From The Director's Desk,
April 9, 2020
I'm fairly sure that none of us pictured April looking quite like this; I certainly never imagined From the Director's Desk to mean from my desk at home--which, technically speaking, is my kitchen table most days.

I wanted to reach out and thank all of you for your support, your patience, and your understanding as the library has grappled with so much change and upheaval in recent weeks. I know that so many people miss the library, and your library staff misses you terribly ; we've been enjoying making the Ossining Public Library experience a virtual one, but we miss seeing and chatting with our patrons.
The library is continuing to follow guidelines set forth by New York State, Westchester County, and the CDC, in order to best protect our staff and our patrons. The building remains closed, and certain events for the spring and beyond will be postponed and rescheduled. The library's budget and trustee vote, scheduled for May 19, will be postponed until on or after June 1st.

Any news and updates about our events and the library opening will be shared here; we can't wait to email you with some good news!

For those of you at home and looking for mindful, educational, and just plain fun resources , our staff has compiled dozens of online classes, tutorials, videos, and links on our Stuck at Home page .

We have also created a section on our website to help those of you who may have been impacted by Coronavirus. Our Essential Information page has resources for those who may need food, need to file for unemployment, or access free WiFi or special accommodations.

Our Digital Resources are always available , and our collection of eBooks on OverDrive has received a substantial boost, thanks to the generosity of our neighbors at the Mount Pleasant Public Library . A gift in honor of Mount Pleasant resident Virginia Odell has allowed the library to purchase $100,000 in eBooks and eAudiobooks, focusing on in-demand and critically acclaimed titles, broadening the collection and reducing the wait time for popular books. We are grateful to library director John Fearon and the Mount Pleasant Public Library Board of Trustees for using this gift to provide such a big public service.

If you need assistance in accessing any of our resources, please call us: we're happy to help. To reach us by phone, call (914) 502-9446, Monday through Friday, from 10-6 and Saturdays, from 11-3.

You can always contact me via email with comments, concerns, or questions about library services.

I hope you are all staying healthy and well,

Karen LaRocca-Fels
Library Director