Library reopens
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NEW ULM -- At exactly 11 o'clock Assistant City Librarian April Ide opened the door to the New Ulm Public Library to allow patrons inside for the first time since March.
The library's new hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays.
A few patrons were waiting outside the building at exactly 11 o'clock. One of the first visitors said, "Yay! The most important building in the city is open again!"
Visitors were asked to enter the library through the southwest entrance -- nearest the outdoor book drop -- and follow the one-way path through the library's entrance and around the service desk.
Library Director Paulina Poplawska said the staff was excited to be open for the public again.
Guests were welcome to browse the collection, check out items, pick up holds, ask reference questions, or apply for a library card. Library users are asked to wear a mask, limit visits to 15 minutes, keep a distance of six feet with other patrons, and send only one family member. Library programming will remain virtual-only for now.
Computers are available for one-hour appointments. Library staff will disinfect public computers after each use and frequently disinfect the service desk area and door handles. All other areas of the library are use-at-your-own-risk, including the public restrooms.
Anyone who had a hold since on materials before the pandemic hit can still pick it up. The library has not sent back any of the items placed on hold before or during the closure. Any held items will remain available for pickup through Friday, June 26, and then the hold period will revert back to the normal ten days from when the item arrived at NUPL. Poplawska said the library has triple the normal number of holds because patrons were unable to pick up during the lockdown.
Items can still be checked out from the library's digital collections by visiting www.newulmlibrary.org and clicking on Overdrive, MNKnows, or Ancestry Library Edition. Contactless pickup by appointment will continue indefinitely.
Visit www.newulmlibrary.org, follow the library on Facebook at New Ulm Public Library-City of New Ulm, or call 507-359-8331 for more information.
The library also went through physical changes during the lockdown. Regular patrons may notice new carpeting on the main floor. Some of the bookcases have been moved, and the children's library received a fresh coat of blue paint.
The library hours will remain in place for now, but Saturday hours could be added in July.