Even though the building is closed, the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library in Whitewater is committed to providing patrons expanded access to online resources and safe access to physical materials.

Beginning Monday, April 27, there will be limited access to materials currently inside the library building.  Pickups will be scheduled between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday.

To support social distancing efforts, we are operating with very limited staff. Staff will fill your holds placed online as quickly as possible; however, wait times may be longer than usual. Thanks for your patience.

Follow three easy steps to pick up materials at the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library.

Step one: Place your items on hold.

Already have an item on hold at a curbside location and you’ve been notified it’s ready? Skip to step two.

• Go to www.whitewaterlibrary.org.  Click on “Browse Our Catalog.” At the top of the CAFÉ catalog page, use the dropdown menu under “Library” to choose Irvin L. Young Memorial Library to narrow your search to items that are available from our library only.  Be sure to choose our library as your pickup location as well.
• We are currently limiting the number of items for each patron to 10.  Since we must still limit the number of staff in the building, we want to be able to provide something for as many people as we can.  Thank you for your understanding.
• You will be notified via phone when your hold is ready. Staff will fill your holds placed online as quickly as possible; however, wait times may be longer than usual.

Step two: Call the library (262-473-0530) and tell us you’re ready to pick up.

• When you receive notification that your holds are ready, schedule a time to pick up your holds.  Be sure to have your library card barcode number available to give us over the phone.
• Staff will check out your items at that time, put them in a plastic bag, and place the bag on a cart outside of the building at the south entrance (parking lot) doors.
• You will have a 15-minute scheduled time to pick them up.  This keeps the number of people at the library picking up their holds at any one time low to help with social distancing.  It also helps to make sure that your items do not remain outside for an extended time.

Step three: Pick up your items.

• Bagged holds will be on a cart outside of the building for contactless pickup.
• Outdoor signage at the library will guide you to the pickup cart.
• Your bag will be labeled with the last four digits of your library card.
• Grab your bag and enjoy!

Remember, Irvin L. Young Memorial Library remains closed to the public. Lobbies, restrooms, computers, and other spaces will not be accessible. Due dates have been extended to June 1 and may be automatically extended should the Safer at Home order be extended a second time. By the way, we have to quarantine all returned materials for 72 hours before they can be released to the public again, and we have limited space in which to do this. Consequently, unless you have checked out newer/popular materials that are likely to be sought by other patrons, we encourage you to hold any items until the library has reopened.

Browse the FAQs below for further information or call 262-473-0530.

Frequently asked questions
Your online catalog says I need a PIN. I’ve never used the online catalog before/I’ve forgotten what my
PIN is. What do I do?
● Call us at 262-473-0530 and a staff member will set up a PIN for you.
How will I know when my items are ready for pickup?
● You will receive a phone notification. To support social distancing efforts, we are operating with very limited staff. Staff will fill your holds placed online as quickly as possible; however, wait times may be longer than usual.
Thanks for your patience.
How do I return materials?
● At this time, all items have a due date of June 1. Due dates will be auto-extended for the
duration of the Safer at Home order. Please do not attempt to return items using the exterior
cart at curbside pickup locations. We have to quarantine all returned materials for 72 hours before they can be released to the public again, and we have limited space in which to do this. Consequently, unless you have checked out newer/popular materials that are likely to be sought by other patrons, we encourage you to hold any items rather than using the book drop until the library has reopened.
What if the item I want isn’t available at the Whitewater library?
● Unfortunately, transfer of materials between libraries is still prohibited by the Safer at Home
order. Only items physically present in the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library building are available
for holds and curbside pickup at this time.
Do I need a library card?
● Yes, patrons must have a library card to use curbside pickup. Please note that temporary e-cards can only be used for online services.
What if I have mobility issues and it is difficult to leave my vehicle?
● If a patron experiences mobility issues, we can provide an accommodation such as placing
bagged items on the hood or in the trunk of your vehicle. Please request this when you call.
What materials are available for pickup?
● All physical materials currently on the shelf in our building are available, including books, DVDs,
magazines, etc.
What if I have fines or I’m over the checkout limit?
● Library staff can override fine restrictions and checkout limits during the pandemic response. If
you would like to pay your fines, our online payment system is still available.
Can I place a hold via telephone?
● Yes, please call 262-473-0530. You may have to leave a message if we experience a large
number of calls.
What are you doing to protect the safety of patrons and library staff?
● The contactless curbside pickup model we are using provides maximum social distancing for the
safety of our patrons and our staff. Staff will use gloves and cloth face coverings in accordance
with CDC guidelines. All physical materials will be quarantined for a minimum of three days before being made
available to the public again. Patrons and staff should not approach one another and respect the need for social distancing. This may feel uncomfortable but is necessary to provide a safe, contactless pickup service. If you
notice patrons at the pickup cart, please remain in your vehicle until the previous patron has
departed.
Why are you using plastic bags for pickup items?
● Plastic bags are a temporary measure to protect patron privacy, protect physical materials, and
limit unnecessary contact. Bags help separate materials to avoid the need for patrons to sort
through items on the pickup cart