The library has moved to the new location while its permanent location on 1st Avenue undergoes a renovation. Luther said library officials will be at the new location until about June 2021.

The library’s new location held a soft opening on Wednesday, and the location is now serving the public via curbside pickup, where library cardholders can request materials through the library’s online catalog or by calling the library directly.

“If we have things available immediately, they’ll get pulled that afternoon or the next morning,” Assistant Library Director Jessica Luther said. “If it’s something we have to request from another library, that’s going to take a little longer.”

Luther said that, once the library has the items, patrons will receive a phone call from the library’s automated system in Marquette, which has an 906 area code. When patrons receive that call, they will receive instructions to call the library and schedule a pick-up time within 24 hours.

News Photo by Crystal Nelson Jessica Luther, assistant director of the Alpena County Library, works at the library’s temporary location in Bear Pointe Plaza, between Big Lots and JoAnn Fabrics on U.S.-23 South.

Luther pick-up happens every half-hour between 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 12:30 to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays, and 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

Library staff will check out the items on the pick-up date and the books are put out on a table in front of the building for customers to pick up.

About 30% of the library’s total collection has been unpacked, according to Luther.

Adults can check out a maximum of five books, two audiobooks, and two DVDs at a time, while children and teens are allowed to check out up to 10 books at a time. Patrons will still be able to request books from other libraries.

Luther said library officials decided to offer curbside pickup for the safety of staff and patrons amid the coronavirus. She said they recognized an increase in the number of coronavirus cases nationally, and that the new space doesn’t really lend itself to browsing during the pandemic.

“I know a lot of patrons, especially the kids, love to come in and browse and just pick up the different picture books, so we’re going to come up with different tools and materials to help them pick out items without them blindly choosing things,” she said.

Luther said the children’s department is considering make-and-take crafts for the fall.

“Now that we’re settled here, we can really figure out what our capabilities are in terms of programming and offering services,” she said.

Crystal Nelson can be reached at 989-358-5687 or cnelson@thealpenanews.com.