Temporary libraries and gallery closure

Now that COVID-19 restrictions have eased,  Bayside Libraries have been preparing to reopen our services in a safe and timely manner. The first step is to encourage our members to starting bringing in the 50,000+ books currently out on loan so that they can be available for others to borrow.  

Return chutes will reopen from 1 June – you are welcome to return your books if you are finished with them.

We currently have over 50,000 books in the community. The book chutes will be open at Beaumaris, Hampton and Brighton between 8am and 6pm Monday - Friday for the immediate future to cater to the volume of books we expect to be returned.

From 1 June, we will begin processing the nearly 10,000 book reservations we have pending. Online and telephone reservations will reopen from 15 June.

With 50,000 books currently on loan and nearly 10,000 reservations already in our system, one of our key aims is to recommence book circulation in a safe and hygienic way. We need our books back before they can be borrowed again!

Your reservations can begin to be collected by mid June. We are currently planning how to safely manage this process and we will provide further information to you next week.

With Victorian Government public health and physical distancing restrictions to remain in place for the foreseeable future, we are taking a careful, phased approach to the reopening of library services.

The health and safety of our library members, visitors and staff is our key priority.

We are continuing to plan how to reopen our physical library spaces following further easing of social gathering numbers. Library spaces may require significant reconfiguration to meet COVID-19 hygiene and physical distancing requirements.

In the meantime, our online library is open with more than 000s books, magazines, podcasts and other resources open 24/7. 

Check out our online Library services