Mildura Rural City Council Libraries will begin reopening its library buildings from Monday 26 October following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions announced on Sunday.
The Mildura Library will reopen on Monday, followed by the Merbein and Red Cliffs libraries the following day – Tuesday 27 October.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, residents will need to phone ahead to arrange a time to visit each of the libraries, which will be open during the following times:
Mildura
Monday 1pm - 5pm
Tuesday - Friday 10am - 6pm.
Merbein and Red Cliffs
Tuesday - Friday 1pm - 5pm.
To book a time to visit each library please call direct on the following numbers:
Mildura Merbein Red Cliffs
(03) 5018 8350 (03) 5018 8361 (03) 5018 8366
Bookings will allow the Library Service to manage the number of people in each library to comply with COVID-19 restrictions.
Under the Victorian Government's Restricted Activity Directions there will be a limit of 10 people allowed in each building at any given time, with each visit between 15 and 20 minutes' duration.
While the reopening of the libraries is a positive step, all three libraries will only be able to operate limited services to ensure the safety of the community and library staff under COVID-19 restrictions.
Residents will be able to browse the libraries' collections and borrow library materials, and book chutes will be open for returns. However printing, scanning, reading of newspapers, WiFi access, face-to-face programs and events, and meeting room hire will be unavailable until further easing of restrictions.
Council's Chief Executive Officer Sarah Philpott said opening of the Mildura, Red Cliffs and Merbein libraries represented a balancing act between increasing access to services and ensuring the safety of residents.
"While we're pleased to once again open the doors to our libraries, there are necessary restrictions that we need to follow for the safety of our staff and community, and to ensure we're compliant with the Victorian Government's public health directions," Ms Philpott said.
"The ability to open our library buildings again is certainly welcome, and we continue to look forward to further steps towards normality as restrictions allow."
Ms Philpott said library staff were continually examining innovative ways to provide library services to the community amid COVID-19 restrictions.
This includes a range of online and adapted services, which remain in place including:
- postal delivery for customers who are unable to access a library, such as residents along the Mallee Track and the Millewa
- online holds on specific library titles
- eBooks and eMagazines
- online library databases such as Storybox.
