Most Grant County libraries to open for curbside pickup

MOSES LAKE — Library patrons will be able to get books and other materials from most libraries in Grant County beginning Aug. 13. Library patrons can start reserving materials for curbside pickup Aug. 12.

Michelle McNiel, information specialist for North Central Regional Library, said Monday that curbside pickup will be limited to the materials in each library. A patron can’t order a book from another library — Brewster, for example — and have it delivered to Moses Lake, she said.

“You can go online and you can look up any books you want to get. If it’s available at your library, you can get it,” McNiel said.

Patrons also can reserve items over the phone. Library patrons who aren’t sure what they want can call the local library and librarians will provide recommendations, McNiel said.

A book can be reserved by a resident of another community; for instance, an Ephrata resident could reserve something at the Moses Lake Public Library and come to Moses Lake to pick it up.

Curbside pickup will be available during regular library hours. Library patrons will be notified when the materials are ready. Masks are required for pickup. A sign in front of each library will include a phone number to call and tell staff that the patron is there, ready for pickup.

Libraries in Grant, Okanogan and Ferry counties started accepting returns Aug. 10. Returned materials will be quarantined for 72 hours before they are returned to circulation.

Libraries in Chelan and Douglas counties are still closed for any activity. The restrictions were imposed to combat the COVID-19 outbreak in March and haven’t been relaxed.

The library’s mail order service is still suspended, because the distribution center is in Wenatchee. McNiel said NCRL officials have applied to the Chelan-Douglas Health District to reopen the mail order center and restart the service. Mail order is “super popular,” she said.

All NCRL libraries are still closed to in-person traffic. Libraries can’t reopen until at least the third phase of the state’s phased reopening plan. The state has halted that process statewide.