WENATCHEE — It will still be a while before North Central Regional Library patrons can order books through the library’s mail order system.

All NCRL branches were closed down in March as Gov. Jay Inslee ordered businesses and organizations designated as “non-essential” to close to combat the COVID-19 virus. In the state’s phased reopening plan, library branches can’t reopen until the third phase.

None of the counties in the NCRL system has reached Phase 3. Grant and Okanogan counties have reached Phase 2, but Chelan County isn’t quite there yet. Chelan and Douglas counties are still in “modified Phase 1.”

Michelle McNiel, NCRL communications manager, said NCRL’s headquarters, distribution center and mail order processing facility are in Wenatchee, in Chelan County. Library employees still are prohibited from returning to the distribution center or processing facility.

“Once all of our counties are in Phase 2, we will begin our phased plan for restarting some of our services, including mail order, book returns and being able to reserve books on our website,” McNiel said.

— Cheryl Schweizer