The Kalona Public Library will be pressing the restart button on their curbside pickup program. The library attempted to start a curbside pickup program during the month of March, but with growing concerns about the novel coronavirus, they cancelled the program. Now, with added cleaning measures in place, the library is ready to start the program again. Circulation Librarian Jenny Riddle says she is excited to be giving materials to patrons and explained the added cleaning measures to be taken, “The patrons are the only ones that can put things in the book drop. We are not taking them from them personally, they have to put them in the book drop. They can’t come into the building, they can’t do any of that. Those books and items sit in there for three days and then we put on our equipment and sanitize on the fourth day. As far as all the research we have found through the CDC and State Library, that is what we are to do.” 

Riddle says the book return drop was opened last Monday and reported no issues with backups or sanitation methods. Patrons will be able to order up to 10 items at a time and must notify the library on Monday or Thursday of what they want checked out. Materials will be able to be picked up on Tuesday or Friday. Riddle says patrons can also put items on hold on their online catalog as a way of checking out items, which she says she checks once an hour every day.