The A.K. Smiley Public Library, which has been closed to the public for nearly six months in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, will resume in-person services on Wednesday, Sept. 9, with new public health measures in place to protect patrons and employees.

“All of us here at the Smiley are eager to welcome our patrons back into the building,” said Library Director Don McCue.  “We have taken many steps to keep everyone as safe as possible.”

Face coverings and social distancing will be required and all guests will be asked to limit their visits to one hour. Temperature checks will be taken upon entering the library and any guest showing a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher will be denied entry. In addition, all guests will enter the building via a new entrance through the children’s garden and exit only through the Young Readers Room. The new in-person hours will be 2 to 6 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, and noon to 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

The Library’s Books-to-Go program of curbside service, which has proven to be very popular during the closure, will continue. Full details about Books-to-Go, electronic databases and e-books that can be accessed remotely, as well as details about the new in-person hours and guidelines are available on the library’s website, www.akspl.org.

Built in 1898 thanks to the generosity of philanthropists Albert and Alfred Smiley, the Smiley Library serves as the public library for the City of Redlands and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.