You are reading

Queens Public Libraries to Reopen With Limited Service

The Long Island City branch at 37-44 21st St. (Google Maps)

June 25, 2020 By Michael Dorgan 

The Queens Public Library (QPL) has announced that it will reopen some of its local branches on July 13 with restrictions.

Seven locations will be open to the public for pickups and returns while nine additional sites will accept returns, President and CEO of Queens Public Library Dennis Walcott said.

It will mark the first time in nearly four months that QPL libraries will be open to the public following COVID-19 shutdowns. The library system shut all of its 66 branches on March 16 to stop the spread of the virus.

QPL will re-open locations gradually in order to protect the health and safety of library customers and staff, Walcott said.

“As we begin to step cautiously back into our physical spaces and welcome customers inside, we will continue to reimagine and expand our services and respond to the diverse needs of the public,” he said.

The first libraries to open for “to-go” services will be the Bayside Library, Bellerose Library, East Elmhurst Library, Kew Gardens Hills Library, Laurelton Library, Long Island City Library, and Peninsula Library. The sites were selected for their capacity to implement social distancing and other safety measures due to their size and layout.

All staff and customers at the libraries will be required to wear masks and practice physical distancing. Hand sanitizer will be available at all branches.

Customers will be able to pick up materials in a designated area of each building and returns can be made via exterior machines.

Opening hours at each location will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. They will shut on each day from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. for cleaning.

The sites will be open on Tuesdays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and on Thursdays from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. They will close on each day from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. for cleaning.

Customers can reserve materials from the libraries online or over the phone from July 6. The QPL app will also be available to take requests from this date.

The nine QPL libraries that will accept returns are Astoria Library, Cambria Heights Library, Central Library, Flushing Library, Jackson Heights Library, Queensboro Hill Library, Rego Park Library, Ridgewood Library, and South Ozone Park Library.

Returns will be accepted at external return machines but the libraries will remain closed to the public.

All QPL libraries in use during this initial stage will undergo extensive cleaning to limit the spread of COVID-19. All returned materials will be set aside for 72 hours before they are put back into circulation.

Other library services including on-site public programs, browsing, meeting room availability and access to public computers will be unavailable until further notice.

However, the Library’s Mail-a-Book home delivery service is set to resume.

email the author: news@queenspost.com

2 Comments

Click for Comments 
Marian B. Spatz

Why is Forest Hill Library not included to be opened, as it is heavily trafficked by neighborhood persons, as well as others who travel there for local shopping, etc. thank you

Reply
Marian B. Spatz

Why is Forest Hill Library not considered to be open??.
It is heavily used by neighborhood persons, as well as others who come to shop in this area. thank you

Reply

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Jamaica school evacuated after a high pressure gas main ruptured nearby: FDNY

Students, faculty and staff at an elementary school in Jamaica were evacuated on Friday morning after a gas leak was detected nearby, officials said. The FDNY received a call just before 9 a.m. of a ruptured high-pressure gas main near P.S. 95 Eastwood, located on 179th Place between Hillside Avenue and Hillside Avenue.

“Out of an abundance of caution, this school is being evacuated to a nearby building due to an outside gas leak, off school property,” Department of Education spokeswoman Jenna Lyle said. “The school has communicated with families, FDNY is responding, and all students and staff are safe.”

NYPD School Safety Agent busted for threatening daughter with machete in St. Albans home: NYPD

An off-duty NYPD School Safety Agent was arrested and booked at the 103rd Precinct in Jamaica late last month after officers responded to a domestic dispute call at her St. Albans home.

Janet Williams, 54, of Elmira Avenue, was taken into custody on the evening of Monday, Sept. 30, and arraigned in Queens Criminal Court two days later on a criminal complaint charging her with menacing, criminal mischief, endangering the welfare of a child and criminal possession of a weapon.