Winnipeg partially reopening services at some libraries amid coronavirus

Readers will be able to take books out from some Winnipeg libraries starting next month.

On Tuesday Winnipeg’s mayor Brian Bowman announced partial services will be restored at three city libraries — Millennium Library as well as the Henderson and Pembina Trails Libraries — starting June 8.

Under the city’s first phase of restored services the three libraries will initially be restricted to only holds pick-up services, meaning library card holders will only be able to pick up materials put on hold through the library’s online catalogue or mobile app.

Winnipeggers will not be able to return materials or enter branches to browse through collections.

Libraries have been closed since mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The city says the second phase of reopening libraries, expected to start in July, will include expanded services like checkout and returns at additional library branches.

The three locations chosen for the first phase reopening were picked because they’re the busiest and most accessible branches, the city said in a release.

0:42 Jay Shaw from Winnipeg’s Emergency Measures Centre talks about COVID-19 response

Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:

Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.

To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out.

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