Missouri River Regional Library to open doors soon

Teen Services Associate Megan Mehmert, left, works at her computer Tuesday while Courtney Waters, teen services coordinator for Missouri River Regional Library, answers a phone call. Plexiglass, fewer chairs around tables and other changes have been made as the staff of
MRRL prepares for next week's reopening.
Teen Services Associate Megan Mehmert, left, works at her computer Tuesday while Courtney Waters, teen services coordinator for Missouri River Regional Library, answers a phone call. Plexiglass, fewer chairs around tables and other changes have been made as the staff of MRRL prepares for next week's reopening.

The Missouri River Regional Library plans to reopen Tuesday.

The opening will not be full-scale, MRRL Marketing Manager Natalie Newville said.

The library has been closed for weeks because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We'll be open so people can come in and get materials. Media rooms aren't open. Teen rooms aren't open," Newville said. "People can come in and get things and not hang out."

People will be asked to maintain social distance and be prompt with their selections.

The library will continue to offer curbside service as well, she said.

Both library branches - at 214 Adams St. in Jefferson City and at 101 Osage County Road CC in Linn - will open.

All materials checked out before March 18 are due June 1. All drop boxes are open. Locations may be found at mrrl.org/faq-section/where-are-book-drops-located.

Curbside pickup will continue at both library locations. To use curbside pickup, patrons can put items on hold at mrrl.org or call the library - 573-634-2464 in Jefferson City or 573-897-2951 in Linn. Patrons should call the library when they arrive and park in a marked parking spot, then wait for a member of the staff to bring the requested items to their vehicle.

Book Boxes are also available again this year. Visit mrrl.org/mrrl-book-box to fill out an application. Each Book Box participant will be emailed in the coming weeks with instructions about picking up their box.

Library hours beginning May 26 are:

  • Jefferson City branch - 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; and 1-5 p.m. Sunday.
  • Linn Branch, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.

Bookmobile stops are canceled at this time.

Home-bound delivery will continue and now includes high-risk patrons. To sign up for home-bound delivery, call 573-634-2464.

Book donations are not being accepted at this time.

The library is unable to comprehensively sanitize every single item checked out (including books, movies and other media), and customers are advised to wash their hands after handling materials and to avoid touching their faces, according to MRRL's news release.

The library quarantines returned items for 72 hours before checking them in and reshelving.