From Jan 1, voluntarily unvaccinated people can return library items, collect reservations but barred from entry
SINGAPORE — From Jan 1, voluntarily unvaccinated people will still be able to return in person hard-copy library materials they have borrowed and collect items that are reserved at standalone and regional libraries, but they will not be able to enter the library itself.
23 Nov 2021 05:22PM
(Updated: 30 Nov 2021 12:39AM)
SINGAPORE — From Jan 1, voluntarily unvaccinated people will still be able to return in person hard-copy library materials they have borrowed and collect items that are reserved at standalone and regional libraries, but they will not be able to enter the library itself. The National Library Board (NLB) said this in a statement on Tuesday, as it laid out detailed guidelines for library visits, following an announcement last Saturday (Nov 20) that from next year, voluntarily unvaccinated people would not be allowed into NLB facilities. These include the 27 public libraries, the National Library as well as the National Archives of Singapore. Bookdrops and reservation lockers are located outside the libraries and are accessible without the need to enter the facilities, NLB said.
From Jan 1, only people who are fully vaccinated, have recovered from Covid-19, as well as those who are medically ineligible for the vaccines, will be able to enter NLB’s facilities. Children aged 12 and below will still be allowed entry. In the month of December, people who are voluntarily unvaccinated would still be able to enter the libraries if they have a valid negative pre-event test. From Jan 1, they will no longer be allowed to enter even if they have tested negative for Covid-19. The Ministry of Health announced last Saturday that such vaccine-control measures will be introduced at more settings and activities in Singapore. FURTHER EASING OF SAFE MANAGEMENT MEASURES NLB on Tuesday said that group sizes for physical programmes, its mobile library services, as well as guided tours for exhibitions and the Gallery@Former Ford Factory, will be increased with immediate effect. It stressed that overall group size of each programme is subject to the operating capacity of the venue. There will be no change to the dwell time limits at the libraries on weekends to manage capacity. Patrons will be required to make advance online bookings for the preferred slots of their visits on weekends and may book for up to five people each slot. The audience capacity for the Asian Film Archive’s public screenings at the Oldham Theatre, located at the National Archives of Singapore near Fort Canning, will continue to be for 66 people for the theatre and the atrium. The safe distancing rules will continue for seating in the theatre and to limit intermingling between different groups of people. “Patrons who visit our facilities must wear their masks at all times and adhere to the capacity limits in our facilities,” NLB added.
Source: TODAY
