GPL's May/June Newsletter
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It has now been over two months since we closed the library. Although it seems that we have endured the worst part of the Covid-19 contagion in Westchester, the virus continues to be a presence and a threat that prevents us from resuming normal library activities. While we are all eager to re-open our building and resume the programs and services that make us such a dynamic resource for literacy and learning in our community, it is going to be a long and deliberate process before we can once again experience the library as it was before we closed on March 13.
Similar to all organizations and businesses, in order to follow the best practices when we open, we have been developing a plan for the library that will follow Governor Cuomo’s phased-in regional re-opening directives and meeting the
benchmarks
he has set. Libraries are part of the fourth and last phase for re-opening and each phase is separated by a two week interval to monitor safety, which means the library likely won’t open before sometime in July.
Whenever it is that we are able to re-open, the process will unfold in phases based on best practices of libraries observed in other regions of the state and country. There will be new work flows for staff and limited services (such as curbside delivery of items) at first, followed by a return of patrons to the building following health department guidelines for social distancing, duration of visit and number of people allowed to gather. Only when the threat of infection is minimized by the development and use of a vaccine is it imaginable that we will return to normal unfettered access to the full range of services the library formerly provided.
Our library is a high-touch environment where as many as a thousand people a day might come into the building. That means that we have many items (like books, dvds, etc.) and surfaces (tables, computers, chairs and hundreds of items that are handled but not checked out). We have to be exceedingly cautious about our procedures for disinfecting and/or quarantining every item that the staff or public might touch. Unfortunately there is not yet definitive research that confirms how long the virus remains active and contagious on the surface of any of the items we circulate: mylar covers of books are different than the paper within, for example, and also different from the plastic case that holds a DVD or the DVD itself. Our plan is to quarantine every checked out item that is returned for at least 72 hours before library staff will begin the check-in process.
It is a daunting prospect, as anyone who is trying to re-open a business in these circumstances can tell you!
Fortunately, we have an abundance of options for library card holders to find
books, magazines, music, films, TV shows, lectures, audiobooks and instructional videos online
.
There has been an enormous increase in the use of these online resources since we closed in March. Our virtual programs, using Zoom, have also been well attended. Regardless of when we manage to re-open, staff members will continue to answer patron questions, provide the most up-to-date information and offer a variety of diverse and interesting online programs.
We all look forward to more normal times. Visit our
website
to learn the latest developments as they happen on our road to recovery. Until then, stay safe and healthy.
John Sexton, Library Director
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We miss all of our patrons and can't wait to see everyone again!
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The Library is now offering conversation with a library staff member in real time with our online virtual chat! Library staff is here to help Monday through Friday, 11:00am - 5:00pm. When we're not online, you can leave us a message and we will get back to you the next business day. To access chat, visit our website at
www.greenburghlibrary.org.
We are also keeping you up to date with our new
FAQs
especially questions that pertain to our current situation.
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CANCELING HOLDS
The library remains closed for the time being. Currently, patrons have access to all of our online
materials and services
. However, we are still on pause with circulating physical materials and placing items on hold.
If you have physical items on hold from before March 13th and no longer need those items, please access your account and remove any unwanted hold requests.
Access your library account
here
. If you need help with your library account staff are available to
chat
Monday through Friday, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm.
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Virtual Programs & Staying Connected
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Although the physical library is not open at this time, we are still here for you! The Library is still offering a host of different
virtual programs
that patrons can attend through Zoom.
In the Children's Library, catch a story time on Wednesdays with Miss Lois and Miss Jenn! If you want to stretch your vocal chords, we have a Virtual Sing a Long with the children's librarians on Thursday mornings.
Teens! Any indie movie fans out there? Join us at our GIFF: Greenburgh Indie Film Fun. Gather once a month to discuss short films available through our digital collections.
Missing spring sports? Join our resident Baseball aficionado, Vincent, to talk all things baseball and share great memories of games past at Baseball Blues.
Don't forget our regular weekly programs that we're still running in a virtual format. Get in tune with your artistic side with Creative HeARTS every Tuesday at 2:00pm. Continue to practice your conversation skills online with Spanish-English Conversation every Wednesday at 2:00pm.
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NEW! Business & Jobs Resources Page
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Do you need help finding business or job related information? Our
Business and Jobs page gives you access to a multitude of different resources ranging from databases such to local, state and national resources. You'll be able to find information about how to size up your industry, discover customer demographics, find competitive information, Improve your business skill and help writing a business plan. If you're looking for a job or new career path, we have compiled a list of valuable resources that you can use on your journey.
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Summer Reading @ GPL
Birth through 12th Grade
Nurture your child’s love of books and reading and/or help your children and teens avoid the Summer Slide (the loss of reading skills between June and September when kids are out of school) with our Virtual Summer Reading Game on READSquared! Record reading achievements and program participation for points and badges that will earn you chances to win prizes. Complete special “missions” for extra chances to win! Available in 55 languages. Registration begins June 15!
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Summer Reading is for everyone! This summer the library encourages children, teens, adults, and seniors alike to take the time to pick up a book and
read
. Whether reading is your escape, how you discover new worlds, learn something new, assess opinions, or change your own, the library is here to support you and help you find books that you’ll love.
Check out our
What to Read
page for reading lists, book recommendations, podcasts, and different ways to connect to books. Need some personalized book recommendations? No problem-
tell us what you like to read here
and we’ll suggest three more titles for you to try.
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Greenburgh Public Library and the Westchester Library System have an expanding selection of digital collections for you to access from your electronic, internet connected devices. These collections include eBooks, eAudiobooks, Comics, Music, Movies, Television Series, and Documentaries, for all ages.
Many of these services have temporarily increased check-out allowances, as people have increasingly needed to access the library virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Visit our
Digital Collections
page to discover all of our offerings. Here are a few collections that we recommend to get you started!
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Fiction & Non-Fiction eBooks & eAudiobooks for all ages.
Checkouts: 10 @ a time
Loan Period: 2 weeks
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Movies, documentaries and short programming for all ages.
Checkouts: 10 per month (NOW 20, temporarily)
Loan Period: 72 hours
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eBooks, eAudiobooks, comics, television series, movies, and music for all ages.
Checkouts: 5 per month
(NOW 10, temporarily)
Loan Period: 3 weeks for eBooks, eAudio & comics
7 days for music
3 days for movies & TV
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“There has been a stranger lurking outside Caroline's new million-dollar beach house, and when the stranger shows up to bartend at a party she and her husband are hosting for their friends, it doesn't seem like a coincidence. Fast paced and enthralling, it kept me guessing until the very end.”
-Michelle, Latino Services
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“An edgy comedy set in 1990s NYC!”
-Nicole, Youth Services
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This is the latest installment of Martha Wells’ popular and wildly entertaining Murderbot Series, which features a robot with complicated emotions. This series is a favorite of Kathy in Administration!
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King’s latest work is a collection of novellas exploring mortality and the material world. This time around think less supernatural monsters and more or ordinary terrors-- which in my opinion makes them all the more unmooring. Fans of suspense and crime-style fiction will be engrossed!
-Megan, Adult Services
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Are you looking for trustworthy vetted information on the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19)? The library has a resources page where we have collected reliable information from the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Library of Medicine. You will also find important phone numbers like the New York State Hotline for Novel Coronavirus and the White Plains Hospital COVID-19 Hotline. You can find the page by following this link:
https://www.greenburghlibrary.org/coronavirus
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The Library is Closed until Further Notice due to Covid-19.
Please continue to check the
website
for updates.
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Reader-focused features such as reading recommendations, series information, book reviews, book jackets, and more.
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This newsletter is made possible through the valuable contributions of the entire library staff. Editorial and layout contributions by Megan Fenton and Christa O’Sullivan.
May/June 2020
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