Per Governor Wolf’s plan to reopen Pennsylvania, Montgomery County will enter the yellow phase this Friday, June 5. For us, this means the state is easing some restrictions and that staff are permitted to reenter libraries to prepare buildings and collections to phase back in services. This does not mean a return to business as usual, but rather that we may take the next step of our multi-phase reopening plan, which is developed in accordance with recommendations of the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, the libraries of Montgomery County and Upper Dublin Township. Please know that plans remain contingent upon the library acquiring the resources and supplies needed at each stage to ensure a safe and successful restoration of services.

Packing materials arrive! The orange crates will carry the UDPL’s 115,000 books to their new home!

In spite of the challenges we face, the library staff are eager to see you again and welcome you to our new library at 520 Virginia Drive. Construction there has progressed rapidly since it resumed on May 1, and the building’s transformation from a former corporate office building to a beautiful and innovative library is truly astounding.

Contactless Pickup for Current Holds
In the meantime, we have begun packing in anticipation of the move, and we need your help to lighten the load! We have hundreds of items on our shelves waiting for pickup from before our building closure on March 13. If you have items waiting for pickup, one of the library staff will call you soon to determine if you still want the item(s). You can also help us by cancelling any holds you no longer want. Learn how here. Our plan is to offer contactless pickup of these items only at 805 Loch Alsh during the week of June 15. Placing holds online remains suspended as all Montgomery County Libraries return to prepare and resume services. To learn more about contactless pickup, see Reopening FAQs.

May I Return My Books Now?
We know how much you want to return the books and other items you currently have borrowed, but we ask that you hold onto them for now. There are currently 12,000 Upper Dublin titles borrowed from our collection. That’s 12,000 fewer books we need to pack up and move! Opening our book drop at the new library is a priority; as soon as we are permitted to use it, we will let you know. Thank you for your patience.

The Summer Reading Club Must Go On!
What’s summer without reading? Your librarians are right now planning a fun and interactive virtual summer reading club for all ages, birth through adults. Beginning June 29th. Stay tuned for more details soon.

As always, stay on top of the latest library news by visiting udpl.org, and please help us spread the word by encouraging others to sign up for this Library enews.

Stay well and keep reading,

Cheri Fiory, Director

My latest COVID-19 readlist:

Uncanny Valley by Anna Wiener (Overdrive audio) – dive deeply into this firsthand account of tech start-ups in Silicon Valley; you’ll never look at your online experience the same again.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (Overdrive audio) – an older book, but one of my new favorite authors; superbly narrated by Allen Corduner.
The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer (Overdrive audio) – a fun family listen; follow Alex and Connor Bailey into a magical, fairytale world.