This page will be updated with new information as we have it.
New Ringer Library Hours Starting Feb. 1, 2021
Due to a sustained surge in COVID-19 cases in the Brazos Valley, the Bryan+College Station Public Library System has announced the Larry J. Ringer Library will reduce hours of operation beginning Monday, Feb. 1.
New Library Hours Starting Sept. 8, 2020
STARTING JUNE 29 (CS) AND JUNE 30 (BRYAN)
Face masks will be required for patrons entering all libraries of the Bryan+College Station Public Library System
Phased Reopening Plan for BCS Library System
As the state of Texas begins to gradually reopen public spaces, the Bryan + College Station Public Library System will also reopen in phases, to ensure patrons and staff remain healthy and safe.
STARTING ON MAY 18 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Libraries will open at 50% occupancy for come-and-go activities during the following hours:
Clara B. Mounce Public Library
Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Larry J. Ringer Library
Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Carnegie History Center
Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Curbside Service
Curbside service will be available at Mounce and Ringer Libraries on Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Library patrons are encouraged to continue placing items on hold and using the curbside and book drop services.
Patrons can place holds on items online or by phone:
Mounce: (979) 209-5600
Ringer: (979) 764-3416
When you arrive to pick up items, please call the library to notify staff that you are outside. You will be asked to park in designated parking, remain in car and pop trunk for staff to place checked out items.
Other Services and Information
- Librarians will continue to provide adult and youth programming on the BCS Library System’s social media pages.
- Computers will be available for use for one hour, with social distancing protocols in place.
- Meeting room spaces are closed during the duration of this phased opening.
- Patrons should conduct in-person business at the libraries as quickly as possible in order to reduce in-person contact with others.
- Patrons also will be asked to observe social distancing guidelines by staying at least 6 feet from anyone not in their household.
- Library staff will ensure the facilities are continually disinfected in accordance with CDC protocols.
- Further reopening and expansion of hours will be shared as they come available. Patrons are encouraged to check bcslibrary.org for updates.
May 11- 16
- Libraries will open at 25% occupancy for come-and-go activities during the following hours: Clara B. Mounce Public Library – Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m.; Larry J. Ringer Library and Carnegie History Center – Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1 to 5 p.m. and Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Library patrons are encouraged to continue placing items on hold and using the curbside and book drop services.
- Librarians will continue to provide adult and youth programming on the BCS Library System’s social media pages.
- Computers will be available for use, with social distancing protocols in place.
Meeting room spaces are closed during the duration of this phased opening. Patrons should conduct in-person business at the libraries as quickly as possible in order to reduce in-person contact with others. Patrons also will be asked to observe social distancing guidelines by staying at least 6 feet from anyone not in their household.
Library staff also will ensure the facilities are continually disinfected in accordance with CDC protocols.
May 4-8
- Library buildings remain closed, but curbside hold pickup services will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at Clara B. Mounce Public Library and Larry J. Ringer Public Library.
- Patrons can place holds on items online or by phone – Mounce: 979.209.5600; Ringer: 979.764.3416. When they arrive to pick up items, they should call the library to notify staff that they are outside. They will be asked to park in designated parking, remain in their car and pop their trunk for staff to place checked out items.
- Adult and youth librarians will continue to provide programming on the BCS Library System’s social media pages.
May 1
- Libraries will remain closed, but library patrons may begin returning items to book drops.
- Patrons can begin to place holds online.
- Librarians will continue to provide adult and youth programming on the BCS Library System’s social media pages.
Here’s the latest updates
Our libraries will begin phased reopening amid the COVID-19 situation on May 1. But we wanted to make sure that our patrons know about their options for accessing library services and learning resources without visiting our physical sites. We care very much about our patrons, so we’re working to make sure that we can still have resources available to everyone.
- Resources available online
- Library services during the closures
- What about late fees?
- Event / program cancellations
- The Bryan + College Station Library System is currently closed, but will begin phased reopening on May 1.
- The library system has extended due dates on library card registrations and items checked out until June 1.
- All library patrons will be able to use online resources for free, including checking out digital books, magazines, audiobooks and more.
- Book drops will be reopened starting on May 1. Please keep all checked out materials safe at home with you and your families. This includes ILL items.
- The library system’s website, BCSLibrary.org, will be available through the closure, and streaming videos and resources are available on the library system’s social media pages.
- The AARP Tax Foundation Tax-Aides have suspended services until further notice.
What the cities are doing
Information from the CDC
Library resources available online
- eBooks
- eAudiobooks
- Streaming Video
- eMagazines
- TexShare databases (email or call us for our login information if you need it)
- Databases in addition to TexShare
- Other online learning opportunities through the library
- Learning Express: Skill-building, test prep, homework and classroom success
- TumbleBooks: Five databases of eBooks and eAudiobooks available for free through August 31
Library resources available during the closure
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- All Online Services
- Digital storytimes
- How-to videos for placing holds and using Overdrive
Library Card Renewal
Other online resources to tide you over
(If you do not have a library card or are looking for additional content)
- Harry Potter at Home – Add a touch of Harry Potter to your life, including eBook, eAudiobook, and activities, available through April 2020.
- The Shows Must Go On – free Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals streaming 1 PM Central on Fridays, available for 48 hours
- Quick, Draw! – game like Pictionary, but the computer guesses your drawing
- LibriVox – free online public domain audiobooks
- Project Gutenberg – free online public domain books
- Audible Stories – free streaming of audiobooks, children through teen, 6 languages
- Scholastic Learn at Home – free daily projects to keep kids busy and learning (set up free accounts to use)
- Read Out Loud Archives presented by KidLit TV – videos of authors reading picture books
- Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems – doodling and drawing, new episodes posted weekdays at 1 PM ET (12 PM Central)
- Draw Every Day with JJK – free drawing lessons webcast at 2 PM ET (1 PM Central)
- Nightly Met Opera Streams – the Metropolitan Opera will stream operas nightly at 7:30 PM EDT (6:30 PM Central), each available for 20 hours
- Museums with Virtual Tours – article in Travel and Leisure listing museums with virtual tours
- The Louvre – virtual museum tours
- Google Arts and Culture – online tours and street views of museums and cultural sites
Interact with us on social media
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are there any library resources I can use while branches are closed?
Yes. Bryan + College Station Public Library System provides a wide variety of electronic resources, including e-books, e-audiobooks, e-magazines, streaming videos, and more online resources for borrowing or viewing.
What if my items are due? Will I accrue late fees?
The due dates for all checked-out circulating materials will be extended. No late fees should accrue on materials that were originally due during the closure period.
Can I place new holds through the catalog?
Due to the closure, physical hold requests can be made online beginning May 1 or by phone beginning May 4. These holds will be available for curbside pickup. Electronic holds such as e-books and e-audiobooks will still be available.
Can I apply for a library card?
During our period of closure, we are unable to register new patrons for physical library cards. But when the libraries reopen to patrons at 25% capacity starting on May 11, new applicants can visit their local library to obtain and validate their physical library card. If you don’t have a physical library card, why don’t you try out our Virtual Ecard that will give you access to all of our digital collections while we’re closed.
My library card is about to expire. How can I renew?
Library card accounts that had expired from January 1, 2020 to the present have been automatically renewed through June 1, 2020. For all other dates that fall outside of this, contact us through our online contact form and provide us with your library card number so we may renew your account through the June 1, 2020 date.
I have a question about my account? Is there anyone that can help me?
If you have any questions about your account or how to access digital resources, please use our online contact form.
Cancellations
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- All in-person programs and events cancelled indefinitely, some moved online
- AARP Tax-Aide cancelled until further notice
- Meet and Greet with Beatrice “Bea” Saba – postponed, new date TBA
- Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale – postponed, new date TBA
- Book donations halted
- Meyer Book Club postponed until Fall 2020
- All other book club meetings moved online