A wee while to wait yet for the Mitchell Library to re-open?

Glasgow Life (www.glasgowlife.org.uk) has posted an update on the facilities that it manages - and if anyone thinks we will be getting back to normal soon, it makes for some very sober reading.

We have identified 61 venues and facilities which we’re aiming to reopen across four phases between July and October. We’ve already delivered phase one with the reopening of 11 golf, tennis and lawn bowls facilities across the city last month.

Our second phase prioritises the reopening of community centres to support essential childcare, in line with the Scottish Government’s decision that childcare provision will return from 15 July. Given this date, we’re working with childcare operators to help them reinstate their services as safely and as quickly as possible this month.

Phase three will run concurrently with phase two throughout July and will see more of our office-based and frontline staff returning to work to prepare venues for reopening to the public. Some key tenants will also be given access in this phase.

And phase four, from August to October, will see continued support for childcare and education provision, greater access for tenants, and the reopening of some of our venues to the public more widely, in line with ongoing public health and government guidance.

(Source: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-information)


In a list of venues 'reopening for essential services' at www.glasgowlife.org.uk/media/6407/20200702-glasgow-life-venues-reopning-for-essential-services-only-final.pdf, the Mitchell Library, it is noted that the intention is for the facility to open from the week beginning Monday 21st September 2020 - the very last venue on the list to do so - for the purposes of 'staff access'. There is no indication though when public services may be resumed, including the Family History at the Mitchell on the 5th floor, which includes the Registrar's Service (with ScotlandsPeople access) and Glasgow City Archives.

Other libraries across Glasgow are opening earlier to the public in a more staggered roll out plan, and all at a reduced capacity - see www.glasgowlife.org.uk/media/6425/20200702-glasgow-life-venues-reopening-to-the-public-final.pdf.

Get comfy folks, it could be a while yet.

(With thanks to Jack Davis via email)

Chris

My next 5 week Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers course starts July 6th - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. My next book, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is now out, also available are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.