Saskatoon Public Libraries have been closed since March 13th because of COVID-19, but the reopenings are happening gradually. The first library to open its doors will be the Dr. Freda Ahenakew Library on 20th Street tomorrow (Tues). The rest of the libraries will follow suit through September 21st.

CEO Carol Cooley says some of the changes you can expect are a lot of the furniture being removed, the computers spaced 2 metres apart, more hand sanitizer, and more places to wash your hands, not just in the washrooms.
The libraries are also limiting the number of people who can enter. Cooley encourages people to continue using the contactless pick up service if that is their preference.

As locations reopen, they will have limited capacity and services. Face masks are required for entry for everyone over 9 years old. Free masks will be available to patrons who do not have one.

Work on the new Central Library continued through the closures. Cooley says it made them think about some changes for the building, keeping something like COVID-19 in mind. For instance, having some shelves on wheels to make them easy to move, and they are working on a way to have the libraries able to open their lobby areas, without having access to the rest of the building. A request for proposals for design consultants will be issued shortly, and possibly awarded in November.

List of Library Openings:
Dr. Freda Ahenakew Library: Tuesday, Aug. 25
Mayfair Library: Monday, Aug. 31
Cliff Wright Library: Tuesday, Sept. 8
Alice Turner Library: Tuesday, Sept.8
Frances Morrison Central Library: Monday, Sept. 14
Rusty Macdonald Library: Monday, Sept. 14
J.S. Wood Library: Monday, Sept. 21
Carylyle King Library: Monday, Sept 21
Round Prairie Library: Monday, Sept. 21