Coronavirus Information Page
June 12 – Chairs Return
Chairs for casual seating were up out throughout the library. Computers are now available for 2 hour periods with the option to extend that time. Study Room reservations return to 2 hours. Masks are mandatory while in the building.
May 15 – Main Restrooms Reopen
May 2 – Library Hours Fully back to Regular Hours
April 12 – Library Hours Open to the Public Extended
March 8 -Library Hours Open to the Public Extended
February 15 -Library Building Open to the Public with Limited Services
January 30 – Library Closed Until Further Notice
Due to a COVID-19 exposure, the library will be closed until further notice. Fines will not be charged during the time we are closed and we will not cancel any holds until a week after we reopen. Please check back for more details on when we will reopen. The library book drop will be locked until we know the date we will be reopening. Please check back for more details as this page will be updated as they become available.
January 25 -Library Building Open to the Public with Limited Services
November 28 – Library Building will be closed – Curbside services available
The library will be closing the building to public access starting November 28. Starting on this date, only curbside services and online resources will be available. The public may use curbside services by placing holds on items through the library catalog or by calling the library at 618-288-1212 and talking with library staff. Once the item is ready for pickup, you may pick up your hold by calling the library once you’ve arrived in the parking lot. Library staff will bring your hold(s) out to the table that will be set up in the library vestibule where you may pick them up.
During this time, most of the library’s kits will be available, exceptions are the kits with cloth or plush items and the telescopes will not be available.
The library will be continuing Food for Fines through December. If you need to pay overdue fines with money, please have the correct change ready. If you need to use a credit card, it is important to know that library staff will need to take your credit card to the main desk while you remain by the curbside table.
August 16 – Limited Library Computer Use
There are 7 library computers available for use. Computer sessions are limited to 1 session for 1 hour per day. The study rooms are also available for 1-hour sessions.
June 15 – Library Building Open to the Public with Limited Services
The Glen Carbon Centennial Library is reopening its doors to the public on Monday, June 15, with limited hours and services.
We are very excited to enter the next phase of reopening with limited services and hours on June 15. These limitations will be in place through June.
Limited Hours
Monday-Saturday: 11:00 am-12:00 pm – Service hour for seniors and those with underlying conditions
Monday – Thursday: 12:00 pm-6:00 pm
Friday – Saturday: 12:00 pm-3:00 pm
The library will continue curbside services through our regular hours.
We will be limiting the number of patrons in the building to 20 people for browsing the shelves. We will also have a computer station that will be available for 1 hour-long sessions and a study room where people may access the library’s Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi services are available outside of the library 24-7 for those needing an internet connection.
Since restarting services at the end of May the library has been taking steps to ensure the health and safety of the public and our staff. All returned items are quarantined for 7 days and then wiped down with Lysol before being shelved or checked out to another patron. Masks are required for all public areas for both staff and the public. Directional arrows and queue lines have been marked on the floor throughout the library to promote social distancing. Hand sanitizer will be available to the public upon entering and throughout the building.
During this phase of reopening, we ask that families limit the number of members who come to the library and practice social distancing rules throughout the building. We have removed all of the chairs from the public space and all of the toys in our children’s area are in storage.
June 2 – Curbside Delivery to begin
Starting on this date, only curbside services and online resources will be available. The public may use curbside services by placing holds on items through the library catalog or by calling the library at 618-288-1212 and talking with library staff. Once the item is ready for pickup, you may pick up your hold by calling the library once you’ve arrived in the parking lot.
Friday, May 29 Material Return Box Opening – All Overdues Waived!
Starting May 29, the library will be opening our new outdoor material return box. If you have had your books, magazines, and/or movies laying around since March, you can now return them to the library. If you’ve spent time during the quarantine cleaning house and found items that hadn’t been returned, bring those as well. There will be no overdue for any items returned in June, regardless of when they were due. We will be quarantining items for 7 days before they are checked in, so please be patient if your account still shows returned materials being checked out.
Steps the library has taken to prevent the spread of infectious illnesses
March 17 Until Further Notice: The library will be closed to the public to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Library Closure Announcement – March 17 Until Further Notice:
On March 13, 2020, Governor Pritzker mandated that all schools in the state be closed from Tuesday, March 17 until further notice in an effort to curb the spread and impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
While normally we would invite our school-aged children to come to the library in the event of an emergency closing, this is not the best course of action when trying to curb a contagious disease. Because containment works best when all organizations participate, many libraries and other cultural organizations will be closed for the same duration. The Illinois Library Association is recommending the closure of all public libraries.
The Glen Carbon Centennial Library is continuing to monitor and adjust to this changing situation. Services available over the coming weeks are subject to change depending on what is needed to protect the health of our communities. Please check our website (https://www.glencarbonlibrary.org/), Facebook, or call the library (618-288-1212) for updates.
Information on the Coronavirus and its spread
Madison County Health Department
Illinois Department of Public Health