At their August meeting, the library’s Board of Trustees discussed how to begin phasing in additional library services, including in-person library browsing. Although library staff have worked hard to get actual books, DVDs and Library of Things items into your hands through curbside pickup, Book Bundles and the Pop-Up Library, we know that the experience of looking through the shelves for something that catches your eye is hard to replicate.
As staff and trustees continue to work out the details and timing involved in bringing back this in-library service, please know that it remains our highest priority to protect the health of our community. We will continue to follow strict safety standards when handling library materials and interacting with you.
That means that when we do open our doors, your library experience is going to look a little different than pre-pandemic times. You’ll be able to “shop” for your books, but there will be limits on the number of people in the building at one time. Public meeting spaces will not be available, as well as access to computers and other in-house library technology. Children’s toys and library seating have been removed, and patrons will be asked to wear masks and limit their time inside the library to selecting and checking out their materials.
This will be a big change for all of us who have come to see the library as a place to gather with friends and neighbors. .
A copy of the plan, which is updated as new information becomes available, can be viewed on our website (www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org).
Fine waiver extension
Throughout the library’s closure, we have been waiving late fees on overdue materials. The last thing we wanted anyone to worry about was getting charged for items they were unable to return. Recently, the Upper Hudson Library System resumed sending out overdue notices, but with everyday life and schedules still far from normal, we will continue waiving late fees through the end of October.
If you have items that you are ready to return, you can bring them to the library 24/7 and use the numbered drop-off sheds in our parking lot. Library materials are quarantined for 96 hours and may not show up as checked in for up to a week.
Staycation cinema
We have dozens of themed binge boxes to check out, available at our Pop-Up Library and to request for curbside pickup. With binge boxes, you can choose from themes like “Don’t Mess with Denzel” or “You’ll Ugly Cry” and you’ll get a pre-selected set of 4-6 films that fit the bill. For example, the “Coming of Age Stories” binge box includes: “Boyhood,” “The Edge of Seventeen,” “Lady Bird,” “Paper Towns,” “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” and “The Spectacular Now.” There is a collection for every taste and age group.
— Kristen Roberts
