As the State of Illinois’ Restore Illinois plan moves into Phase 3, the Park Ridge Library will begin providing a contact-free pickup service by appointment only on Monday, June 1. The Library building will remain closed to the public, and Library materials to be returned will not be accepted, until further notice. All due dates have been extended until July 1, 2020.
“Our team is working hard to prepare our pickup processes for June 1,” said Library Director Heidi Smith. “They are ready to assist patrons with placing holds and choosing materials via phone, chat and email, and we appreciate the support the community has shown us during these weeks. There is a lot of excitement from staff as well as the community about circulating physical materials, with over 1,000 new requests placed in the last week in preparation for this service!”
Requesting Materials for Contact-Free Pickup
Library cardholders can request materials for contact-free pickup via the Library’s online catalog, accessible at www.parkridgelibrary.org. Once the staff has processed their request and their materials are ready for pickup, an email will be sent to the library cardholder with a link to the Contact-Free Pickup reservations page. Appointments can also be scheduled via phone by contacting the Patron Services department at 847-825-3123, ext. 6.
If a cardholder needs help choosing materials or would prefer not to place their request online, they can call the library for assistance with Youth Services, Adult Fiction, or Adult Nonfiction items. Library staff can also be reached via live chat on the Library website or via phone every day during regular Library hours. at 847-825-3123, ext. 6.
Once the appointment is set and it is time to pick up items, patrons are asked to maintain social distancing practices by staying at least six feet apart from other people at the pickup area in front of the Library’s front doors on Prospect Avenue. Staff will not be available to connect with patrons at the pickup area; patrons are asked to call or email the Library with any concerns, and to verify the information on the bag indicates it is theirs before leaving.
More About Requesting Items
In anticipation of high demand, patrons are asked to schedule only one pickup in the first two weeks of June, limit their request to 50 items per cardholder. All checkouts will be for three weeks. At this time, only Park Ridge Library materials can be requested. Requested items will be held for 14 days.
Patrons who had books on hold prior to the March 13 closing can still pick up those books. An option to suspend a hold is also available through our Patron Services department if a patron prefers to wait to pick it up when the Library building opens to the public. Patron Services can also be reached via email at patronservices@prpl.org.
Obtaining a Library Card
Park Ridge residents can apply for a library card through an online form at www.parkridgelibrary.org/library-card-application/. A library team member will email a library card number and pin so that will allow the cardholder access to online resources and physical materials and their account. Questions regarding a library account can be sent to our Patron Services team at patronservices@prpl.org.
Virtual Library Open 24/7
Since closing to the public March 14, the Library has enhanced virtual services to meet the needs of the community as much as possible. Use of virtual library services has increased, and some have quickly reached their capacity as they gain popularity. Staff needed to support these programs will continue to do so from home. A calendar of virtual events can be found at www.parkridgelibrary,org.
Returning Library Materials
Returned materials will not be accepted at this time. All due dates have been extended and no fines have accrued during the closure. The Library will share more information as it becomes available about how Library materials can be returned.
The Library’s actions are guided by available science and information from health and infectious disease experts, Executive Orders from the Office of Governor Pritzker, and the American Library Association. While the stay-at-home order is in place, the Library encourages everyone in the community to stay home and continue to follow the recommendations of public health officials.
For questions pertaining to the COVID-19 crisis, patrons are encouraged to refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Cook County Department of Public Health, and the City of Park Ridge for the latest information. Links to all of these sites can be found at www.parkridge.info.