VIRL's Harbourfront branch has been the site of a pilot project, testing a new walkthrough service for readers to browse. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

GUIDED TOUR

New pilot program inches Nanaimo library closer to normal operations

Aug 19, 2020 | 4:42 PM

NANAIMO — A pilot program designed to take a step towards normal for regional libraries has proven successful.

Beginning in late July, the harbourfront branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library offered a new walkthrough service featuring a limited, curated collection.

VIRL’s David Carson told NanaimoNewsNOW the downtown Nanaimo branch offered the best environment to test another new normal.

“It has large spaces that we could test the feasibility of what the walkthrough would look like. It had a big collection to begin with so staff could curate a collection from within, so it just ticked a lot of boxes to meet the requirements.”

As of Aug. 18, over 3,100 customers had returned to the library via the walkthrough service, about one fifth of the library’s pre-COVID volume.

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The service features a clearly marked, “IKEA style” path for browsers to follow while making their selections. Visitors are limited to the front foyer area of the building.

Carson said staff regularly update what’s offered in a bid to meet different reading interests.

Based on the success of the Nanaimo pilot project, VIRL is aiming to expand it to other suitable branches in the future.

Beginning Aug. 19, VIRL rolled out a sit down service in Bella Coola which limits seating and computer use but allows browsing of the full collection.

After closing in mid-March in response to the growing pandemic and health orders, libraries began offering a takeout service in June which has since expanded to all 37 branches.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley