Health & Safety Protocols for Visitors

Face Masks & Coverings
Beginning August 16, 2021, all visitors must wear a properly fitting face mask or covering while on-site at the Berks History Center regardless of vaccination status. According to the latest numbers from the CDC, Berks County reached a “substantial” level of community transmission of COVID-19. [Source: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view]


How Are You Feeling?
Visitors who are feeling ill, experiencing flu-like symptoms, or knowingly exposed to someone with flu-like symptoms or COVID-19 should not enter the property and are encouraged to stay home and seek medical care. 

Health & Safety Protocols for Library Visitors

  • Please arrive at your scheduled appointment time. Arriving on time will help ensure maximum access for all of our visitors as well as everyone’s safety.
  • Please bring your own pencil and paper.
  • Off-Street Parking is available next to the Henry Janssen Library building located at 160 Spring Street. Once you arrive, enter at the front of the building only.
  • A team member will check you in upon your arrival.  Pay at the door if you are not a member – $7 Adults, Students are free with ID
  • We will ask that you wash your hands immediately upon arrival and then report to your assigned workstation. Our staff will have prepared for your visit ahead of time and your requested research materials will be readily available. The focus of your visit should be specific, we cannot accommodate browsing at this time.
  • We ask that all staff, volunteers, and researchers wear gloves when using the card catalog.
  • Please be sure to maintain proper social distancing which is a minimum of 6 feet
    • Members from the same household can stay together, otherwise please keep your distance from others as much as possible.
  • The BHC team is taking extra precautions to ensure your health and safety. Computer stations and research tables will be cleaned and disinfected in between appointments.
  • Hand sanitizer will be available on-site, however, we ask that you do not handle archival materials after using hand sanitizer as it may damage or degrade the collection. 

Health & Safety Protocols for Museum Visitors

  • Off-Street Parking is available next to the Henry Janssen Library building located at 160 Spring Street. Street parking is available in the front of the building located at 940 Centre Ave. Once you arrive, please enter at the front of the building.  If you require an accessible entrance, you may ring the bell at the side entrance.
  • A team member will check you in upon your arrival. Pay at the door if you are not a member – $4 Children, $5 Seniors, $7 Adults
  • Please be sure to maintain proper social distancing which is a minimum of 6 feet
    • Members from the same household and party can stay together, otherwise please keep your distance from others as much as possible.
  • Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the museum building.
  • Please notice that all touch features in the museum have been removed or disabled and we ask that you try to touch as little as possible in the museum galleries and exhibits.
  • Additionally, some museum exhibits and spaces are temporarily closed. The Hands-on-History Room is closed until further notice as is the Connor Auditorium.

Additional Considerations

If for any reason you are sick or become ill before your appointment, we ask that you please cancel your appointment and stay home.