Regional Libraries open doors

BOOKWORMS rejoice, Regional Library branches across Geelong have re-opened, including the Geelong Heritage Centre and the Surf Coast and Bellarine mobile libraries.

To facilitate COVID-safe environments, libraries have implemented new operating systems; visitors will be capped to 10 or more depending on building size, borrowed items will be quarantined for three days when returned, visits may be restricted to one hour per person in busy period and public computers will be available for one-hour sessions.

Social distancing rules apply and face masks are required when attending libraries, hand sanitiser will be available and people are required to leave contact details each visit.

Contactless printing is available at Geelong, Belmont, Corio, Ocean Grove and Torquay.

Mobile libraries will resume as normal with changes only applying to the Bellarine and Surf Coast Mobile Library which will now operate very second Saturday. The Golden Plains mobile library will not operate on Saturdays for the time being.

Opening hours have been temporarily amended. Libraries in Geelong, Belmont, Corio, Geelong West, Leopold, Torquay and Waurn Ponds will now close at 6:00pm rather than 8:00pm. Waurn Ponds Library will be open from nine am till 1:00pm on Saturdays and 2:00pm until 5:00pm on Sundays. Western Heights College Library will be open from 3pm until 7pm on Wednesdays and 9pm until 12pm Saturdays.

Live events and outreach services remain suspended, however people missing the incredible content of libraries can access online events and programs via the Geelong Regional Libraries website, https://www.grlc.vic.gov.au/virtual-events.