Library reopens June 1st

Charley in Young Reader’s Room – Can’t wait to see her Library friends.

The Parkersburg and Wood County Public Libraries will reopen with limited services on Monday, June 1^st. There is a lot of information regarding these services, so we’ve pulled it all together. Our goal is to make visiting the library as seamless as possible. These guidelines are based on guidance from the Governor Justice’s West Virginia Strong- The Comeback Plan, and recommendations from the CDC.

Emerson (Monday – Friday 10am – 6pm, closed Saturday and Sunday). Limit of 45 patrons at a time. Young Reader’s Room is limited to one family or 5 people at a time. Enter through parking lot entrance.
South Parkersburg Library (Monday – Friday 10am – 5:30pm, closed Saturday and Sunday). Limit of 10 patrons at a time. Enter through front door. Exit to the patio.
Williamstown Library (Monday – Friday 11am – 5:30pm, closed Saturday and Sunday). Limit of 5 patrons at a time. Enter from front of building facing the street. Exit to the parking lot.

Due to different circumstances at each library, services may vary slightly. We ask for your flexibility and patience. Further information about what will and won’t be offered is provided here.

Online Hold Request Instructions

We’re pleased to begin offering curbside service at Emerson, South, and Williamstown branches starting 5/18/2020. Here are some instructions to make the process for placing online hold requests as easy as possible for everyone.

You will need your MLN library card and 4-digit PIN number. To request more than one item, it’s quicker to log into “My Account” in the Mountain Library Network online catalog.

This quick video tutorial shows you how to log into your account and create a PIN number if you don’t have one.

Search for an item that you’d like to request. Please make sure that “Parkersburg and Wood County Library System” is selected. This will let you see if the materials are available at our branches.

Click the blue “Request” button in the menu bar. Then select a “Cancel if not filled by” month, date, and year from the drop down boxes and click the “Submit” button.

Now you can go search for another item. You’ll need to search and submit a separate hold request for each item.

This quick video tutorial also takes you through the steps of placing a hold.

If you need to create a PIN, you’ll get a prompt “Please enter a new PIN” after you log into your account.

You’ll need to enter your name, library bar code number, and then select your 4 digit PIN and enter it in both boxes.

Then click the “Submit” button.

If you can’t find the item you want, please visit the Patron Request page and fill out the form with the required information.

If you need further help with your PIN or your account information, you can call the Emerson (304-420-4587) or South (304-428-7041) . Please understand that we may be on the phone helping other patrons and might have to place you on a brief hold.

Curbside Service Begins Monday May 18th

The Parkersburg and Wood County Public Library will begin curbside service on Monday May 18th at Emerson, South and Williamstown locations. Hours will be:

Emerson – Monday through Friday 10am – 5:30pm.
South – Monday through Friday 10am – 5:30pm.
Williamstown – Monday through Friday 12:30pm – 5:30pm.
Waverly – Closed for now. Book drop is open for returns.
Bookmobile is not running
All locations will be closed on the weekends due to staffing.
Patrons who use curbside services are asked to be respectful of other patrons and maintain a safe distance of at least 6’ from others. Masks are encouraged.

In regards to requests for curbside service, the Library asks that patrons make their requests online using their account in the library catalog, which can be accessed through the Library website at http://parkwoodlib.com. Information on how to place the holds/requests are on the site. You will need a library card number and pin number to do so.

Williamstown – Honk or call 304-375-6052 for pickup

Patrons may request items by calling Emerson (304-420-4587) or South (304-428-7041), but due to the time involved there will be a limit of 5 items per patron and call. We strongly request that patrons place their requests online if they are able to do so.

The Library will contact you when the materials are ready for pickup.

All the branches have book drops available for returns. Please be aware that the Library is quarantining and cleaning materials for 48 hours when returned, so it may be a few days before items are actually checked in and taken off of your account.

The Library will not be billing patrons at this time for materials checked out during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Library is not hosting meetings or doing any in person programming at this time. We will continue with online story times, crafts and programming.

AARP volunteers announced that they will not be returning this year to do taxes for free.

Online materials and resources are available through the Library website. WVREADS and Hoopla are the two main sources of ebooks and downloadable audiobooks. Staff are available to help people access these materials.

At this time, the Library is closed to the public. However, the Library is working to establish guidelines for how and when a full reopening can take place. The Library’s primary interest is to keep the patrons and staff safe and healthy.

— Brian E. Raitz, Director