By Greg Ellison

(Aug. 20, 2020) Since opening by appointment for limited services last Monday in Ocean Pines and Pocomoke, the Worcester County Library this week doubled the number of branches involved, while continuing to monitor pandemic trends.

Worcester County Library Director Jennifer Ranck said the initial branches selected for the “Library By Appointment” alternative, which supplements the “Library-To-Go” contactless material pick up option, were based on geography.

“I was trying to get them on different sides of the county so that we can serve as many people as possible,” she said.

Presently limited to once weekly per person, appointments include basic services, such as registering for a library card.

“The services we’re offering are computer appointments for 45-minute sessions and the ability for people to come in and make copies,” she said.

Photocopies are limited to 20 duplicates of original documents, with appointments made by calling individual branches.

“This week we opened up two more of our branches in Berlin and Snow Hill,” she said.

Appointments, which must be scheduled in advance, are available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at all four branches, with Ocean Pines, Berlin and Pocomoke offering Saturday hours from 9:30-11:30 a.m.

“We do have a screening form that we ask people to fill out and … are asking people to wear a mask when they’re inside the building,” she said.

Ranck said Ocean City is slated next to join the pack providing appointments, but cautioned changes are contingent on continued progress during Maryland’s Roadmap to Recovery.

Services not currently available by appointment include: browsing collections, computer assistance, fax services, children’s areas, water fountains and meeting room reservations.

“We’re sorry we can not allow browsing at this point, but it helps limit the number of people that come in,” she said.

While counterintuitive to traditional literary pursuits involving timeless moments perusing stacks, access to reading or listening materials remains available in a contact free manner.

“People are still using our library pickup service, so if they need books or audio books they can request those items either by giving us a call or ordering on the website,” she said.

Library-To-Go contactless pick up is available at all Worcester County branches Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Because of quarantine requirements, returns should be made at outdoor book drops.

Ranck said meeting rooms have been momentarily repurposed as quarantine zones for returned items.

Health safety guidelines in place for those entering library buildings include: required use of facemasks for staff and patrons age 2 or older, six-foot social distancing, with computers and tables disinfected following each use. Anyone running a fever or feeling ill is asked to avoid visiting facilities.

Ranck said appointment call-in procedures allow staff an opportunity to apprise patrons of health safety guidelines.

“We have a chance to go over the rules with folks first and let them know what to expect … because it is very different,” she said. “Normally we’d like to encourage everyone to come in.”

For more information, visit worcesterlibrary.org.