Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — Four library branches in Mahoning County will reopen for limited services beginning Monday, the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County has announced.

The Newport, Sebring, Springfield and Brownlee Woods branches will offer in-person services on a restricted basis.

“We are so pleased to be able to welcome patrons into our buildings. We have moved slowly and cautiously with planning due to the difficulties of the COVID-19 environment,” Library Executive Director Aimee Fifarek said in a news release.

“Our primary goal, along with providing service, is to ensure the safety of our patrons and our staff. We know the community has been eager to get back into our libraries, especially for access to computers and copy services.”

Computer, internet access, printing, copying, scanning and faxing will be offered at the Newport, Sebring and Springfield branches.

At Brownlee Woods, assistance from the Career and Job Center, as well as business support services, will be available by appointment. Four public access computers for general use also will be available.

Computers will be available at the libraries for 50 minutes with a valid PLYMC library card. Between user sessions, staff will sanitize the spaces in 10-minute intervals.

Computers can be accessed by appointment or walking in. If no computers are available, there will be a waiting list. A limit of 10 pages per library patron also will be offered for free printing.

The library is reserving the first open hour at each location each day for senior citizens age 65 and over, as well as vulnerable patrons of any age with underlying health conditions. For in-library service, children 7 years and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian 18 or older.

More library branches will reopen next month unless Mahoning County experiences a surge in COVID-19 cases, Fifarek said.

“We are putting the finishing touches on those plans now and will announce details as soon as they are available,” she noted.

Newport Library will have a capacity of 25 people, Sebring with 14, Springfield with 13 and Brownlee Woods will host 14 at a time. Patrons will be expected to wear a facial covering. Sanitizing gel will be available.

Mass gatherings will not take place within the library system.

For more information, call 330-259-3399.

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Branches

Hours of operation for the four library branches starting Monday:

• Newport, 3730 Market St., Youngstown, Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Sebring, 195 W. Ohio Ave., Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Springfield, 10418 Main St., New Middletown, Monday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Brownlee Woods, 4010 Sheridan Road, Youngstown, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with some services by appointment only