Our Plan for Reopening

Grab-and-Go and Drive-Up Hold Pickup Now Available

Beginning the week of June 15, Washoe County Library began offering limited grab-and-go and drive-up hold pickup at four locations. Additional locations were added the week of July 6.

Drive-up hold pickup service is available at the following locations:

• Northwest Reno Library | Drive-up | Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10 am to 2 pm
• South Valleys Library | Drive-up | Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10 am to 2 pm

Grab-and-go hold pickup is available at the following locations:

• Downtown Reno Library | Grab-and-go | Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10 am to 2 pm
• Incline Village Library | Grab-and-go | Monday through Friday, 10 am to 2 pm
• North Valleys Library | Grab-and-go | Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10 am to 2 pm
• Sierra View Library | Grab-and-go | Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10 am to 2 pm
• Spanish Springs Library | Grab-and-go | Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10 am to 2 pm
• Sparks Library | Grab-and-go | Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10 am to 2 pm

Hold pickup lockers are also available at the Downtown Reno Library.

Bookdrops remain open Monday through Friday, 10 am to 2 pm, at all locations except the Duncan/Traner, Verdi, and Senior Center Libraries.

Know Before You Go

• Only hold pickup is available at this time.
• You will receive a notification when your hold is available.
• If an item was waiting for you when libraries closed, you will receive a new notification.
• Please bring your library card to minimize contact. If you need help accessing your account, please contact us. If you do not have a library card, you may register here.
• Face coverings are required for all staff and visitors to Washoe County facilities. If you do not have one, a cloth face covering will be provided.
• Please contact us if you need assistance with existing holds or placing a new hold. Assistance is available by email or telephone.
• All fines continue to be waived at this time.

Remember that ebooks, audiobooks, digital magazines, and a variety of educational and lifelong learning resources are always available at www.washoecountylibrary.us.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are only certain libraries open?
We are testing a new service and have chosen the facilities where grab-and-go will be easiest to manage during the first two weeks. We expect to add additional locations in early July.

When will partnership libraries open?
The Duncan/Traner, Verdi, and Senior Center libraries are not in Washoe County Library facilities, and the library will coordinate services at those branches with other agencies.

What happens if the item I want is at a branch that is not open?
Staff are pulling holds at most locations. At this time, you should only specify pickup at open locations, though you may place holds on any items in the library’s collection.

Can I call to have an item pulled for me to pick up?
At this time, you must place a hold on an item and wait until you are notified to pick up your hold. You may search the catalog and place holds yourself in the library’s online catalog. Please contact us if you need assistance.

Do I need to bring my library card?
If you have your library card, please bring it to minimize contact. If you are using an instant digital library card number, a printed barcode will be provided for you when picking up your books.

What is the difference between drive-up and grab-and-go services?
For drive-up service, you will retrieve your held items from the library's drive-up window, while remaining in your vehicle. For grab-and-go, you will physically enter the library to retrieve your items, immediately check them out at a self-service kiosk, then exit the library. No other services will be provided while you are inside the library and browsing will not be permitted at this time.

Do I need to wear a mask?
Staff and visitors to Washoe County facilities are required to wear a face covering. If you do not have a mask, a cloth face covering will be provided.

Are temperature checks required?
All visitor inside the library will be checked for high temperatures. Anyone with a temperature of 100.4 or higher will not be able to visit the library at this time.

Are other services like computers available?
At this time, only hold pickup is available.

Are restrooms available?
At this time, the library is unable to offer access to public restrooms.

Can I return my books at the same time?
All of our returns are quarantined for 72 hours, and we cannot personally accept them during grab-and-go service. However, the library bookdrop is open weekdays between 10 am and 2 pm, and you can return items there before you pick up your holds.

Our Phased Reopening Plan

On March 15, 2020, Washoe County Library System closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Due to the nature of this virus, plans for reopening were difficult to develop. The library is a popular gathering place that thousands of Washoe County residents visit every day. Washoe County Library System is hoping to offer limited grab-and-go or drive-up services at several library locations beginning June 15, 2020. However, all physical programs will remain canceled through August 31.

When considering a safe, phased reopening, Washoe County Library System developed its plan in conjunction with Governor Sisolak's report Nevada United: Roadmap to Recovery and will proceed with caution to help protect Washoe County Library staff and patrons.

While it is frustrating that we cannot immediately open to provide service physically during this time period, the consequences of premature actions would be devastating and irreversible. We appreciate the patience of everyone in Washoe County while we navigate this turbulent time. We hope to serve and see everyone in person soon. Washoe County Library System strongly encourages face-covering use and would like to remind everyone that vulnerable populations should remain home until the outbreak has subsided.

We have developed a phased timeline for our gradual reopening. The governor estimates two to three week assessments between each phase, and each phase is contingent upon a successful previous phase.

You can read the full reopening plan here.