Library Update
Thursday, August 12, 2021

Update to our August 5 announcement: Holds can be picked up downstairs. Please pick up by Saturday 8/14 or after 8/17. The library will be closed 8/16-8/17. We will be open for pick-up only 8/18: 10-4; 8/19: 10-8; 8/21:10-4.

Library Update
Thursday, August 5, 2021

The Library will be closed August 16-21 in anticipation of reopening on both floors! While we are  closed, all furniture, shelving, and materials will be moved back to their permanent locations. All children’s materials will be back on the lower level and adult and teen materials will return to the upper level.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, when we reopen you will be able to browse all materials on both floors. Thank you for your patience. We can’t wait to show you our new and improved layouts and welcome you back to the upper level.

Please come in and pick up any items you have on hold by Saturday, August 14. Between August 16 and 21, the library will be completely closed, including holds pickup. Please remember to wear a mask while in the library.

Expanded Hours and Self-Service Holds Pickup Begin Wednesday, June 16
Update: Tuesday, June 15

Starting this week, no appointments are needed to pick up holds or to browse new materials on the lower level. In order to protect the youngest among us who cannot be vaccinated yet, facemasks must be worn to enter the building. Thank you for your understanding.

Temporary hours are:
Monday, Wednesday, Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday: Closed

Available on the lower level:

• New books, audiobooks, music and movies for all ages.
• New and back issues of magazines for all ages.
• Youth award nominees.
• Themed grab bags for all ages.
• Two computers and a printer/copier.

The upper level will remain closed at this time. Because children’s shelving and materials are still in the aisles of the adult services department, it is not currently a viable public space. To see photos of the upper level as it is currently arranged, see our new pinned Facebook post.

We are also starting a new self-serve holds service. After you’ve been notified that your holds are ready, you may pick them up during any of the above hours on the lower level of the library. When you walk in, they will be in the hallway on tables, arranged by last name.

Bags will have the first 3 letters of your last name, your first initial and the date the items were pulled and checked out to you. Bags will stay on the table for one week to give you plenty of time to pick up your items. We will post-date the checkout so you won’t lose any time to enjoy your items.

Please continue to return items to the outside book drops.

Masks are Required to Enter the Library Building
Update 5/19/2021

Per Illinois Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order 2021-10 issued May 17, 2021:

“Public health requirements for individuals.  Individuals must take the following public health steps to protect their own and their neighbors’ health and lives:

Social distancing.  To the extent individuals who are not fully vaccinated are using shared spaces when outside their residence, including when outdoors, they must at all times and as much as reasonably possible maintain social distancing of at least six feet from any other person who does not live with them.

Face coverings. Any individual who is not fully vaccinated and who is over age two and able to medically tolerate a face covering (a mask or cloth face covering) shall be required to cover their nose and mouth with a face covering when in a public place and unable to maintain a six-foot social distance.  This requirement applies whether in an indoor space, such as a store, or in a public outdoor space where maintaining a six-foot social distance is not always possible.”

Since we don’t know who has and has not been vaccinated and since most under the age of 16 have not been vaccinated, face masks will be required by all visiting the building until further notice. Let’s all do our part to keep the library a safe place for everyone!

Update 5/20/2021

The library will no longer be quarantining new materials.

In-Person Services by Appointment
Please Read Carefully
Update 2/19/2021
We’re excited to announce that we are opening the lower level of the library for limited service by appointment. This will be in addition to curbside pickup service, which will continue through the spring and summer.

We have moved furniture, shelving, and materials in order to make the lower level conducive to browsing new materials while maintaining social distancing. There are now two public computers available for public use on the lower level. Hand sanitizer stations have also been added in the public areas.

Available on the lower level:

• New books, audiobooks, music and movies for all ages.
• New and back issues of magazines for all ages.
• Youth award nominees.
• Themed grab bags for all ages.
• Two computers and a printer/copier.

To see pictures of the lower level changes, please see our post on Facebook.

All other materials, including adult, kids, and teen books that are no longer new, are currently housed on the upper level and will not be available to browse. The upper level will be closed to the public; please continue to use curbside pickup when checking out older materials.

In-Person Visits: What You Need to Know

• Due to the need to social distance, we will be taking appointments for six library members during each time slot.
• Staffing needs dictate that pickup days may change from week to week; we will let you know the available dates and times when you ask for a time slot.
• Time slots will begin at the top of the hour and last for 45 minutes.
• Staff will clean and sanitize the public area before the next appointments.
• Everyone age 2 and older must wear a mask when entering the library and must maintain social distance.
• Upon entering, a staff greeter will check your name and ask if anyone in your household has recently experienced any Covid-related symptoms.
• There is a 20 item checkout limit.

Make an appointment:

• Email wfdstaff@winfield.lib.il.us or call (630) 653-7599. We will answer every email! If you do not get a response within 24 hours, please call the library. We are currently having issues with our emails reaching Gmail users, so please add our email address to your contacts and/or safe senders list.
• We ask that as few members of each family as possible visit at a time so we can schedule as many households as possible for each time slot.
• We will ask you if you need to use a public computer; there will be two computers available during each time slot.

You may contact us now for an appointment! We thank you for your patience as we expect initial demand to be high. Availability of appointments may depend on staff availability. Thank you, Winfield! We can't wait to see you again!

Curbside pickup returns December 15!
Update December 11, 2020

To make curbside pickup smoother and safer, we have made a few small changes to our pickup procedures:

• We will now schedule pickups during four 30-minute timeslots instead of two 60-minute timeslots each day. It is still 2 hours each pickup day but we hope this will spread out the pick-ups.
• Weather permitting, the table with the pickup bags will be outside near the downstairs entrance. If it is raining or snowing we will keep the table in the foyer.
• Please grab your bag off the table instead of waiting for the staff member to hand it to you.
• If you have questions or concerns, please email us at wfdstaff@winfield.lib.il.us, or call the library at (630) 653-7599, instead of asking during pickup.
• We will still offer crafts whenever possible, but the craft basket will have only one type of craft, so you can grab and go.

These changes will make it easier for everyone to socially distance. Thank you and we'll see you soon, Winfield!

Service Update
December 2, 2020

All in-person services are suspended through at least December 15. Please see the previous update for details.

Service Update
November 16, 2020

Due to the alarming rise of Covid-19 rates in our region and statewide, the library is making temporary service changes.

• As of Wednesday, November 18, we will be suspending all in-person services through at least December 8.
  • This includes curbside pickup, grab bags, interlibrary loan and craft kits.
    
• All pending homebound deliveries will be made, then this service will be suspended as well.
• You may keep the books you have checked out, or choose to return them in our outside book drops. Your account will not be charged for overdue items; automatic renewals will apply to most items.
• Staff will be kept to a minimum in the building at all times.
• We hope that Covid-19 cases near us will level off and make it safe to resume service once again soon. We will re-evaluate in early December.
• As always, thank you for understanding that the safety of our staff and the safety of our community must be our first priority.

Library Updates and FAQ
November 10, 2020
Please check our Facebook page. This will be the best place to check for further updates during this time.
Click here to see all updates since March.

What are the library's reopening plans?
The library has been making changes in the hopes of opening the lower level for limited services this fall. However, our region saw a rise in covid-19 cases before we could do so. We will not be able to open while our state region is still under additional mitigation measures. We will re-evaluate when the mitigation measures are lifted.

How can we check out and return materials?
We are currently offering curbside pickup on Tuesday mornings from 10 to noon and Thursday evenings from 6-8. Scroll down for more information. You may return materials to the outside book drops at any time.

Why are my books not showing up as returned?
All items are quarantined for 7 days BEFORE being checked in. We are waiving fines, so the extra days on your card will not accrue fines.

Why did I get a renewal or overdue notice for books I already returned?
Because of the item quarantine of 7 days, these notices may be ignored if you have already returned your items. We have set up automatic renewal to be sure no accounts get blocked due to overdue items which have actually been returned.

How can I access eBooks?
Visit our downloadables page. Download the Libby app for eBooks and eAudiobooks, or the RBdigital app for eMagazines and streaming entertainment from Acorn, the Great Courses and more.

What is my Libby PIN?
Although Libby asks for a PIN, what they actually need is the same password you use to log in to the library's regular catalog. If you can't remember your password, use the "Forgot Your Password" link in the catalog.

What other resources can we access?
For an A-Z list of our other digital resources, visit our Research page.

Who should I contact if I need help?
General questions: Katie at wfdstaff@winfield.lib.il.us.
Library card questions: Rozanne at rmurphy@winfield.lib.il.us.

Library Service Update
November 2, 2020
The library has been making changes to open for limited services this fall. However, our region saw a rise in covid-19 cases before we could do so. We will not be able to open while our state region is still under additional mitigation measures. We will re-evaluate when the mitigation measures are lifted.

Library Service Update
September 5, 2020
Do you miss browsing for books in the library? We miss you, too! Library staff are in the process of making changes in anticipation of opening for some select public services. We are moving shelving and materials, establishing an appointment system, performing staff health checks, and more. We can’t wait to show you what we’ve been working on!

Starting this fall, we will reopen the lower level of the library for limited services, with some significant changes. New materials for all ages and in all categories will be available on the lower level to browse. The copier and two computers will also be available for public use. Library staff will be on hand at the downstairs desk to renew library cards, check out materials, and answer questions.

Why open just the lower level? We are following safety guidelines from the state and the CDC, which limit the number of people in the building at one time. With entrances on both levels, it is difficult to monitor appointments and be sure we are within safety parameters. We also have several staff members continuing to work from home due to health issues, so we will be working with a smaller staff to help with in-person services. Using only one service desk helps us staff the library more efficiently.

Curbside pickup is now available, and will continue once we open for limited hours of in-person service. We are now offering Contactless Homebound Delivery as well.

We will post more information about this new level of service on our website in September. Follow us on Facebook.com/WinfieldLib to be sure you see updates as they happen. We appreciate your patience and understanding that we must place the safety of our staff and patrons first.

Access Ancestry.com Library Edition from Home
Update September 5, 2020
Ancestry.com is always available to our patrons in the library, but they normally don't allow home access. However, since many libraries have limited in-person services due to Covid-19, Ancestry has changed their policy to temporarily allow home access for library patrons. This policy will be re-evaluated monthly by Ancestry. We will post any changes here when they happen.

To access Ancestry from home:

1. Visit our catalog at https://winf.agverso.com/ and login to your account. Guests may not use this service so you must be logged in.
2. Find the All Headings button near the search bar at the top of the page. Click the Select Resources icon, also known as the "stack of pancakes," next to the All Headings button.
3. Click the text link to "Ancestry Library Edition."

Contactless Homebound Delivery
Update August 17, 2020

Homebound delivery service has now resumed as a contactless service. Any library patron is who is permanently or temporarily homebound is eligible for this service. Our curbside pickup is available for all patrons, but if you are temporarily homebound because of the Covid-19 epidemic you may choose contactless delivery.

To request delivery, email us at wfdstaff@winfield.lib.il.us with a list of what books you'd like. Ask for specific titles or books in your favorite genre. Library staff will put these items on hold for you. You will be notified by the Homebound Delivery team to schedule your delivery or pickup time. Books will be delivered to a porch, step, garage, or other contactless delivery point. Email is the best way to contact us, but you may also call us at (630) 653-7599. To request that someone pick up your items to return them to the library, please email us, or call if you cannot email.

New Service: Grab Bags!
Update August 14, 2020

Not sure what to read next? The library's new Grab Bag service is here to help!
Email us your name, age (if not for an adult), and what type of books you want to read. We'll place some surprise items on hold for you for curbside pickup!

Not sure what to ask for? Give us as much or as little information as you want, depending on how surprised you want to be. Try something like this:

• I love the Jack Reacher series, grab me a few like that.
• I need some dinosaur picture books for my toddler.
• Mystery chapter books for a third grader who loves A-Z mysteries.
• My 8th grader loves fantasy adventures.
• Easy Readers with superheroes
• I'm willing to read any and all new releases.

Email us with subject line "Grab Bag" at wfdstaff@winfield.lib.il.us and let us surprise you!

Library Meeting Rooms
Update July 10, 2020
As part of the library's service plan for Covid-19, we have been implementing some changes that affect use of our meeting rooms. We are quarantining all book returns in the meeting room for 7 days before checking them in. We have six tables set up, one for each day of returns.

We also have been changing the seating and computer areas of the building to comply with social distancing guidelines once we reopen to the public. We have removed 4 of our 8 public computers as well as some of the tables and chairs from our public areas. These items are being stored in our meeting room.

Because of the need to continue these practices throughout Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois initiative, the library meeting room will not be available for library programs or community groups until further notice. We apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you for understanding that we are committed to prioritizing the safety of our community.

Interlibrary Loan Update
Interlibrary loan is one of our most popular services, allowing us to request books from other libraries and have them delivered to us via statewide van delivery. Please note, we currently face some barriers that may make your request take longer to fill than usua. The biggest barrier is that many libraries are not lending their materials via interlibrary loan while they are still closed to the public. As our library staff as well as our delivery service catches up on the backlog of requests, items may take longer than usual to arrive.

We hope to get your materials to you as fast as possible, but as long as there are many libraries that are not lending, it's hard to estimate how long any individual request will take to arrive. Thank you for understanding and for your patience.

Curbside Pickup Begins June 30
Update June 24, 2020
Tired of the same old same old? Have you read the SAME books to your children SO many times that you know them by heart? The Library now has curbside pick-up available! Although we would love to see all of you in person that is not possible right now. But we are trying to ease the pain with curbside pick-up. If you would like to replenish your supply of library items, this is what you need to know…

To place holds:

• Put items on hold through your library account. Login to your account on our website, find the item you want and click hold. Confirm hold on next page. Repeat for each item you want. If an item is not available it will stay on hold for you until it is at which time you will be notified. You can do this at any time, day or night. We will call or email you to set up your pick-up date and time. Please do not come in until you have a pick-up time assigned to you.
• Email the library with a list of items you want, we will pull put these items on hold for you. You can email us any time, day or night. We will call or email you to set up your pick-up date and time.
• Call the library. This option will be more difficult due to the limited hours that staff will be answering the phone. If we don’t answer the phone leave a message. Due to Social Distancing we will have limited staff at the library. After your hold items are pulled we will call or email you to set up your pick-up date and time.

DO NOT come to the library to pick items up until we have called you and set up a pick-up date and time.

To pick-up items:

• You will be notified when your items are ready for pick-up by phone. You will be able to choose a time slot that is convenient for you on our next available pick-up date. Items will NOT be available on the same day that we call you.
• Please have your library card or ID available if asked.
• Park your car and walk up to the downstairs entrance to pick up your items. Please keep your distance from other patrons.
• If you would like to drop items off at this time you can! The book drops will be unlocked for you to drop items off. Please do not hand items to the staff member bringing new checkouts to your car. We need to keep these separate.

Other things you should know:

• Curbside pick-up is new to us and we are trying to make this go as smoothly as possible. We would really appreciate your help to make this happen.
• Please only come to the library during the time and date we have set aside for you.
• We have a limit of 10 NEW checkouts per household per week. This does not mean you need to return all your items to check more out. You can keep those items until their due dates.
• We can only continue to provide this service if we all work together to keep everybody safe.

Thank You, Winfield!

Book Drop Hours
Update May 29, 2020

Starting Thursday, June 4, the library will be accepting returns during the following hours:
Tuesdays, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Thursdays, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

The book drops will be unlocked during these times ONLY. Weather permitting, we will implement no-touch returns by pulling the book drop carts out so you may simply drop your returns in without having to touch the book drop handles. Library staff will be available to empty the book drops as they fill up, but the library building itself remains closed to the public.

All returns will be quarantined for 7 days BEFORE they are checked in, so please note they will remain on your library account during this time. No fines are being charged during this period.

We will continue these return hours and procedures for approximately three weeks, then we will evaluate when to begin curbside pickup. Thank you for helping make this process a success.

Library Updates and FAQ
May 15, 2020

Please check our Facebook page. This will be the best place to check for further updates during this time.

If you need to contact the Library please email the library at wfdstaff@winfield.lib.il.us. As there is no one here on a regular basis to answer the phone, please refrain from calling us unless you cannot send an email. If you are a Winfield resident without a library card, please email our circulation manager, Rozanne Murphy, at rmurphy@winfield.lib.il.us to inquire about getting a temporary card to access our digital services.

This is an update to our ongoing situation and we will keep you informed as we make plans to move forward during this time. We are following all available safety guidelines when making these tough decisions. Thank you for your understanding.

What are the library's reopening plans? Is there a set date to reopen?
The library is closed until further notice. We currently have no set date to restart in-person library services, and no service changes will take place until we have entered Phase 3 of the Restore Illinois initiative. However, even when we reach Phase 3, any expansion of services will depend on safe procedures for staff and patrons, using every caution as we make these changes. As the situation changes, what we need to consider before changing services may also change.

Some things we must take into consideration are:

1. Lifting of the Governor's stay-at-home order.

2. Availability of masks and cleaning supplies for library staff.

3. Availability of our cleaning company for more frequent service.

4. Safe procedures for handling returned library materials.

When we are able to offer more services, we will most likely start with a short period where we will accept book returns only. Then, we will start offering curbside pickup of materials you have placed on hold. This level of service will continue until the state reaches Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois initiative. Then, we will reevaluate which services we may safely allow.

We are so grateful to serve a community like Winfield, that has been supportive of our efforts to keep staff and patrons as safe as possible during this time. Thank you for your patience as we constantly evaluate this situation.

Can we return materials?
The outside book drops are still closed. We will not assess fines, so please enjoy your library materials during this time.

How can I access eBooks?
For eBooks, eAudiobooks, and eMagazines, check out our downloadables page at http://www.winfield.lib.il.us/winfield/downloadables.html. Or download the Libby and RBdigital apps on your mobile device.

What is my Libby PIN?
Although Libby asks for a PIN, what they actually need is the same password you use to log in to the library's regular catalog. Please email wfdstaff@winfield.lib.il.us if you need us to reset the password.

What else can we access during this time?
For an A-Z list of our other digital resources, check our list of resources at: http://www.winfield.lib.il.us/winfield/research.html.

Can I still get reference help?
Library staff will answer questions to the best of our ability while at home. Please email wfdstaff@winfield.lib.il.us for research help or help using any of our databases.

Can I still get book suggestions?
Yes! Email Youth Services Librarian Nuccia Choate at fchoate@winfield.lib.il.us or Adult and Young Adult Services librarian Katie Clark at kclark@winfield.lib.il.us for help. Looking for suggestions from our Adult Book Group Leader, Dawn Leardi? Email dleardi@winfield.lib.il.us.

When can community groups start meeting at the library again?
All meeting room use is cancelled until further notice. This includes library programs as well as community group meetings.