COVID 19 Latest Updates

What you can expect

Your libraries will look and operate a little differently for the time being.

Due to capacity restrictions, visits to the Libraries should be kept brief—less than 30 minutes—to browse, borrow, make a payment, seek Council information and use a PC (where available). This will help ensure everyone has the opportunity to access and enjoy the Libraries.

Long visits and interactions will be discouraged.

When you visit our Libraries, you will find:

• reconfigured entry and exit points to ensure compliance with social distancing measures
• reduced capacity with a limit of 20 customers at St Peters and Payneham Libraries and 15 customers at Norwood Library
• your contact details to be recorded on entry for contact tracing purposes
• all seating, lounges, toys and interactive displays have been removed
• preference for contactless payment methods
• social distancing markers externally for entrance queues and internally in front of service counters and throughout the Library aisles
• acrylic screens across service counters
• additional cleaning of Library facilities during the day, including public toilets
• reconfigured location of public PCs and booking schedules to meet social distancing requirements and allow adequate time between uses to undertake cleaning requirements
• all returns will be quarantined for a minimum of three days.
  
  

Entry conditions

All Library visitors will be expected to adhere to entry conditions:

• use the hand sanitiser provided as you enter and exit the Library. Practice good respiratory hygiene.
• ensure social distancing by maintaining 1.5 metres between yourself and others
• maximum of 20 customers in the St Peters and Payneham Libraries at any time
• maximum of 15 customers in the Norwood Library at any time
• customer contact details will be recorded for contact tracing purposes
• limited services will be available. Library programs, activities and events are temporarily suspended. Seating, toys and displays have been removed.

Opening hours from Friday 15 May

Opening hours across the three Libraries have been revised and are as follows:

Cultural Heritage Centre and other community facilities

At this time the Cultural Heritage Centre, St Peters Youth Centre, St Peters Banquet Hall, Payneham Library Community Facilities and Payneham Community Centre will remain closed due to social distancing measures and restrictions on public gatherings. This will be reviewed in the next phase of restrictions being eased.

For more information about easing of restrictions, visit: Government of South Australia - Recovery from COVID-19

Stop the spread

Everybody has a responsibility to ensure that our public libraries stay open for everyone to enjoy, so we ask that you please exercise your responsibility by:

• practicing social distancing by maintaining a 1.5 metre distance between yourself and others
• sanitising your hands before and after visiting the libraries
• adhering to limits for public gatherings as advised by State Government.

Thank you for your cooperation. By working together we can all stop the spread of COVID-19.

Other ways to access library collections

Library card holders can access plenty of books and online learning opportunities from any mobile device through the Libraries SA app

The online catalogue, available on the app, offers a huge range of books, digital magazines and newspapers, and online learning opportunities. The app can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Customers can also continue to take advantage of the Click, Call & Collect service by reserving library items over the phone, online via the Library catalogue or by using the free Libraries SA app. All reserved items will then be available for collection from one of the Council’s three libraries.

For more information about the app, visit: Department of Health

Privacy

Everyone who downloads the COVIDSafe app can be assured their privacy is protected by law.

The Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, has issued a Determination under the Biosecurity Act which protects privacy. It restricts access to app data to state and territory health authorities who will notify people exposed to COVID-19. It will be a criminal offence to use app data in any other way.

For more information about the app’s privacy, visit: Department of Health

Re-opening details and safety measures

The Council’s playgrounds will open progressively from Wednesday 6 May until Friday 8 May with the popular playgrounds at the following parks among the first to be opened:

• Felixstow Reserve
• Drage Reserve
• Linde Reserve
• Joslin Reserve
• Dunstan Adventure Playground
• Payneham Oval

In order to protect the ongoing health and well-being of children and their parents and carers, the Council cleaned every playground on Tuesday 5 May and is committed to maintaining Council playgrounds to a safe and healthy standard.

What you can do to keep playgrounds safe and clean

The safety of our playgrounds is the responsibility of everyone.

To make sure our playgrounds stay open for everyone to enjoy, please exercise your responsibility to your friends and neighbours by:

• practicing social distancing by maintaining a 1.5 metre distance between yourself and others
• sanitising your children’s hands before and after using playground equipment
• adhering to limits for public gatherings as advised by State Government (currently no more than ten people gathering at any one time).

Thank you for your cooperation. By working together we can all stop the spread of COVID-19.

More information

For more information about Council services, programs and events during COVID-19 pandemic, visit COVID-19 Latest Updates.

To explore the Council’s parks and playgrounds, visit: Parks & Playgrounds