Bookdrops Open, Curbside and Lobby Pick-Up Begins June 1

If you are one of the patient library patrons who have held on to materials since the library closed on March 17, the wait to get them out of your house is almost over! The book drops at the Main Library on Lincoln Way, as well as the Askren Branch in Navarre and the Belloni Branch in Brewster, are now open for returns. Of course, any overdue fines will be waived for items kept out during the closure.

There are more than 16,000 items currently out in circulation, so it will require several weeks for staff to get those back into the building, quarantined for the recommended time period to be sure no possible virus remains, and re-shelved so they can fulfill holds for those who have been waiting for a new batch of materials.

The Massillon Public Library will also begin drive-through Curbside Service at the Main Library at 208 Lincoln Way E. on Monday, June 1. After a patron is notified by phone that material is ready for pickup, the patron will come to the Second Street parking lot where a drive-through will provide contact-free pickup at our Bookmobile. Pickup hours at Main will be 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Mondays and 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesdays through Fridays.

There are two methods for placing holds:

[1] call the Main Library at 330-832-9831 or your usual branch location
(Askren 330-879-2113 or Belloni 330-767-9939)

[2] through the library’s online catalog

Patrons are urged to not make hold requests via Facebook or Facebook Messenger. The Library also asks patrons to not arrive at the Curbside Pickup unless they have been contacted by live library staff first to schedule their pickup time.

Also on June 1, the Askren and Belloni branches will begin Lobby Pickup Service, where patrons will retrieve a bag with their checked-out materials placed in the lobby. The hours for these services are Monday through Friday 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., with an extra hour (until 6:00 p.m.) at Belloni on Tuesdays and at Askren on Wednesdays.

Library Director Sherie Brown reports, "We continue to prepare to offer direct access to the building and materials at some time in the future, but in the meantime, we are happy to pull what you need. If you don't have a library card, or if you wish items to be placed on hold for you, you may call the library at any time."

The Massillon Public Library is proud to be an independent library system since 1899. We partner with other libraries statewide to fulfill your needs! We have four locations to serve you – our Main location in downtown Massillon, our Bookmobile, and our branch locations in Brewster and Navarre.