Supplied by the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library…
The Sault Ste. Marie Public Library will be reopening its doors to the public starting Monday August 17, 2020. The Library closed on March 17 in response to the provincial State of Emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of a staged reopening, the James L. McIntyre Centennial Library will be open Monday to Friday from 1 pm to 6 pm, and Saturdays from 10 am to 1 pm. Curbside service will continue to be offered.

To help ensure the health and safety of the public and staff, the Library has increased its cleaning protocols. Everyone entering the building is expected to follow the Board’s Face Covering Policy, and must wear a mask unless they fall under one of the stated exceptions. This policy, along with all of the Board’s other policies, can be found on the Library’s website at www.ssmpl.ca

Due to physical distancing limitations, the Library will be offering limited services and will be permitting only 35 members of the public in the library at a time. Visitors may be required to wait before entering. The Library stacks will be open for browsing, however staff asks that any books that are handled by the public be placed on one of the carts provided for quarantine. Seating within the library will be very limited. Additional rules, such as no consumption of food and drink while in the library, will also be in place.

Services that will resume at a limited capacity include:
” Computer/Internet Services (limited stations available – shorter booking times)
” Inter Library Loans
” Reference and Reader’s Advisory
” Public Washroom Access

Services that will not be available during this phase of reopening include:
” Room Rentals
” Copying/Scanning/Faxing services
” Visiting Library Service
” Daily Periodicals/Newspapers
” Educational Toys in the Children’s area
” Study Area Space
” Self-service Public Access Catalogues
” Water Fountain
” 3D printing
” VHS-DVD Conversion

At this time in-library programming will not resume however virtual programming will continue to be made available to library users

The Friends of the Library Bookstore will also remain closed. The Library, while it appreciates the community’s generosity, is not currently accepting book donations.

The North Branch is scheduled to reopen in September. As the threat of COVID-19 diminishes, Library hours and services will be expanded.

Ontario’s public libraries are actively monitoring the evolving situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Public libraries are working closely with local municipalities, public health authorities and Ontario’s library services agencies to make timely, responsible decisions about programming, services and access. For up-to-date information about the status please consult the Library’s website www.ssmpl.ca or reach out to us through social media.