A Letter from the Library Leadership Team:
Dear Flathead Valley Community,
The national conversation about race is alive in our community. Across the nation, including Montana, small and mid-sized communities are playing an important role as they step up to be part of the dialogue about anti-racism and inequity.
Libraries remove barriers to equitable access every day. It’s what we do. So, as we confront systemic racism, an insidious and violent barrier, we stand with the movement to eradicate it.
A colleague, Gavin Woltjer, Director of Billings Public Library and President of the Montana Library Association, recently wrote: “The Montana Library Association stands with library workers, patrons and the community partners we work with and serve who are susceptible to acts of prejudice or threats of violence or discrimination. The pervasive racism present in our nation denies its residents equal rights and equal access and as such is a barrier to the goals of this association and to everything that libraries stand for.”
At ImagineIF Libraries we work to embody our core values: Kindness, Curiosity, Courage, Diversity, and Personal Transformation. We are committed to looking at our organization through the lens of anti-racism to address policies, procedures, and practices that need to be changed. Library staff are learning together and will act to address institutional inequities. We are analyzing our collections to ensure that we are collecting materials from diverse authors and seeking other ways to make certain that all people have access and a voice.
Most immediately, we have created lists of anti-racism titles that are available right now, without waiting, through Hoopla. Our librarians are busy ordering more copies of books to keep up with the surge of holds put on these popular titles.
Libraries grow and transform with their communities. We hope you’ll join us in exploring how the library can contribute to justice and equity.
Sincerely,
ImagineIF Libraries Leadership Team
Find out more about Anti-Racism Resources here.
New Open Hours
ImagineIF Libraries has expanded our open hours (see times below). Enhanced safety measures are in place to protect the welfare of staff and customers; including social distancing signage and floor markings, quarantining books and other materials, and frequently sanitizing high touch surfaces. Patrons are required to wear a face covering and find their materials and proceed to check out. The first open hour is designated for vulnerable populations to access the library.
Patrons are encouraged to wear a mask, to swiftly find their materials and proceed to check out. Book returns will be open 24 hours, and curbside pickup will continue.
* The first open hour each day is designated for vulnerable populations.
Kalispell
Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm
Sat, 10-2pm
Curbside Pickup
M-F, 10-6pm
Sat, 10-5pm
Bigfork
Tues, 3-6pm
Wed-Sat, 10-1pm
Curbside Pickup
Tues-Sat, 10-5pm
Columbia Falls
Wed-Fri, 10am-6pm
Sat, 12-4pm
Curbside Pickup
Wed-Fri, 10am-6pm
Sat, 12-4pm
Computer Use Sessions
Patrons can use public computers for a 30-minute session once a day and enjoy free access to the internet and printing services! Computers are separated by plexiglass barriers and will be sanitized by library staff. Patrons are required to wear masks and to use hand sanitizer before and after using the computer. Each library location is also set up with 30-minute stations for personal device use, such as a laptop or tablet. The Kalispell location additionally features two 20-minute computer stations with printing capability. All printing fees are currently being waived.
Computer use guidelines for each location:
Kalispell
6 desktop computer stations
3 personal device stations
2 20-minute stations
Bigfork
1 desktop computer station
1 personal device station
Columbia Falls
4 desktop computer stations
2 personal device stations
ImagineIF thanks the public for their patience during this transition. Librarians are always available by phone or email: Mon-Fri, 10-6. To get in touch with a librarian, email asklib@imagineiflibraries.org or call 406-758-5820. Customers are also encouraged to monitor ImagineIF’s Facebook and Instagram pages for updates.