The Library continues to get ready to reopen to the public. We are in the process of altering our interior spaces to make sure that staff and patrons remain safe and socially distanced. This is challenging in a building with multiple entrances, multiple bathrooms, and multiple computer stations. We know how important it is to provide critical services such as free wifi, computer use, browsing of library materials, and public bathrooms, and we are working hard to make those more available to our community.

To that end, we are making a plan to open the building, in a limited capacity, beginning July 8. The opening will consist of temperature checks at entry doors and all entrants wearing masks while traveling through the building. Library staff will monitor the number of people in the building and create a socially distanced waiting area if necessary. Patrons will only be given a limited amount of time to use the building. No newspapers will be available for the first few weeks. All of our shared children’s toy stations will be put away. Programs and meetings will remain virtual until further notice. This is a departure from what we have always done in the past but is being done in the interest of the safety of our community and staff.

We, as library staff, try to remind ourselves that these conditions will hopefully not last forever. We are following the best practices from the CDC, and as NY opens up more and more, we will re-evaluate these procedures and evolve as the community needs.

The bright light in this is that if you call us, we’ll do our very best to help meet your needs without your having to come to the Library facility. We are currently offering library materials and print outs via curbside pick up, and that will continue until further notice. So many of you are using our online services or learning how to. If you would like to learn, please reach out to us! All it takes is a phone call. (Or an email or text chat on our website.) We are here for you.

Any questions or concerns, please reach out to the director at 654-4700, x300.