COVID-19 Information

UPDATE JUNE 30, 2021: UCPL HOURS HAVE RETURNED TO NORMAL; MASKS ARE STILL REQUIRED

After 15 months of disrupted hours, we’re excited to announce that UCPL has returned to normal hours! That’s right, you can come in, check out items, use the computers, and say hi to your favorite staff members from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday; and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. While local governments have raised the official mask mandates for public places, UCPL is still requiring all patrons to wear masks. This policy is in place to help out the hundreds of kids participating in our summer reading program, many of whom are not yet eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. If you don’t have a mask with you, we will supply you with one.

UPDATE MARCH 23, 2021: UNIVERSITY CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY REOPENS TO THE PUBLIC
MARCH 23 WITH TIME, OCCUPANCY LIMITS AND MASK REQUIREMENTS

Beginning Tuesday, March 23, University City Public Library has reopened its doors to the public, allowing patrons to use computers and browse the Library collection for short periods of time.
UCPL is allowing up to 20 people into the building at a time. All seating, aside from the chairs used at the computers, has been removed from the Library, and patrons are allowed up to one hour in the building at a time. Reservations are not required. In accordance with the St. Louis County order, the Library is requiring all patrons and staff to wear masks. The St. Louis County Department of Health has generously provided free masks for those who don’t have one.

The Library has also instituted temporary limits on computer time, which allows staff members to thoroughly clean the public computers after each use. For those that have wifi-enabled devices, the Library’s wireless internet network has been extended, and is now accessible in the parking lot. Printing is available by sending printable attachments to ucprint20@gmail.com.

At this time, the Library will keep the same hours that it has been operating during curbside-only service: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 1-5 p.m. on Saturday. The Library will be open from 1-5 p.m. on Sundays beginning on April 11. Patrons will still have access to curbside service for picking up items they have placed on hold, as well as items that have been printed for them, during all open hours.

The Library is accepting returned items, including audiovisual materials, in its book returns.

Since returning to curbside-only service due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in November 2020, UCPL has provided patrons with a variety of online resources — including e-books, downloadable audiobooks, e-magazines, and streaming video and music — as well as staff-created digital content and phone reference assistance. Reference assistance will continue from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 1-5 p.m. Saturday, by calling 314-827-5669.

University City Public Library has been working in conjunction with the leadership teams at the other eight member libraries of the Municipal Library Consortium, as well as St. Louis County Library and St. Charles City-County Library, to make coordinated decisions in the best interests of the public. Ongoing updates about services and reopening plans will be posted on the UCPL website (www.ucitylibrary.org), as well as on the Library’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

For additional information on COVID-19, please check the following resources:

  • St. Louis County has a comprehensive Coronavirus page for local information: St. Louis County Health
  • St. Louis County Health Department’s Information on Coronavirus Testing: Testing sites
  • Walgreens offers no-cost testing for COVID-19, as well as appointments to receive the vaccine: Walgreens
  • CVS stores also offer no-cost COVID-19 testing and vaccinations: CVS
  • For COVID-19 vaccine information, including pre-registration to receive the vaccine, visit the St. Louis County Health Department’s website: COVID-19 Vaccine Registration
  • Additionally, four local hospital systems have created online vaccine registration portals, available here:
  • The State of Missouri has also created an online portal for registering for receiving the vaccine, including links to mass vaccination events: Missouri Covid Vaccine Navigator
  • The Centers for Disease Control has plenty of information about the disease on its website: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
  • For a worldwide perspective, check out the World Health Organization’s website: Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak

**If you have questions about COVID-19, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has set up a hotline staffed 24 hours a day by medical professionals. Call 877-435-8411 to reach the hotline or to register by phone to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. If you are homebound, call the St. Louis County Health Department at 314-615-2660 for homebound vaccine eligibility screening.**