As Fairfax County enters Phase 3, the Fairfax County Public Library is gearing up for a limited service reopening of library branches. Beginning Monday, July 13, all library branches will be available for “express” services. This means that library patrons will be able to once again use their local branches, but with some modifications in place, including:

• Express services are focused on grab-and-go style activities, so daily visits are limited to 30 minutes;
• Each branch will have a capacity limit to support social distancing;
• Library users may browse the shelves, use a computer, and pick up holds;
• The library will continue to offer virtual programs;
• Social distancing features will include plexiglass shields at customer service desks, social distancing floor stickers, every other public PC disabled, and some furniture removed from the public floor or moved to support six feet of distance between users;
• Returned library materials will continue to be quarantined for 72 hours; and
• Meeting rooms will continue to be unavailable as the spaces are housing furniture removed from the public floor as well as quarantined library materials.

During the first week, the library will have a greeter in the front lobby to share information about the express service model, ensure capacity limits are maintained, and direct users towards disposable masks if needed.

Additionally, the popular curbside services will continue, even as express interior services begin, to provide an option for residents who are not yet comfortable using library facilities.

Express services will be available at all locations Monday – Tuesday from 10:00 AM until 8:00 PM and Wednesday – Saturday from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM, while curbside services will continue to be offered Monday – Saturday from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM.

These services are still not available at this time:

• Use of meeting rooms and study rooms
• Print daily Newspapers
• Memory Depots
• In-House Laptops (from laptop lending pilot)
• In-person programming
• Acceptance of donated materials
• Merchandise purchases, such as tote bags, earbuds, or flash drives

Source:  Fairfax County