Frazier Park, CA (Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 6 p.m.)—The Frazier Park Branch Library is slated to open for limited in-person service on October 12. Twelve branches in all are reopening, at 25% capacity. The efforts of the people of the Mountain Communities helped secure this opportunity. In comments to the board of supervisors, they shared their heartfelt appreciation for the role this library plays in their personal lives and as a community center for our region. Supervisors indicated July 30 they were poised to cut the already hardly- sustainable library budget 18-22% more. The public comments protesting this plan were wonderful to read. There were even some by people from other parts of Kern County who spoke of traveling to the mountain to enjoy our beautiful library, we were all delighted to learn.
A personal note from the editor and staff of The Mountain Enterprise:
Thanks go to the Kern County Board of Supervisors for listening to the passionate pleas of the people they represent to restore funding to the library system. Thanks also to Andie Sullivan and her staff for their responsiveness to the efforts of The Mountain Enterprise to report accurately on the status of the library in the budget process.
The Frazier Park Branch Friends of the Library, including Susan Chaney, Cliff Brunk and Judith Brunk were very active in this effort.
We thank Supervisor Zack Scrivener and his staff for working with us in our reporting efforts. We also wish to thank Pine Mountain Club resident Diane Duquette, retired director of the Kern County Library System. Duquette poured devotion into bringing the Frazier Park Library into existence, over a 15 year gestation period. Well done.
This is a win for our community. We are grateful.
—Patric Hedlund, Editor
Here is the full statement from the library staff:
Anticipated Opening Plans
On Friday, August 28, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a new tier system for reopening the state of California. Under the current purple (widespread) tier, library buildings can be open to the public for indoor services at 25% capacity.
What does 25% capacity look like at Kern Libraries?
We are excited to begin receiving the public back in our facilities and to begin providing in-person services, such as public computer access, the opportunity to browse, make photocopies, or send a fax. As many are aware, we currently have 7 libraries across Kern County providing contactless curbside services. Here’s what you can expect moving forward:
We anticipate opening for limited indoor library services at 25% capacity on Monday, October 12 at twelve library facilities:
- Arvin Branch
- Beale Memorial, in Bakersfield
- Delano Branch
- Frazier Park Branch
- Kern River Valley Branch
- Rathbun Branch, in Oildale
- Ridgecrest Branch
- Rosamond Branch
- Southwest Branch, in Bakersfield
- Taft Branch
- Tehachapi Branch
- Wasco Branch
Inside services will be very similar to our current curbside services — by appointment only and must be purpose-driven. Select services will include:
- Browsing time
- Public computer access
- Faxing
- Printing
- Copy machine access
- Reference services
Additional services will be phased in over time.
Curbside services will remain in effect and customers can choose which type of library service they prefer.
For the safety of our community and employees, these will not be included, accessible, or allowed at this time:
- Indoor programming
- Public restrooms
- Donation dropoff
- Volunteering (virtual volunteering can be arranged)
- Loitering or sitting
Customers must wear masks to access library facilities.
An appointment is strongly encouraged to reduce wait times and to ensure smooth, quick service. To access curbside services prior to October 12, fill out our online form to make an appointment request, call 661.868.0701 to schedule an appointment, or email info@kernlibrary.org.
Although an appointment is not required to receive service, scheduling an appointment does ensure that your materials are ready for pickup and that you receive quicker service. Customers that arrive without an appointment may experience wait times and all materials may not be available.
This is part of the September 11, 2020 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.
Have an opinion on this matter? We'd like to hear from you.
