SWPL News

SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: Due to unexpected circumstances, Grove City Library will be closed for the day on Thursday, April 15. The library has been informed that work on the Columbus Street extension will affect critical library utilities all day. Westland Area Library will remain open, and our digital library is of course always available. Grove City will resume service Friday morning, April 16 at 10 a.m. Our apologies for any inconvenience. Thank you for your understanding.

For info and questions about the Columbus Street extension, please visit the city's page https://www.grovecityohio.gov/topic/columbus-street-extension/

We’ve expanded services and access! 

With thoughtful and careful preparation, we have launched expanded services at both SPL locations. In-building services, including walkthrough browsing, self-serve holds pickup, and computer use are now available. No-contact holds pickup remains available by request for those who prefer.

Thank you for your patience these past few weeks as we have taken all that we have learned, even since last fall, and prepared our buildings, our equipment, and our spaces to safely welcome you. Serving our community responsibly remains our top priority, and we will continue to adapt our services according to current pandemic developments with creativity and innovation.

Current Library Services

Masks that appropriately cover the mouth and nose are required when in the library for all visitors above age 2. The library will provide a mask if you do not have one. If you are unable to wear a mask, please contact us for no-contact services.

In-building services (See “Service Details” for more info)

• Walk-through browsing and checkout (shelves open for brief browsing)
• Self-serve holds pickup (come in and check out your own holds) OR no-contact holds pickup (call to request)
• Computer use (one 1-hr session/day)
• Self-serve print, copy, scan, fax
• Outdoor bookdrop returns 24/7 (both locations)

Continued no-contact or low-contact services (See “Service Details” for more info)

• No-contact holds pickup by request (call Grove City x501, Westland x601)
• No-contact printing by request (call Grove City x503, Westland x603)
• Virtual storytimes and virtual programming
• Take-home craft kits and activity kits
• Grab & Go book bundles and personalized book bundles
• Digital Library 24/7 (eBooks, eAudiobooks, music, movies, and more)

The following services remain paused or are unavailable at this time

• Seating, meeting rooms, study rooms, Quiet Reading Room
• Youth Services toys and interactive manipulatives
• In-person programming
• Test proctoring
• Notary service available at Westland only at this time. Call for details.

Hours of Service

• Mon-Tue-Fri-Sat: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Wed-Thu: 12:00 p.m. – 7 p.m.
• Sun: Closed

When visiting the library, please...

To help us keep the library safe for everyone, when visiting please:

• Wear a mask appropriately (covering your mouth and nose) at all times when in the building. If you do not have a mask, the library will provide one.
• Maintain appropriate social distance and follow signage and directional markings.
• Refrain from moving furniture and equipment.
• Keep your visits short and group size small at this time to help us maintain low building occupancy while allowing everyone an opportunity to visit.

Service Details

Walk-through Browsing: Our stacks (shelves) are open for brief browsing. The library is operating under limited building occupancy. We kindly ask that you help us give everyone an opportunity to visit by keeping your visits short at this time.

Computers:  A limited number of physically-distanced computers are available for use. Sessions are limited to one 1-hour session per patron per day. Computer stations will be cleaned between users. Westland: computer use is first come, first served. Grove City: computer use by walk-up or by appointment. Call ext. 503 to schedule an appointment at Grove City.

Print, Copy, Scan, Fax: Access to self-serve printing, copying, scanning, and faxing is available. Patrons may continue to request no-contact printing by calling the Information department. Grove City ext. 503. Westland ext. 603.

Self-serve holds pickup: Once you are notified you have items ready for pickup, you may come in anytime during service hours to check out your own holds as in the past. Your holds will be on the regular holds shelves.

No-contact holds pickup by request: No-contact holds pickup continues to be available by request. If you have been notified you have holds ready for pickup and would like contactless pickup, please call 15-20 minutes before you plan to arrive to pick up your holds so that we can get them ready to go for you on our no-contact pickup tables.

Grove City no-contact holds pickup: 614-875-6716 ext. 501
Westland no-contact holds pickup: 614-878-1301 ext. 601

* Please be ready to provide your library card number when calling.
* Bagged holds on the pickup table are already checked out; you may just grab your holds and go.
* During busy times preparing your holds may take a bit longer. Thank you for your patience.

Programming: Programming will continue to be offered virtually or as take-home kits until gatherings are safe again.

Returns: The outdoor bookdrops are now open 24/7 at both locations. Items may be returned at any time via the outdoor drops; indoor drops are unavailable. Returns will be quarantined for at least 96* hours before being checked in by staff and removed from a patron’s account. Patrons will still see these items on their account during the quarantine period; however, they will not be charged any daily overdue fines since SPL is fine-free.

*This safety precaution conforms with results from the REALM project conducted by Battelle and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) which studied the longevity of the COVID-19 virus on common library, archives, and museum materials.

Enjoy Book Bundles, Storytime Kits, Take & Make, Virtual Programming, & More

Digital Library
Our digital library is open 24/7. Browse and borrow tens of thousands of titles anytime, anywhere, including eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, music, movies, and more, or explore one of the many research, DIY, and business resources available under the ‘Resource’ tab.

Grab & Go Book Bundles
Themed bundles of books are available for checkout when visiting the library or request to have a personalized bundle put together just for you.
* To request a personalized bundle, call the library (Grove City ext. 503, Westland ext. 603), request online (Kids, Teen/Adult), or fill out a paper form.
* Want a book bundle for no-contact pickup? Give us a call.

Take & Make Kits
Take-home craft & activity kits offered weekly for both youth and adults. See what’s coming up via the website calendar, Facebook events, or in the Happenings Newsletter (find online version under the website ‘Calendar’ tab.)

Virtual Programming
Join us for youth and adult programs presented online via our Facebook and YouTube accounts. See what’s coming up via the website calendar, Facebook events, or in the Happenings Newsletter (find online version under the website ‘Calendar’ tab.)

Virtual Storytime + Storytime Activity Kits
Presented weekly on Tuesdays (Westland staff) and Thursdays (Grove City Staff) via Facebook and YouTube. Tune in to sing, dance, and read along with youth services staff. Storytime activity kits available for each storytime, featuring coordinating storytime outlines, songs, crafts, or other fun. Kits for Tuesday storytime available Mon & Tue. Kits for Thursday storytime available Wed & Thu.

Storytime Kits for Checkout
Have your own storytime for young children with these themed storytime kits that include books, a music CD, coloring pages to reproduce, and more. Storytime Kits can be reserved online or by calling Youth Services, Grove City ext. 502, Westland ext. 602.

FAQs

Access: When will library service go back to normal?
We know you are anxious for library service to get back to how it was before. We also look forward to when we can do that safely. Serving our community safely remains our priority, and we will continue to do so creatively and innovatively while expanding services cautiously according to pandemic developments and health recommendations from official health and government authorities.

Book Donations: Are you accepting book donations?
Thank you for your interest. We are unable to accept book donations at this time due to space constraints.

Holds: Why are my holds taking so long?
We are working to get items to you as quickly as possible. Hold times may be increased due to transport and quarantine procedures. All items going out for holds will be quarantined for 96 hours before being made available for pickup. This four-day quarantine is in accordance with the REALM study conducted by Battelle which studied the longevity of the COVID-19 virus on common library materials.

Meeting Rooms/Study Rooms: Why are the meeting and study rooms unavailable? I see people in the meeting and study rooms. What’s going on?
Meeting rooms and study rooms are unavailable for use in order to support social distancing and reduce possible virus transmission. In addition, we have needed to temporarily repurpose many of these spaces as staff work areas in order to continue to serve our community safely and efficiently.

Our behind-the-scenes and communal work areas are tight quarters and do not allow sufficient space for new safety procedures or social distancing among working staff. Meeting rooms are being used to quarantine returned items for at least 96 hours before they are made available to patrons while some study rooms have been temporarily repurposed as staff offices for purposes of social distancing. Ensuring our staff are able to remain adequately distanced allows us to reduce the risk of group transmission among staff and possible disruption of library service.

Programming: When will you have in-person programming again?
We will continue to offer all programming virtually or as take-home kits until there is sound evidence gatherings are safe again. Check our web calendar, Facebook events, or Happenings newsletter to see upcoming kits and programs.

Returns: When and where can I return my items?
You may return items at any time. Please use the outdoor bookdrops at both locations. Indoor bookdrops are unavailable.

Returns: I returned my books. Why are they still on my account?
As an extra safety precaution, returned materials will be quarantined for at least 96 hours before being handled, checked in and removed from your account, and made available to other patrons. SPL is fine free, so you will not accrue overdue fines during this period.

This safety precaution conforms with results from the REALM project conducted by Battelle and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which studied the longevity of the COVID-19 virus on common library, archives, and museum materials.

Safety measures: What safety measures is the library taking to protect patron health?
The safety and health of our patrons and staff remain our priority. SPL has implemented many measures including:

• Training staff in proper sanitizing and disinfecting methods and requiring all staff to wear masks when working
• Installing new air purifying units in our HVAC systems that purifies air using UVC light. The units work within the ducts to kill and remove viruses, bacteria, mold, and other contaminants.
• Installing new plexiglass shields around public service desks
• Changing layouts and service practices to support social distancing and minimize contact
• Increasing sanitizing and disinfecting of high-contact areas
• Following materials quarantine practices as recommended by results from the REALM study conducted by Battelle.

Seating: Where’s all the tables and seating?
To support social distancing, and as it is not yet safe to linger and gather, we have temporarily removed tables and seating. Please help us keep the library safe for everyone and do not move any equipment or furniture.

Southwest Public Libraries (SPL) has partnered with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) to distribute free at-home COVID-19 test kits.

The rapid-test kits have been purchased by ODH and are offered free of charge to the public on a voluntary basis. Kits are available at both Grove City and Westland for no-contact pickup only.

The test is self-administered at home during a free session with a telehealth proctor and offers results in approximately 15 minutes. To use, you will need an email address, internet connection, and a device with a webcam. The tests are Abbot BinaxNOW nasal swab antigen tests. Abbot has partnered with eMed for the telehealth sessions.

Those interested in picking up a test kit should download the NAVICA app from Google Play or the iOS App Store. The app enables users to find pickup sites, receive a pickup pass, manage their health profiles, and store test results for a limited time.

The library is offering kits for no-contact pickup only. To request a kit for pickup, patrons should:

1. Download the NAVICA app from Google Play or iOS App Store and create an account.
2. Call the library and request a test kit for pickup. The only personal info we will ask for is your last name so that we can bag and label your kit for pickup. You do not need to have a library card.
3. Come pick up your requested kit from no-contact tables set up near the entrance. Please do not pick up if you are feeling unwell. A friend or family member may pick up instead.
4. Take the test kit home to complete. Users will need to go to ohio.emed.com to start their telehealth session. The telehealth proctor will guide the user through collecting the sample and reading and understanding results.

Please be aware:

• No testing is done on site, and library staff are not permitted to assist in any part of the test nor provide any medical or testing advice.
• Users should contact their local health department for any questions not related to pickup. (Franklin County Department of Health 614-525-3160)
• The library does not collect nor keep any personal information in regards to these tests. The telehealth partner handles all reporting to public health officials as required.

In collaborating with libraries and other organizations across the state, ODH is working to make test kits readily available to everyone in all of Ohio's counties. By partnering with ODH and making test kits easily accessible, SPL hopes to help keep our community healthy and simplify the testing process for those who need it for work, school, travel, or other purposes.

Contact info for local county health departments

Setting up NAVICA app Android (Google Play)

Setting up NAVICA app iOS (App Store)

How eMed teleheath session works (short video)

An update on services at SPL

With the recent expiration of the county Stay-At-Home Advisory and COVID numbers continuing to trend down, we are happy to announce expanded services and access coming soon! We are excitedly preparing our buildings, our equipment, and our spaces to safely welcome you. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Stay tuned for details.

Our libraries are currently open for safe, no-contact

• holds pickup
• document services (print, copy, scan, fax)
• activity kit pickup
• telephone reference questions
• virtual programming
• returns
• and more

Learn more about our current services here or enjoy our digital library 24/7.