be available.
Printers and the copy machine will be available for public use. Please bring appropriate change for the machines.
Staff will help with your faxing needs.
WiFi is still available with an extended range outside the building.
Meeting rooms will remain closed until further notice.
All library programs will continue to be virtual.
Returns will continue to be taken from the exterior book drop on the Union Street side of the building. The interior book drop is closed. All materials will be quarantined for 72 hours before they are put back into circulation.

Everything is subject to change depending on the number of COVID cases in St. Croix and Pierce County, the continued health of library staff, and people’s ability to follow these guidelines. The reopening of the River Falls Public Library is also subject to Library Board approval.

Thank you for understanding. We are excited to see you again; however the River Falls Public Library will continue to be closed until further notice. Please continue to watch our website or call the library for updates.

May 26, 2020
All due dates have been extended to July 1, 2020.

May 22, 2019
The library is closed until further notice. Curbside pickup is available Mondays - Fridays from 10am until 5:45pm.

May 14, 2020
The River Falls Public Library will be following the guidance of local officials when considering any changes to our current service level. There are no changes planned at this time. We will continue to provide curbside and virtual services only.

Curbside Pickup
Beginning the week of April 27, the River Falls Public Library will offer curbside pickup of materials for limited hours and by appointment ONLY. At this time, we are only able to fill holds on materials that are available in the River Falls Public Library. We will contact patrons by phone when holds are filled and staff will assist patrons with scheduling a pickup time.
Click here for more information and instructions.

Return library materials in the Union Street Book Drop
The Union Street book drop is open for returns. Please know that it will take at least 4-7 days to check in your materials due to a 72-hour material quarantine and limited staff.

April 16, 2020
The library is closed until at least 8am on Tuesday, May 26, or until a superseding order is issued. Curb-side pick-up is under discussion depending on guidelines from the State of Wisconsin and the City of River Falls.

Continue to reserve materials through the MORE Catalog.

Governor Evers April 16 order extension may impact library services. No changes will take effect until at least April 24. Due dates will be extended, please don’t return your checked-out materials right now. Watch this space for updates.

March 24, 2020
The Library is closed by Governor Evers' Executive Order until at least 8am on Friday, April 24, or until a superseding order is issued.
https://evers.wi.gov/Documents/COVID19/EMO12-SaferAtHome.pdf

March 18, 2020
Library wifi is extended outside the building.
Connect to Library-GuestUnionSt or LibraryGuest-ParkingLot
Please practice social distancing while using the wifi

March 16, 2020
The River Falls Public Library will be closed starting Tuesday, March 17.

The anticipated reopening date is Tuesday, April 7, 2020; however, the reopening date is subject to change pending further information.

During this time, only the Union Street book drop on the building will be open. Patrons are encouraged to keep materials that are due until we reopen. Late fines during this time will be waived. Please disregard overdue and billed notices on your account. When we reopen, you can bring those items back and we will clear out all fines and bills from your account during this period.

Our current Wi-Fi does have a limited range outside of the library building. We are working to extend its reach.

Library leadership is formulating ways to connect with the public remotely. We are considering what services can be offered while the library building is closed, as well as ways we can assist the broader community during this time.

The library youth services staff will offer some live story times via our social media pages and website. We also encourage you to check out Tumblebooks.

With a library card, we have a variety of digital resources for your free enjoyment, including:

TumbleBooks - offers children’s animated stories from around the world including picture books and chapter books, accompanied by educational games and activities
Wisconsin’s Digital Library - offers thousands of downloadable eBooks and audiobooks, and videos for all ages.
Freading – additional resource for eBooks
Flipster – access digital magazines
Transparent Language – online language learning

If your library card is expired or is not in good standing due to fines or fees, your card will still allow you to access digital resources.

If for some reason, your card does not work or you need to create a new account, it is possible to get an e-card for access to digital resources only.

If you have any questions, you can find way to contact us at:
https://www.riverfallspubliclibrary.org/contact-us.html

Please, check our website for updates.