If you've really missed browsing the bookshelves at your local Wake County library, you're in luck. Starting Monday, June 15, Wake County Public Libraries will launch a new, contact-free Books on the Go program.

Now, readers can get actual library books in their hands instead of just the e-books, which also are available through the system. But your browsing will still need to be virtual.

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“We so appreciate the community's patience while their libraries have been closed, and we look forward to giving everyone access to the books they want to read,” said Ann Burlingame, deputy director of Wake County Public Libraries, in a press release. “This is the first phase of making libraries accessible to our customers again, and this service will allow us to continue fulfilling our library mission to instill the love of reading in the residents of Wake County.”

The Books on the Go service will begin on Monday, June 15, at the following libraries, according to the release:

  • Cameron Village Regional Library
    • Cary Regional Library
      • East Regional Library
        • Middle Creek Community Library
          • North Regional Library
            • Northeast Regional Library
              • Southeast Regional Library
                • West Regional Library

                  Here's how it works ...

                  For people with books placed on reserve prior to the library’s closure, the library will contact you with instructions on how and where to pick up your books.

                  For people eager to get some books out from the library, Wake's online catalog will be open for customers to place reserves on books. Since the library is closed to the public, customers will also be able to place reserves on Lucky Day titles, which includes new books by popular authors.

                  For people with books to return, participating libraries will also accept returns. The library system encourages customers to return books they checked out before the library closed to the public. Wake's library system is late-fee free, which means no overdue fees are charged. It has already had a couple of opportunities to return books and will offer another from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday.

                  To pick up your reserved books, according to the press release, you will receive an email notification from the library with instructions on making an appointment between the hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

                  “We know residents are eager to see all WCPL locations open back up. The Books on the Go service is the next step in moving toward that goal in the safest way possible for staff and customers,” Burlingame said in the release. “We thank the community for their patience—and for supporting books, reading and their public library.”

                  Chapel Hill Public Library also will be expanding its curbside service to patrons starting June 15.