All 16 Lake County library buildings remain closed to the public as a precaution against COVID-19. But you still can enjoy the books and services provided by the library system. Beginning today, May 4, the following 11 Lake County libraries will offer curbside service:

–         Astor County Library, 54905 Alco Road

–         Cagan Crossings Community Library, 16729 Cagan Oaks, Four Corners

–         Cooper Memorial Library, 2525 Oakley Seaver Drive, Clermont

–         East Lake County Library, 31340 S. County Road 437, Sorrento

–         Fruitland Park Library, 604 W. Berckman St.

–         Leesburg Public Library, 100 E. Main St.

–         Marion Baysinger Memorial Library, 756 W. Broad St., Groveland

–         Paisley County Library, 24954 County Road 42

–         Tavares Public Library, 314 N. New Hampshire Ave.

–         Umatilla Public Library, 412 Hatfield Drive

–         W.T. Bland Public Library, 1995 N. Donnelly St., Mount Dora

The public is encouraged to use Lake County library cards to access the online catalog or call a participating library for curbside service. Pickup is available for all library items, including books, DVDs, video games, baking pans, puzzles, ukuleles, launch pads (tablets with preloaded children’s games) and more.

Once a request is sent online or by telephone, a staff member will contact the patron to arrange a curbside pickup time. Patrons will then call the library upon arrival to receive their library materials. Items must be requested before arriving at the library.

Based on recommendations from the American Library Association, library staff will quarantine items for three days before they are checked out to patrons to help prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Therefore, the public is asked not to use cleaning agents on any library material as this may damage the items. Additional Lake County libraries hope to offer curbside service in the near future.

Patrons are asked to return materials to the library’s book drop during this period. They may continue to find many free online resources, such as digital movies, digital magazines, ebooks, job search tools, genealogy research and language courses. Virtual events, including story times, cooking demonstrations and computer classes are streamed on the Lake County Library System’s Facebook page.

Lake County residents without library cards may access these digital resources by signing up for a free, temporary digital online library card.

For more information, call your library, or go to http://mylakelibrary.org, facebook.com/lakecountyfllibrary or https://twitter.com/lakelibrary.