Wilton Library is pleased to announce that its doors will be open to patrons with no appointments needed beginning Monday, March 29.
Patrons will be able to have in-person visits Mondays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Drive-Thru Window will continue to be open with its current schedule, which is Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Digital Library is available 24/7 for eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, streaming movies, TV shows, and music with access via Wilton Library cards.
Elaine Tai-Lauria, executive director of the library, said, “We are eager to be welcoming people back without them needing to phone ahead for appointment times. We’re delighted that our patrons can spontaneously decide to stop into the library while on errands in town to pick up a book on hold, peruse all of the stacks or check out puzzles.”
The library will continue its robust programming on virtual platforms. Registration is required for all programs so that links may be sent to attendees. Please visit the library’s website at www.wiltonlibrary.org for a list of the library’s upcoming events, including the programs for Wilton Reads 2021.
Tai-Lauria continued, “With the health and safety of patrons and staff our first priority, there are proven practices and procedures that we are keeping in place.”
People will still be required to follow the necessary safety protocols of wearing masks that fully cover their mouths and noses, continuing to a social distance of at least six feet, using hand sanitizers that are located throughout the building, and staying home if not feeling well.
Appointments are needed for the Children’s Library to be able to maintain safety protocols. Patrons wishing to visit the Children’s Library, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, may call 203-762-6336 during library hours to make their twenty-minute appointments. Families with children in grades kindergarten and up are welcome.
While the full collections will be open to adult and teen patrons, study rooms, meeting rooms, the reading area, and the Innovation Station makerspace are not available for use. Seating has been removed from these areas as well as Teen Services. Additionally, there is ongoing construction for The Brubeck Room Collection, the archival treasure trove from the late jazz legend Dave Brubeck. There may be times when certain areas will need to be closed to the public for safety reasons.
Lauren McLaughlin, the library’s assistant director, said, “Even though appointments will now not be necessary for adults and teens to use the library, visits are to be kept short. You are welcome to come in and browse the shelves, choose your items and check them out in a timely manner. Until it is safe for us to have seating available, there will not be areas to meet up with friends or study in groups. As always, our librarians are happy to pull items requested through our catalog or by phone and have them waiting for you at our Drive-Thru Window.”
Materials being returned to the library must continue to be placed in the blue bin in the library’s parking lot so that they may be quarantined for five days. Patrons should please allow up to six days for items to be removed from their accounts. Book donations cannot be accepted at this time.
For more information, please visit the Wilton Library website here, or contact the following departments: Adult Services 203-762-6350; Teen Services 203-762-6342; or Children’s Library 203-762-6336. Wilton Library is located at 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton, CT.