Covid-19 Precautions

Library Limited Reopening

The Plum Lake Public Library is now open with limited hours The library will be a bit different and we will need to take some precautions to keep everyone safe, but we can’t wait to see you!

Open days:
- Monday 10am-2pm
- Friday 12pm-2pm
CURBSIDE SERVICE is available by appointment on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and we encourage you to use it! Request items (see below) and call us at 715-542-2020 to set up a time to pick up at our front door!
Wi-Fi is available 24/7. Feel free to sit in our backyard or in your car to use it at any time!
Limit time in library to no more than 30 minutes. Please be brief and purposeful.
5-person limit on visitors in the library at one time.
Limit your party to 2 or less, if possible.
Exit out the back door, if physically able.
Return items to the book drop outside or in the bin located right inside the front door.
All returned items will be placed in quarantine for 72 hours. They will stay on your account until they are checked in at least 3 days later. We are waiving all fines at this time.
Hand sanitizer will be available for visitors. Please use it upon entering the building, and before and after computer use.
Face coverings are required and strict adherence to social distancing requirements will also be necessary. We will have masks available for those who forget to bring one along.
Library staff will be wearing masks when they serve you.
Surfaces, doorknobs, etc. will be cleaned regularly throughout the day.
Plexiglas sneeze guards have been installed at the front desk.
No restrooms are available at this time.
As you browse through the shelves and pick up books or DVDs, if you decide NOT to check out an item, please place the item on the quarantine cart or bin placed near the front desk. DO NOT RESHELVE ITEMS.
YOUTH AREA: Toys are put away until further notice. All children 12 years old and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
COMPUTER USE: Only 2 public computers will be available. Computer use will be limited to 30 minutes per day. We will be disinfecting computers between each use.
FAXING/COPYING/SCANNING/LAMINATING: Staff will do this for you.
THREE WAYS TO PLACE A HOLD:

• Log on to the library catalog at merlin.nwls.lib.wi.us/. Have your library card handy!
• Call 715-542-2020. We can do it for you!
• Email us at ebraunel@sayer.wislib.org with your requests and your phone number.

Plum Lake Public Library Curbside Service Guidelines

Libraries have been given specific guidelines from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction on how to handle curbside deliveries. To support social distancing efforts and to follow state orders, the library is operating with very limited staff. Staff will fill your holds as quickly as physically possible and we thank you for your patience. Place your request, at the latest, the day before pickup to give library staff time to fulfill your request.

Please follow these instructions:

Place items on hold. Let us know what you need from the library. We have books (of course!), DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, jigsaw puzzles, and more. Currently, delivery of items between libraries is suspended. You may only request items that are available at Sayner. There are a few ways to place your order.
1. Place specific title holds through the Merlin Library Catalog at https://merlin.nwls.lib.wi.us/. Please request only items listed as “Available” at Sayner.
2. Email ebraunel@sayner.wislib.org with a number of items you would like and item suggestions like “historical fiction”, “books by authors like C. J. Box”, “Tom Hanks movies” or “any new mysteries in the past year”. We will try our best to provide a grab bag of items fitting your requests.
3. Call the library at 715-542-2020 and leave a message.
Schedule a pickup time. If you’ve placed holds through our online catalog or by email, we will call you to let you know your times are ready for pickup and to schedule a pickup time. If you call by phone, a pickup time will be scheduled when you place your request. We will be giving you a number at the time of your order that will be on your bag when you pick up your items.
Pick up your items. Pickups will be staggered at 15-minute increments to maintain social distancing during the pick-up process. You must pick up your holds at the designated pick-up time.
1. Staff will pull your items, check them out to you, and place them in a bag. There will be a slip with your order number stapled to the bag.
2. Stay in your vehicle until your pick-up time.
3. A staff person will bring your bag of items out to our delivery table.
4. Please wait until our staff has returned to the building before getting out of your car to retrieve your items. Only one person should leave the vehicle to pick up items from the table. Please do not attempt to use the curbside pickup table to return materials. This is essential to maintain safe handling of all materials. If returning items, place them in the book drop outside the library entrance.
5. Return to your vehicle as soon as you’ve picked up your items to allow us to serve the next patron safely.

If it is raining and windy, we may need to cancel pickup.

Remember, the Plum Lake Public Library remains closed to the public. Restrooms, computers, and other services will not be accessible.

The book drop is open, but you do not have to return items.  You can renew items online or call us and we can renew them over the phone.  All fines are being waived.  No donations are being accepted at this time.

Don’t forget, you can check out books and audiobooks from Wisconsin’s Digital Library (https://wplc.overdrive.com/), take a class through Gale Courses (https://education.gale.com/l-nwater), or use the resources from Badgerlink (https://badgerlink.dpi.wi.gov/) anytime.  All you need is your library card!  If you need help getting your library card number or have any other questions, please call the library at 715-542-2020.

Safety Considerations

The Plum Lake Public Library is following the guidelines provided by the CDC and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to ensure the safety of our staff and patrons. Library staff will strictly adhere to current guidelines regarding social distancing, hygiene, and cleaning as we provide curbside service.

We will be quarantining all returned materials for 72 hours before handling them, so they will remain checked out to your library card for several days after you return them. We can only accept returns through the book drop in order to make sure these quarantine procedures are followed correctly. Please do not place returned materials on our curbside delivery table or anywhere else at the library.

Despite following these guidelines, the Plum Lake Public Library cannot guarantee that all our materials are completely free of contagion.  It is possible that the COVID-19 virus can remain viable on hard surfaces for several days.  Please use your discretion about how to keep yourself and your family safe. If you are concerned about exposure to COVID-19 from library materials, we suggest that you keep your materials quarantined in their delivery bag for 72 hours before you handle them, or that you avoid the risk altogether by using our digital services instead.