Fremont Public Library to reduce hours when curbside service starts June 8

Mundelein's Fremont Public Library will trim its operating hours when it begins offering curbside pickup service next month.

Starting June 8, checkouts will be allowed: Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m.

That's less time than the current schedule on all days except Sundays. The change gives employees time before and after curbside service hours to safely complete tasks, Director Scott Davis said.

Starting June 15, staffers will be available to answer phone calls, emails and website chat questions during those hours, too.

The library board approved the changes Thursday night.

The library has been closed to the public since mid-March because of the COVID-19 crisis.

For curbside checkouts, library employees will call patrons who have reserved items to come pick up those materials. Patrons will be instructed to go to a curbside spot during library hours and call a posted phone number to receive the items.

Returns of books, DVDs and other materials won't yet be accepted because of the risk of coronavirus infection via items that have been outside the library's controlled environment.

Officials haven't yet determined when the library building will reopen to the public or what rules will be implemented to prevent transmission of the virus. But board President Steve Hoenig sounded somewhat optimistic during Thursday's meeting.

"We know this isn't going to last forever," he said.