Taos Public Library drop off closed for two weeks

The Taos Public Library will be closed in all capacities until Jan. 19, according to a public notice. The shutdown of the library – along with the closing of all town services – lasts for 14 days following the holidays, allowing for staff quarantine and testing.

In the public notice, the library stated that they “are committed to the health and safety of not just our community members, but also our employees,” and said they are “looking forward to getting library material in your hands, but for now stay home and stay safe.”

The library has had its doors shut to the public since the pandemic began back in March, much to the dismay of local bookworms. However, the library has offered a number of socially distanced options for readers, including online book order and curbside pickup on Thursdays and Fridays since July

Town manager Rick Bellis explained the measures they were taking to ensure safe public book lending, saying that returned books are “dropped into a quarantine room for the required period, subjected to UV light disinfection and a papersafe disinfection mist that does not harm the books.”

Bellis credited library director Kate Alderete with making the best of an unfortunate situation. “The system that Kate has developed is the most we can do and still be COVID-safe and in compliance with the public health orders,” he said.

The book drop off will be closed until Jan. 21, and curbside book pickup will resume Jan. 28 and 29. At this time, library patrons are not being charged late fees.