City of West Des Moines issued the following announcement on Nov. 11.
At a special meeting of the West Des Moines Public Library Board of Trustees on Tuesday, November 10, members of the Board and library administration made the decision to maintain a curbside-only model of service through at least November 30.
The library had been scheduled to reopen on Thursday, November 12, after a temporary closing related to the ongoing renovation project in the building. The Library Board will meet again before the anticipated December 1 date to discuss reopening.
Board and administrators made the decision based on a discussion of the increase in positive COVID-19 cases in Polk and Dallas counties as well as the decision by West Des Moines Community Schools to file for an online-only instruction waiver as the community positivity rate exceeded 15 percent.
Also playing a part in the decision is the fact that the renovation project is now in its last and most labor-intensive phase, which includes extensive demolition of interior walls and concrete. Public space in the building is severely limited, creating challenges for safe social distancing.
“The West Des Moines Library has provided exceptional service even while most other area libraries have been closed. This level of service has been provided during a major upgrade/remodeling project and pandemic which has challenged all involved,” said West Des Moines City Manager Tom Hadden. “At this time, the Library Board’s decision to close the building during record-breaking cases and hospitalizations is the best course of action.”
Curbside pickup will continue during library hours (Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Friday - Saturday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.). Phone reference will also be available during those hours. Since March, the Library has created hundreds of hours of storytimes and other virtual programming. This will continue through this closure and will be noted in the Library’s online calendar.
Recently, the Library launched a 24-hour Library Kiosk in Valley Junction, behind the Valley Junction Activity Center. This self-serve borrow/return kiosk is available to all West Des Moines Public Library card holders in good standing, even as the main building is closed to entry.
“We want to do the right things to protect our users and staff,” says Library Director Darryl Eschete. “All involved with the decision feel that not being an indoor gathering place is the best thing to do until the situation improves.”
The WDM Public Library main phone number is (515) 222-3400.
Original source can be found here.
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