Most Public Library Branches to Reopen with Modified Hours and Services

June 1, 2020

Most branches of the Public Library of Albuquerque-Bernalillo County will reopen with modified hours and basic services at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 2. Locations and hours of operation can be found at www.abqlibrary.org or by calling (505) 768-5141. Customers will be able to pick up their holds, borrow materials, and get a library card.

In order to practice proper social distancing, public access to computers and seating will not be available during this initial phase of reopening. Hours and services available will change dependent on updates to health guidelines. Alamosa and Ernie Pyle libraries will remain closed at this time. Access to the Special Collections branch will be by appointment only. Appointments can be made by emailing [email protected].

Customers are asked to follow the State health order by wearing face masks, practicing social distancing and not staying for more than 15 minutes. Strict COVID-19 safety protocols including enhanced sanitation and physical distancing among staff and visitors will be followed.

Customers are encouraged to continue to use the extensive online resources available with their library card including:

Overdrive

The Overdrive collection includes nearly 40,000 e-books, 16,000 e-audiobooks, and 250 video titles. These can be downloaded directly to a computer or used in the Libby app with a variety of devices, including iPhones, iPads, Android devices, Nooks, Kindles, and more. Since the closure, the library's Overdrive service alone has almost 1,700 more unique users checking out almost 7,000 more items than the same time frame in 2019.

Hoopla

Hoopla is an all-in-one digital service that offers hundreds of thousands of titles of music, e-audiobooks, eBooks, full-length movies, television episodes, and comics/graphic novels,

Freegal

Freegal is a music service that offers access to about 15 million songs, including Sony Music's catalog of legendary artists, and more than 40,000 music videos. In total, the collection is comprised of music from more than 40,000 labels with music that originates in more than 100 countries.

RBdigital 

RBdigital brings thousands of exclusive audiobook titles and magazines into one service, accessed through the web or an app.

More than 150 databases ranging from maps to medical resources can also be accessed through the Public Library's website. A curated list of activities to keep kids entertained at home can be found at https://abqlibrary.org/kidsathome, while a list of educational resources for families and teachers can be accessed at https://abqlibrary.org/teachers.

Summer Reading Program

The Public Library of Albuquerque-Bernalillo County invites everyone to participate in the 2020 Summer Reading Program, a celebration of reading, learning, and fun for children, tweens, teens, and adults. This year's theme is Imagine Your Story.

Participants will have the opportunity to read books, attend virtual events, and turn in reading logs for entry into a grand prize drawing. This 8-week program kicks off June 1 and runs through July 25. Registration is open through the summer at www.abqlibrary.org/sumerreading or at open branches beginning June 2.

Studies have shown that children who read during the summer are more able to maintain their reading skills and that children who see their parents read, or who read with their parents, generally score higher on standardized tests. Reading is important for everyone in the community, regardless of age, and reading is a skill that grows with practice throughout a lifetime. It's free, easy to do because you read whatever you like at your own pace, and it's a fun, zero-risk way of showing your support for the Public Library and its services.