Libraries and museum to reopen under alert level 2
Waipā residents eager to get back to the library or museum will soon get the chance as the country moves to alert level 2.
A staggered approach will be taken to reopen the Cambridge and Te Awamutu libraries and Te Awamutu Museum in the coming weeks and restrictions will be in place.
Waipā District Council community services manager Sally Sheedy said from Monday 18 May 2020, afterhours return slots at the libraries would reopen, enabling residents to return books issued prior to lockdown. The facilities would however remain shut.
“We’ve extended the return dates and waived fees on all library books so there is no rush to return these items. There are 27,000 items currently issued so we don’t want residents all coming at the same time to bring back items.”
All returned items will be held in quarantine for 72 hours to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission.
A ring and collect service will also commence during the week of the 18 May 2020. Residents can call the Cambridge Library 07 823 3838 or the Te Awamutu Library on 07 872 0055 and pre-book a time to collect library items.
Meanwhile, at the Te Awamutu Museum, staff will use the first week of alert level 2 to set up the facility for physical distancing and contact tracing.
From 25 May 2020, the museum will be open to the public from 10am-4pm on weekdays with a limit of 20 people allowed in the facility for a maximum of 30 minutes at once.
Sheedy said if all goes to plan, both libraries would reopen from 9am-5pm on weekdays from Monday, 25 May 2020.
A limit of 50 people will be allowed in the Te Awamutu library and 30 in the Cambridge library for a maximum of 20 minutes at once. These spaces will also operate on a one-in one-out policy.
“Unfortunately, magazines, newspapers and computer terminals won’t be available and residents won’t be able to sit and study in the library.
“While Covid-19 restrictions have eased considerably, we still need to be very careful and ensure safety measures are in place to keep both staff and library users safe.”
All residents will be required to sign in before entering any Council-operated facilities for contact tracing purposes. Hand sanitising stations will also be set up at all entrances.
For more information on the reopening of the libraries and museum, head to www.waipadc.govt.nz/covid-19-information.