About the Hall County Library and COVID-19
Why are you only doing curbside and appointment service again? Much like the rest of our community, COVID-19 exposures leading to illness and quarantine have been very high among our staff. We have also had a number of resignations – working in a public building during a pandemic is not the right choice for many people. While we are certainly concerned about the safety of our staff and community, our biggest concern right now is having enough staff available to offer basic services to the best of our ability.
I like to browse and I don’t know what I want to read to place holds on items. What can I do? Our staff is available at 770-532-3311 or libraryhelp@hallcountylibrary.org to talk you through making some good choices. We can place the holds and make your appointment at the same time. You can also browse our new books from the front page of the PINES catalog.
Many great books can be browsed and checked out online using Hoopla or Libby. If you need a card, you can apply here.
We also have browsing forms you can fill out on our website. These will give our staff some guidance to select your next great reads for you.
What services are available by appointment? Public computer access, genealogy research, proctoring, notary, and passport acceptance.
Will AARP be available to do tax preparation at the library this year? We do not know yet if AARP will be able to offer that service this year. COVID-19 restrictions do not allow large groups to gather so any AARP services would have to be by appointment only. More AARP Tax Information
Why are your meeting rooms closed, and programming only virtual? COVID-19 restrictions do not allow large groups to gather. Since it would be difficult to control the size of this type of gathering, we will wait until it is safe to offer in-person services.
Why are your study rooms closed? The small enclosed nature of study rooms does not allow for good air circulation, a huge concern in the COVID era. In addition, many of our branches are using those spaces to quarantine just returned materials for the safety of our users.
How do I apply for a card online? If you need a library card, you can apply here.
How do I return my books? Are book drops open? Yes, we would appreciate your returning items at the book drops located outside each library branch. You can return any PINES item to any book drop in Hall County no matter the checkout location. Our book drops are open 24/7.
What if I need to pay a late fee? You may call staff to pay by phone or you can pay online through the PINES catalog. Remember your card will not be impacted until fees reach $10+.
My card expired! What do I do? Contact staff at 770-532-3311 or Libraryhelp@hallcountylibrary.org to temporarily renew your card via phone or email.