It has been three weeks now since the Cochrane Public Library reopened to the public, as part of Step 2 in Alberta's "Path Forward."

After months of being limited to curbside pick-up and online programming, libraries across the province were given the green light on March 1 (2021) to move into a "cautious" reopening.

The local library's Head Librarian and Assistant Director, Andrea Johnston says that the gradual move into Step 2 was limited to 15 per cent of fire capacity at first, but they have since been able to expand services.

"We originally started with just ten patrons in at a time for 30 minutes," says Johnston. "When the government announced that they were going fully into step 2 we reevaluated things. Now we can have up to 40 patrons in at a time for 60 minutes."

That full move into Step 2 was implemented on March 8 (2021). Johnston says that Cochranites have been very respectful of the restrictions in place, and they are thrilled to welcome patrons back into the library.

"It's so wonderful to see the little kids in, they've got their arms full of books, or they're playing in our children's area," says Johnston. "Patrons have been wonderful and they're being very careful while they're here in the library."

Recognizing that the library is an extremely high-touch facility, Johnston says that they have implemented additional safety protocols.

"We have instructed our patrons when they come in that if they're picking up items, it doesn't matter what they are - books, magazines, movies, board games, ukeleles; if they are going to be touching those and then decide that they're not going to check them out, they can just place them in bins and then we put them into our boardroom to quarantine them."

Johnston says that patrons can feel safe knowing that social distancing protocols, mask-wearing and sanitization practices are all being followed at the Cochrane Public Library. She says that curbside service is also still available for anyone wanting to utilize that service.

The library is open on Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm.

 

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