Changes to Take Effect Tuesday, October 13
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF. – COVID-19 has affected many of our daily services in different ways, including library services. New curbside model development, shifting all programs to virtual, plus adjusting to the evolving requirements for quarantine periods on returned materials, social distancing guidelines, and remote work has been challenging on patrons and library staff alike. The Santa Clara County Library District (SCCLD) has adapted quickly to provide patrons with many new services since shelter-in-place was implemented in March.
This includes:
- Expanded digital collection
- Phone and chat services Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Virtual programs for all ages Monday-Saturday
- Website redesign to make digital collection and virtual programs easily accessible
- Curbside holds pickup with new day and evening options
- Free online eCard registration
- Materials quarantine system to protect health and safety
- WiFi in the Community Library parking lots
- Weekly communication
In addition to library services, the Library District has been actively providing community safety services to Santa Clara County including:
- Cooling centers
- Evacuation resource center
- Clean air centers
- Disaster service work
- COVID contact tracing
- PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) resource center
In the interest of health and safety, the decision has been made to temporarily suspend services at Woodland Library, starting Tuesday, October 13, until a time when it is safe to fully open to the public. Woodland Library is a small facility which poses safety concerns in an age of COVID-19. With the number of materials returned that need to remain in quarantine for up to 4-5* days, there is insufficient room to quarantine the returned materials and safely conduct curbside services. In addition, with weather episodes and poor air quality, the air conditioning/heating system is not able to adequately maintain clean air and comfortable temperatures with staff moving in and out of the building frequently to conduct curbside services. Staff from Woodland Library will be reassigned during this period to the Los Altos Library or another SCCLD location, as needed.
“While we will miss our beloved Woodland Library, this is only temporary, and we will have continued access to the Los Altos Library and any other library in the District,” said Pierre Bedard, Los Altos Library Commission Chair. “I am very impressed with the many new services the Library has to offer and greatly appreciate how the Library staff have gone above and beyond in response to the crisis. Many of the staff support other key county missions, such as working as COVID-19 contract tracers and county disaster service workers. They serve our community in this time of extreme need.”
Patrons with holds at Woodland Library should carefully check their holds notifications to see if their items are available at Woodland or Los Altos Library for pickup. Day and evening Curbside Services will continue to be offered at all community libraries including Los Altos, Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, and Saratoga Libraries. In addition, the Santa Clara County Library District will pilot lobby access services at several libraries and computer and printing access at two SCCLD libraries starting the week of September 21 (sccld.org/informed).
Woodland Library patrons who wish to change their holds pick up location can do so on the website when logged into their account. This option is found under My Settings/Account Preferences. For those who do not change their preferences, holds for Woodland Library will be available at the Los Altos Library while library service are suspended.
*UPDATE 1-12-2021: Returned items are quarantined for at least 24 hours to protect the health and safety of both Library staff and patrons. Please allow up to 4 days for returned items to be removed from your account.
