A reader called the editorial office and reported that baskets had been introduced at the Library, as in a supermarket:

This serves no purpose; it is an obstruction. It hurts me to see taxpayers’ money being spent on nonsense.

Another issue that outraged the person reporting it was the fact that books are kept in the storage room even though they should be on the shelves. (The woman was looking for a novel by G.G. Márquez and could not find it).

The third thing that irritated the reader turned out to be the quarantine imposed on books. According to the person reporting it, 18 hours would be enough.

Anna Idkowiak, head of the Municipal Public Library – Knowledge Centre in Bolesławiec:

In response to your inquiry, I would like to inform you that the rules introduced at the Municipal Public Library – Knowledge Centre form part of the measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In this case, the baskets make it possible to control the number of people staying in the facility. They also allow readers to move around more freely with several books, which they do not have to carry in their hands but can transport in a basket (the baskets are disinfected after each user).

Moreover, none of our readers is forced to use them if they have any concerns. Once the restrictions related to the epidemic are lifted, the baskets will be used for internal work at MBP-CW. The baskets cost 12.50 each.

A. Idkowiak adds:

Every year, the Municipal Public Library – Knowledge Centre adds nearly 5,000 new items to its collections. For the readers’ comfort and the sake of a clear arrangement of the collection, it is not possible for all books to be freely accessible. Part of the collection is kept in a storage room, which constitutes an integral part of the lending library.

Readers can check the availability of a particular item in the online catalogue or obtain this information from a librarian. The generally accepted rule, not only at our Library, is that items from the storage room are made available after being requested by a reader. If an employee is able to do so, the reader receives the book immediately. If the employee cannot go down to the storage room because they are alone at the service desk, the reader receives the book no later than the following day.

She also notes:

As for the quarantine issue, the National Library recommends a three-day quarantine; following consultations with MBP-CW employees, we maintain a seven-day quarantine for the safety of both readers and librarians.