Durham County Regional and Branch Library Walk-In Hours Beginning May 4
Durham, NC – Beginning Tuesday, May 4, 2021, Durham County Regional (East, North, South, and Southwest) and Branch (Bragtown and Stanford L. Warren) Libraries will be available at a limited capacity for one-hour walk-in visits to browse and check out materials or to use the computers. Face masks for ages two and older and screening at the door, including temperature checks, are required to enter.
Library Director Tammy Baggett-Best says, “Opening our doors is the product of months of careful planning with Durham County Department of Public Health and leaders across Durham County Government to ensure that appropriate measures are in place to safely offer these expanded library services.”
Hours of operation for regional and branch libraries are as follows:
Tuesday 2–6 p.m.
Wednesday 2–6 p.m.
Thursday 3–7 p.m.
Friday 2–6 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Main Library will not be available for walk-in hours at this time but will continue to offer reservation-only Library Take-Out! service. Library Take-Out! hours at Main Library remain as follows:
Tuesday–Friday 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Walk-in hours for Main Library will be forthcoming. Library Take-Out! will no longer be offered at regional and branch libraries, with the last day for pick-up reservations being Saturday, April 24. Items on hold as of April 27 will automatically be extended one week. Learn more about placing holds for pick-up through Library Take-Out! at DurhamCountyLibrary.org/TakeOut.
During the library’s walk-in hours, the public is invited to visit the library for one-hour visits to select and check out items and pick up holds or to use the computers. A limited number of people are allowed in the library at a time, and per Durham County Government, to enter any library customers are required to:
- Answer screening questions;
- Have their temperature checked;
- Wear a mask (age 2+); and
- Practice physical distancing.
For safety, the library’s service philosophy will focus on access versus assistance. Library staff will be available for providing limited assistance to issue library cards, check out materials, and access computers. Customers are encouraged to utilize self-checkout and to place holds online for pickup. Direct computer support and assistance is, unfortunately, not currently feasible. We remain unable to accept donated books and materials. Meeting and study rooms as well as in-person programming are not available at this time, but we will continue to offer pre-recorded and live programming online. Walk-in hours are primarily an opportunity for library customers to browse the collection, select items to check out, and utilize the computers.
Baggett-Best continued, “We look forward to serving our community back at our libraries as long as the circumstances continue to allow us to do so.” The updated operational plan will be evaluated and adapted as the realities of COVID-19 in our community continue to evolve. For more information about the details of walk-in hours and guidelines for customers, visit DurhamCountyLibrary.org/walk-in.
Durham County Library encourages discovery, connects the community, and leads in literacy. As a department of Durham County Government, the library furthers Goal 1 of the county’s Strategic Plan by enhancing cultural, educational, and creative opportunities. For more information about the library, visit DurhamCountyLibrary.org.