Havre-Hill County Library offers internet hotspots for checkout

Press release

The Havre-Hill County Library has hotspots for mobile internet access, laptops, and iPads available to be checked out for one-week loan periods. This is thanks to the Montana State Library Hotspot and Mobile Lending Program and other funding from the Montana State Library.

There are three each of the iPads and laptops available, and 11 hotspots. These can be checked out and taken home while the library’s COVID-19 measures are in place. People are asked to spread the word to anyone they know who may need this service.

As a reminder, the safety measures that are currently in effect at the library are:

• Patrons are required to wear a mask for the duration of their visit. People who do not have masks will be supplied with one. Montana State University-Extension and the Hill County Health Department have provided the library with reusable masks. The masks are to be returned to the library’s used masks bin at the end of the visit and will be laundered and reused.

• Patrons are also required to wash their hands on entering the library.

• The temporary hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. The library is closed Saturday and Sunday.

• The first hour the library is open every day will be reserved for people who are especially vulnerable, such as the elderly and people with any underlying conditions. All other patrons should use the library between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

• Patrons must enter through the west-facing — Fourth Avenue — door, as the east-facing door is being used for curbside pickup only.

• The library is currently limiting the number of patrons allowed in the building at a time to 10.

• The library also ask that its patrons keep their visits to 30 minutes or less per day.

• Patrons should maintain social distancing, and keep six feet between themselves and others.

• The library continues to quarantine items when they are returned and staff members are cleaning and sanitizing all frequently used areas of the library such as door handles, book drop handles, etc. The computer stations, photocopier, and microfilm readers are sanitized after every use.

• Seven of the library’s computers are available for public use with a 30-minute time limit. Patrons should notify a staff member when they are finished at their computer station, so that library staff members may sanitize the area.

• The library’s collections are currently closed to the public, due to the library’s limited ability to keep them sanitized. Materials may be browsed using its online catalogs with help from the staff, and staff members will retrieve the requested items.

• All seating has been removed, except for seating at the computers. There will be no meetings or programming for the time being.

• Havre Hill-County Library will continue to offer curbside pickup for anyone who would prefer not to come into the building. People can request curbside pickup by calling 265-2123, emailing library@havrehill.org, or contacting the library through Facebook or Instagram.

• The library also encourages its patrons to continue taking advantage of its digital collections. Free audiobooks and e-books can be accessed at htt://montana.overdrive.com or from the Montana Library 2 Go link on the library website at http://havrehilllibrary.org .

As always, patrons should not enter the building if they have signs or symptoms of any illness.

“Please keep in mind that we have many vulnerable populations who use the library,” a release from the library said.