It’s been a tense few months, and I know you are all anxious for libraries to reopen. I’m happy to inform you that we will begin offering Library to Go, contactless materials pickup at 16 library locations starting Tuesday, June 9. You will be able to request books, audiobooks, CDs and DVDs through our website or by phone and pick them up by appointment.
When you receive notification that your holds are ready, call your designated pick up location to schedule a pickup time. Drive to the library, park and give us a call. We'll check out those items to your card and deliver them to you while you wait in your car. Staff will not be able to answer questions or provide any other services in-person.
Library to Go will be available Tuesday through Saturday between 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at 15 geographically diverse branches and the Central Library. If you have items on hold at a different location, those will be transferred to the nearest branch, and you will be notified. These plans were devised with a goal of resuming library service for the community in a way that protects library staff as well as the public. All in-person events, programs and meetings are cancelled until further notice. As the COVID-19 situation improves we will expand services incrementally. For more information about the Library to Go service, please visit our website or call your pickup location.
Outside book return bins are open at the Library to Go locations only. In order to manage the influx of materials and quarantine them in accordance with CDC guidelines, we can only accept them in the outside book return. Items will sit in quarantine for at least four days before they are checked in by staff, so you will see them on your account for a few days. But don’t worry, we won’t let that stop you from checking out more items and remember that we are fine free.
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide Library to Go at all locations. We developed this plan with the utmost caution to keep our staff and customers safe. We had to consider the availability of gloves, masks and cleaning supplies, as well as how to limit the number of staff in the building to remain physically distant. In addition, we also had to consider the city’s budget shortfall. It pains us not to be able to provide the same level of service we had when we were last together in March. But it is the very nature of libraries to reinvent and innovate in good times and bad to provide the services the community needs most.
We are adding more downloadable ebooks and audiobooks at a rapid pace and we will continue to offer virtual programming, including GED and ESL classes, gardening demos, guest authors, weekly trivia, job seeker help and much more. I know many families are used to coming to the library for summer learning at this time. The summer reading program, SMART Summer with Mayor Johnson, is still happening online with live programming daily, free books and prizes for participants.
We will continue to do our best to fulfill Dallas Public Library’s mission to connect people, inspire curiosity and advance lives during these ongoing challenges. Dallas Public Library is here for you.
With kindness,
Jo Giudice
Director of Libraries
We're here for you!
Call 214-670-7809 or email librarycustomerservice@dallaslibrary.org for issues with your card, a missing PIN or questions about the materials on your account. Phones and emails are answered from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Our FAQ is available 24/7 on our website: http://dallaslibrary.org/athome.