The Ida Rupp Public Library branches have extended their service hours at all three locations. Beginning on Saturday, May 1, the extension brings the reduced hours of the past year closer to pre-pandemic hours.

“The new schedule adds Saturday hours at all of our locations, which had been discontinued due to Covid-19,” said Library Director Lindsay Faust. “We have also expanded our evening hours to two nights a week, instead of just one for Port Clinton and Marblehead residents. We are providing later evening hours for our Erie Islands Branch patrons.”

Faust said that Marblehead patrons will be excited to see library hours were added on Wednesdays.

“When the branch opened in 2017, the location was closed on Wednesdays. We know that being open on Wednesday was something the community desired and we wanted to have that convenience for patrons.”

“It really comes down to access,” Faust said. “And making sure that people are able to get the access when they need to.”

Beginning May 1, Ida Rupp Public Library in Port Clinton will be open on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. On Tuesday and Thursday patrons may use the library from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.

The Marblehead Peninsula Branch Library and the Erie Islands Library will be open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and on Tuesday and Thursday from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m.

“We look forward to returning to pre-pandemic hours and activities as soon as state mandates allow, while still providing for the safety of our patrons,” said Faust.

The district will offer a new way to pick up books and materials held in self-service lockers that will be installed at all locations later this spring or early summer, Faust said. The self-service holds lockers will be available for patrons to access around the clock — even outside of library hours — and are completely new to Ida Rupp Public Library.

The libraries are located in Port Clinton at 310 Madison St.; Marblehead Peninsula Branch at 710 W. Main St.; and Erie Islands Library located at 281 Concord in Put-in-Bay.