* Three time slots per day, Sunday through Thursday
* 100 people will be allowed in first time slot and 150 people in other two slots
* Library visits will continue to be by appointment only
* QNL will be closed on weekends
* Library's restaurant and Safahat café are now open with dine-in of capacity 50%
* Social gatherings of more than 10 people are strictly restricted and will be monitored by QNL security personnel
* Only those aged 13 to 60 years will be allowed access to library
Qatar National Library (QNL) has announced extended timings for visitors as part of the gradual lifting of Covid-19 restrictions in the country.
Three time slots will be provided per day, Sunday through Thursday, accommodating a total of 250 people daily based on appointments only, according to information available on the QNL website.
The three slots are from 8am to 10am, from 10.30am to 2.30pm, and 3.30pm to 7.30pm.
QNL allowed visitors in two time slots following its reopening on July 15. This has now been increased to three time slots.
"We’re excited to welcome more of you back to the library," the library tweeted on Sunday, providing information on the new timings and procedures.
"Only 100 people will be allowed in the building during the 8am to 10am time slot and 150 people during the other two time slots (10.30am to 2.30pm and 3.30pm to 7.30pm)," the QNL website says.
The library will be closed on weekends.
Visitors will be allowed into the building only if they fulfil the following conditions: have a confirmation of their slot booking through the form available at https://registration.qnl.qa/booking-service#no-back; are aged between 13 and 60 years; have the 'green' status on the Ehteraz app; have a temperature of no more than 37.8C; and have a face mask or shield.
The library's restaurant and Safahat café are now open with a dine-in of capacity 50%. The vending machines in the Quiet Study Area are also available.
The prayer rooms will open without the ablution facility and with limited capacity.
QNL has urged people to follow the social distancing rules everywhere in the library and stand only on designated stickers whenever queuing.
Social gatherings of more than 10 people are strictly restricted in the library and will be monitored by QNL's security personnel. Seating areas will be limited, as will workstations.
Reading carrels may be used on a first-come, first-use basis, with only one user inside each carrel. "To borrow books, you need to request them in advance at least two working days before the time slot you’ve booked for your library visit. You will need your library ID to self-checkout these books," the website says.
The Heritage Library is reopening and the Heritage Reading Room is also available to users for selected heritage and reference materials. Heritage Library materials are accessible primarily by requesting for a digital copy via this email ([email protected]). "If the requested item has not yet been digitised, we will let you know when it is available," it adds.
No public group tours will be conducted in the library, including the Heritage Library Exhibition Area, until further notice. Individual visits are permitted by appointment only through the booking form (https://registration.qnl.qa/booking-service#no-back), and all health precautions must be followed.
The Children's Library and the Young Adults' Area will remain closed until further notice.
For their safety, pregnant women are not allowed into the library during this phase of reopening.
Only books can be borrowed for the time being. No borrowing of DVDs, CDs, iPads, headphones and chargers, etc will be permitted.
Book return stations inside the library building will be closed, with bins provided at the main entrance for returning books. Patrons can also use the drive-thru book return station outside the library 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Research and information services will continue online until further notice and will be available from 9am to 8pm, from Sunday to Thursday. "Please connect with our librarians to ask questions or to set up an appointment for virtual research assistance," QNL has advised.
The Main Plaza, computer stations and individual study carrels will be open. All access to shelving tiers will be closed. Also, no access will be provided to patrons to any bookshelves and all entrances to the tiers will be closed.
Those wanting to use the Innovation Stations need to send a booking request by email to [email protected]. A member of the QNL staff will get back to the person concerned on his/her request and the date and time when s/he needs to book the visit to the library.
The time slots available for booking the Innovation Stations (Sunday to Thursday) are: 8am to 10am (2 hours); 10.30am to 12.30pm (2 hours); 1pm to 2.30pm (1.5 hours); 3.30pm to 5.30pm (2 hours); and 6pm to 7.30pm (1.5 hours).
Both the public parking lot by the Heritage Library entrance and the staff parking lot by the main entrance will be open to the public. "You may also park in the Ceremonial Court lot and walk to the library," the website adds. Bus and valet services will not be available until further notice.
After each slot, the library will be evacuated through a PA announcement and essential service cleaning of the areas open to the public will be carried out before opening for the next slot.
Membership registration will continue online only. Users should also book a visit (through the QNL website) to pick up their membership card from the User Services Desk at the library.
