WE'RE REOPENING  July 7, 2020

Welcome Back!

We’re happy to reopen our doors to the public for browsing! Following State guidelines, we ask that you keep physically distanced and wear a face covering when visiting any County of San Luis Obispo Public Library. Library staff are eager to assist you in finding your next book, movie, or accessing our numerous electronic media platforms—streaming movies, digital magazines, ebooks, audiobooks, and databases.

Please call us if you have specific questions.

 

Grab and Go FAQs

What hours will the libraries be open?
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Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, San Luis Obispo, Cambria, Morro Bay, Los Osos, and Nipomo libraries are currently open. Their hours of operation are:
Tuesday – Saturday | 10:00 AM-5:00 PM

There will also be special hours for vulnerable populations from 9:00 AM-10:00 AM each open day.

When is staff available to assist me by phone?
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Library staff are available to assist you on the phone.
Tuesday – Saturday | 9:00 AM-5:00 PM

How can I place holds on library books and materials?
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1. Place items on hold using the online library catalog, www.slolibrary.org Click on the Search the Catalog button and place requests. Find more information on how to here. (to be linked when page is available)
2. If you need assistance, please call the library to speak to a staff person. Have your library card number ready.
3. Holds are limited to 10 items.
4. If you receive a hold notification, visit the library you chose to pick up the materials from the hold shelf.

How will I know my hold items are ready for me to pick up?
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You will receive an email, text or phone notification based on the preference selected in your account.

What if my items are on the hold shelf at a location that isn’t open?
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You can request that your items be moved to an open location. You can change the pick-up location in your account online. If you need assistance, please call one of the libraries listed above to speak to a staff person. Have your library card number ready.

Can I check items out if I got my card online?
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With an online card, you can check out digital materials, but not physical items. To update your online card, please bring identification and go to the information desk at one of the libraries listed above.

How do I return library materials?

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You may return items in the book drop at your local library.

What if I no longer want to check out the items I have on the hold shelf?
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Please call one of the libraries listed above and staff can assist you.

Can I request items from other libraries in the Black Gold Cooperative?
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At this time, delivery services are not operating between the Black Gold Cooperative member libraries. Materials for hold requests will be limited to items in the local collections of the SLO County Libraries and the Paso Robles Library. Items from Black Gold Libraries can be returned at any time to the book drop at your local library.

I have a question about my account. Is there anyone who can help me?
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Please call one of the libraries listed above and staff can assist you.

I have a reference question. Is there anyone who can help me?
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Please visit us online and use our Ask a Librarian online service.
Or call one of the open libraries during phone service hours and staff can assist you.

What library resources are available?
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Most circulating library materials will be available. Some Library of Things items such as VR Headsets will not be available. Because we are limited in the number of people we can safely admit into our facilities, we ask that you respect the need for equal access to all of our patrons by placing holds on our online catalog for pickup, calling in requests, or browsing our collections for the materials you wish to take home with you. In-house magazines, newspapers, passport services, and Friends of the Library bookstores will not be available at this time as we are providing Grab-and-Go services.

Will public computers be available?
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Some public computers are available at each library. Computers are spaced 6 feet apart, and computer sessions are limited to one 20-minute session per day. Mobile printing is available. Chromebooks, mobile Wi-Fi hotspots, and Launchpads are available for checkout.

What safety measures are you taking?
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Library staff will be following State and County guidelines to ensure safety by maintaining separate workspaces, sanitizing workstations, and wearing masks. The number of people allowed into the facility at any given time will be limited. Patrons are required to wear face coverings, and are encouraged to maintain a distance of 6 feet from others. The space inside the libraries have been adjusted to accommodate distancing and no seating is available for leisure reading.

Additionally, library materials that are returned will be rested for a period of 24 hours before being checked in. Given the nature of a shared library collection and the limited knowledge about how the coronavirus may be spread on the surface of items such as books and DVDs, we are not able to guarantee the safety of shared library materials. During this time, it is recommended that you consult the CDC guidelines on how to protect yourself from exposure, and use our Digital Library if you have any concerns.

Can I donate materials to the Library at this time?
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We currently are not accepting any donations at this time.

Can I pick up items on hold for another person who is quarantining/homebound?
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Yes. Please bring the library card of the person who requested the hold items and you can pick up their items.

I returned materials to the library, why is it still on my account?
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The libraries are resting materials for a period of 24 hours before they are checked in. Please allow staff a few days to check materials in before contacting library staff about returned materials.

How can I pay a fine on my library account?
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We encourage you to contact library staff before paying fines on your account. If you do need to make a payment, you can pay online by logging into your account and using a credit card. If necessary, you can visit a branch and pay by credit card or cash.

Will curbside pickup continue when you reopen?
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Curbside service will end when we reopen the libraries. It was requested that we have our doors open to the community. Curbside service is a labor-intensive process and we weren’t able to continue offering that while safely opening our doors.