Gloucester Township Library Services Go Curbside Amid COVID Spike

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Curbside service is returning to all the Camden County Library branches, including the Gloucester Township branch, amid a surge in coronavirus cases, county officials announced Monday night.

Curbside service will be in place for the next two weeks, officials said. Indoor services are being suspended to ensure proper public health protocols and procedures are in place, officials said.

The operation, starting Tuesday, will allow libraries in the county system to operate with strict policies in place, including:

• No patron is permitted to enter the brick-and-mortar premises;
• In-premises operations are limited to employees who are needed to perform essential functions and curbside, virtual, and telephone services.
• Patrons may place holds and request library materials and interlibrary loans using the Library’s website.
• Patrons are required to wait in their vehicles until staff delivers or retrieves their materials; and
• Designated employees are responsible for bringing materials from the facility and placing them directly in a patron’s vehicle.
• Library materials may be returned 24/7 in the book drop at any branch.

Curbside pickup and drop-off services begin Tuesday. The Gloucester Township branch is located at 15 South Black Horse Pike in the Blackwood section of the township.

Hours of operation for the system’s curbside, telephone, and virtual services will be:

• Monday through Thursday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Curbside hours may change during inclement weather. Patrons can call the Gloucester Township library at 856-228-0022 to confirm operational status.

“We need to prioritize the health and safety of our patrons and employees during this time,” Camden County Commissioner Melinda Kane, liaison to the Library System, said. “The Camden County Library System has served our residents throughout the pandemic and will continue to do so even if the buildings are closed to the public. While the closure is expected to last two weeks, it may need to be extended if conditions warrant it. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will update residents on any changes.”

Information regarding the organization will be posted to the Camden County Library System’s website as it becomes available. As curbside services begin again, all branches will continue to offer virtual programs and classes, digital streaming services, eBooks, virtual meeting rooms and reference services from librarians via telephone, email and video calls.

As a courtesy to patrons, all expired library cards have been renewed. Non-resident cardholder’s accounts have been renewed until Feb. 28 with no additional charge. New non-residents can obtain free courtesy cards with an expiration date of Feb. 28.