Library District Announces Two New Ways to Serve Public During COVID-19 Closure: Curbside Service & YouTube Virtual Programming
If you’ve missed that wonderful feeling of stopping by your neighborhood library to pick up the latest book, movie, or music release, or to catch an educational program or live concert, you’ll be glad to know that the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District has announced two new library services that will get you back in the library groove during the COVID-19 closure:
Curbside Pick-Up – Beginning on Saturday, May 16 at 10:00 am, a new Curbside Pick-Up Service will be offered for library customers to pick-up materials they have requested. This service will be available at 16 libraries of the District’s 25 locations while branches are closed. (Please go to LVCCLD.org/curbside for a list of the participating library locations and their addresses, phone numbers, and hours.)
Library materials can only be returned through the Library District’s outside book returns, which will also reopen on May 16. No materials will be accepted through curbside or drive-thru window services. All late fees have been suspended until the Library District buildings are able to reopen safely. This will be determined based on guidance from Governor Sisolak and the Southern Nevada Health District.
To reserve items, library cardholders can either visit LVCCLD.org, or, beginning at 10:00 am on May 16, they can call their nearest branch. A librarian will be available on the line to help them to select the books, DVDs, and/or CDs they would like to check out. Their items will be placed on hold, and they will be given a designated date and time to come by the library to pick them up. (See Curbside Pick-Up Rules, below.)
“While the COVID-19 outbreak required us to temporarily close our doors, we continued serving the public through our engaging website at LVCCLD.org, which library customers can enjoy 24/7,” said Dr. Ron Heezen, executive director of the Library District. “However, some people don’t have easy access to a digital device to stream and download items, or they just prefer to have the physical items in their homes. So as soon as Governor Sisolak opened up curbside service, we immediately created this new option and we plan to continue it once we reopen.”
Dr. Heezen explained that curbside pick-up is especially important for parents who need books and materials to keep their kids learning at home this summer, to avoid “summer slide.”
“Curbside service could also be helpful for any adults who may have lost their jobs and are looking for books on résumé writing and job skills,” he said. “We want Southern Nevadans to know that we are here for you. Our mission is to serve our diverse communities across the valley, especially during difficult times such as these.”
YouTube Virtual Programming – If you’ve been missing all of your local library’s FREE entertainment and educational classes and programs, too, you can now enjoy many of your favorite library experiences on the Library District’s new YouTube channel. Just go to YouTube.com/TheLibraryDistrict and you will find Storytimes from our librarians and from celebrities such as Michelle Obama, Rita Moreno, Daisy Ridley, Dolly Parton, Courtney B. Vance, and more. And coming soon will be video STEAM classes, DIY projects and maker experiences, and topics for adults such as business development, health & wellness, food sustainability, financial literacy, social services, early childhood education, literacy, and unemployment assistance and job skills.
There is also a growing Espanol playlist, which includes a talk with Jesus Lopez, announcer from the Vegas Golden Knights; and a performance from the Young Artists Orchestra featuring “One Night in Havanna.”
“With the cancellation of library programs across the country due public health concerns, libraries are re-imagining their live events by bringing them online,” said Dr. Heezen. “This could be the new normal for our local libraries for some time to come as we had to cancel our live programs for the remainder of 2020.”
Dr. Heezen sees the benefits of this new format for library programming.
“Our talented library staff are now able to share with the public all of their entertaining and educational ideas in video form on our YouTube channel,” he explained. “We will continue to build this ‘virtual library’ filled with programming for all ages that you can enjoy at home, on a road trip, anywhere, anytime. That’s why we have named our new YouTube channel ‘Library District Virtually Anywhere.’ We invite the public to share their ideas for video programming they would like to see from us at Ask@LVCCLD.org.”
Curbside Pick-Up Rules
The library curbside service will comply with guidelines issued for private sector restaurants and eateries, per the Governor’s “Roadmap to Recovery,” released on April 29, 2020.
Below are the steps to follow:
- Curbside service is available for all customers who have a valid and eligible library card. eCards and Computer Use Only cardholders are not eligible for this service.
- Library materials must be returned through the Library District’s outside book returns, which will reopen May 16 and will be available 24/7. No materials will be accepted through curbside or drive-thru window services. Returned items will be quarantined for four days. No fines will be charged during this quarantine period.
- Each library branch will have a designated curbside pick-up area.
- Items will be transferred to the library customer without contact. Library employees will wear gloves, protective vests, and face masks.
- Customers must call in advance to schedule a pick-up of holds and/or request items from the library to be picked up.
- Please go to LVCCLD.org/curbside to locate the phone number, address, and hours of 16 Library District branches participating in curbside pick-up.
- Items may not be added after the customer arrives.
- Pick-ups may be scheduled a maximum of five days in advance.
- Curbside pick-up service is available to customers who arrive on foot, via bicycle, or in any motorized vehicle, as long as they follow curbside pick-up protocols.
- Participating Library District urban branches include the following: Centennial Hills Library, Clark County Library, East Last Vegas Library (drive-thru window only), Enterprise Library, Rainbow Library, Sahara West Library, Spring Valley Library, Summerlin Library, Sunrise Library, West Charleston Library, West Las Vegas Library, Whitney Library, and Windmill Library. The following three outlying libraries will also participate: Laughlin Library, Mesquite Library, and Moapa Valley Library.