Our COVID-19 Response
October 7, 2022
Dear members,
We have one update to our COVID-19 protocols, impacting in-person Children's Library events: masks are required for adults and children over age 2. Proof of vaccination is not required.
We continue to strongly encourage mask wearing throughout the building.
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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September 28, 2022
Dear members,
We are once again updating our COVID-19 protocols, in response to member and staff feedback, governmental guidelines, and current conditions.
- Masks are strongly encouraged, but no longer required, throughout the entire building. This includes the Third Floor Children's Library, Whitridge Room, and Little Whit.
- The one exception is for in-person Children's Library programs. Due to the small space and nature of the activities, proof of vaccination and masks will still be required for all attendees of in-person Children's programs. This includes adults as well as children.
As always, please feel free to reach out to me and provide feedback, which has been essential in our efforts to keep our community safe.
All best,
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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September 8, 2022
Dear members,
Tonight we hold our first Members' Room event of the Fall 2022 season with Elizabeth Barlow Rogers on her latest book, Writing the City. This kicks off a wonderful season of new programs and events and I want to let you know what our updated COVID-19 policies are.
For in-person events, we will no longer require proof of vaccination. For Members' Room events, wearing masks is strongly encouraged, but is not mandatory. For all in-person Children's events, which are resuming this fall, masks are required.
Our mask requirements around the building remain the same:
- Masks are still required to be worn by everyone on the Third Floor (Children's Library, Whitridge Room, Little Whit.) We want to provide this one safe space in the building for members who need to wear masks or who want to wear them.
- Masks are strongly encouraged everywhere else in the building
Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or concerns. I hope to see you at some of our upcoming events!
All best,
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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August 10, 2022
Dear members,
We have amended our mask policy as follows:
- Masks are required to be worn by everyone on the Third Floor (Children's Library, Whitridge Room, Little Whit)
- Masks are strongly encouraged everywhere else in the building
Please note that our extensive cleaning protocols are still in place and that we regularly replace our MERV-13 filters in our HVAC system. We will provide further updates on event protocols before the fall events season commences.
Enjoy the summer and stay safe!
All best,
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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May 18, 2022
Dear members,
It's hard to believe that we are well into our 3rd year of the pandemic. I never imagined that this update page that I initiated on March 9, 2020 would remain necessary for this long. But here we are.
New York City has now raised the COVID-19 Alert Level to HIGH. While no new restrictions have been put in place as a result, the NYC Health Commissioner is now advising all New Yorkers to wear a mask in any public indoor setting.
At the Library, we will continue to follow the protocols we've had in place for the past several months. They are as follows:
- Masks are required to be worn by everyone on the First Floor (Circulation Hall and Reference Room), on the Third Floor (Children's Library, Whitridge Room, Little Whit), and in the elevators.
- Masks are strongly encouraged, but optional, everywhere else in the building. We encourage members to social distance as much as possible in the Hornblower Room and in the Members' Room. The stacks are also excellent spaces to work while remaining socially distant.
- Proof of full vaccination is required for in-person events. As a courtesy to all event attendees, we ask that everyone wear masks in the Members' Room unless actively eating or drinking.
As always, your questions or comments are welcome. Stay safe and follow the CDC's guidelines on how to protect yourself & others!
All best,
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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March 7, 2022
Dear members,
As you are probably aware, Mayor Adams has suspended the Key to NYC program and removed the mask mandate for public school students in grades K-12. As a library, we were never subject to the Key to NYC program, but we did adopt some facets of the program for our operations, specifically, requiring vaccinations for in-person events. While we are excited about the city's progress and thankful that we are now at a "low" alert level for COVID-19 transmission, we are not yet ready to change our own protocols.
Therefore, until further notice our Library-wide protocols remain:
- Masks are required to be worn by everyone on the First Floor (Circulation Hall and Reference Room), on the Third Floor (Children's Library, Whitridge Room, Little Whit), and in the elevators
- Masks are strongly encouraged, but optional, everywhere else in the building.
- Proof of vaccination is required for in-person events. Masks are strongly encouraged, but optional for events.
Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have questions or comments. Hope to see you around the Library soon!
All best,
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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February 9, 2022
Dear members,
With COVID-19 cases (thankfully!) declining, Governor Hochul announced that she's letting the state-wide mask mandate expire tomorrow, February 10. In response, we are going to modify our protocols and return to the policy we had in effect prior to the institution of the mandate. Beginning February 10:
- Masks are required to be worn by everyone on the First Floor (Circulation Hall and Reference Room), on the Third Floor (Children's Library, Whitridge Room, Little Whit), and in the elevators
- Masks are strongly encouraged, but optional, everywhere else in the building.
- Proof of vaccination is required for in-person events and masks are required to be worn during the event except while actively eating and drinking. Event attendance is limited; most events will be presented both in-person and online.
As a reminder to all members, there are many areas of the building to read and work that provide a safe social distance (the stacks are a great choice.) We have MERV-13 filters installed in our HVAC system and hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies are available throughout the building.
Please keep an eye on this webpage, as we will continue to review and revise our policies as new information becomes available. Be safe, be respectful and care for your fellow New Yorkers, and let's get through this pandemic.
As always, I welcome your questions or comments.
All best,
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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January 19, 2022
Dear members,
Happy new year! I may be getting that greeting in just in time, but I do hope that this new year has started out well for you all.
I have not updated this COVID-19 Response page in a while because we haven't made any further changes since the State mask mandate went into effect on Dec 13. And while it does appear that we may be nearing the end of the Omicron surge, we need to remain vigilant and look out for each other. That may raise the question in your mind, as it did for one member who asked me this past week: why doesn't the NYSL have a vaccination policy? I thought I would use this space to respond to that question directly and hopefully answer any questions you might have about our policies.
First, and foremost, my senior staff and I discuss (and if needed, update) our COVID-19 policies and protocols weekly and I regularly communicate with the Executive Committee of the Board. This COVID-19 Response page is also regularly updated and includes information on how to contact me with any questions or concerns. We do have a vaccination policy in place for staff - and 100% of the staff are fully vaccinated (all but 1 are also boosted) and our affirmation is posted on the door leading into the Circulation area. In addition, members and guests who attend in-person events must be fully vaccinated and status is checked at the door before entering the room (however, at the current time, in-person events are suspended through early-February.) We have extensively discussed whether to implement a general vaccination policy for members and guests but decided not to for a few reasons. First, libraries are not subject to the Key to NYC program requiring museums, theatres, entertainment venues, and gyms to check vaccination status (if we were, we would comply.) Second, we have noticed that the vast majority of our members visiting these days are coming in for very short periods - they are coming in simply to check in books, visit the stacks to select books, and check them out. Requiring them to show us their vaccination information while checking in would create an administrative burden and a bottleneck at the Circulation Desk, something we are very much trying to avoid. We feel that it is a lesser risk to ensure speedy transactions.
Also, there is a preponderance of evidence that our members are fully vaccinated. This is based on vaccination data from the city of NY, which we check against our member's zip codes regularly, and anecdotally from members themselves. In addition, given our lower visitation numbers generally these days, there are ample areas for members to social distance everywhere in the building. And those using the Members' Room tend to stay there for a shorter period of time than those working in the Hornblower Room. Everyone must wear masks throughout in the building, and we have MERV-13 filters installed in the HVAC system.
I hope that helps explain our decision-making process. I am proud of the way that we have responded to the crisis, and how our staff and members have respectfully followed guidelines and mandates to ensure that everyone in our community stays safe. We were the first library in the city to reopen after the lockdown in 2020, and we have remained open since. Another accomplishment to cite as we head into our 268th year.
All best,
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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December 10, 2021
Dear members,
This morning Governor Hochul announced that masks will be required to be worn in all indoor public places unless businesses or venues implement a vaccine requirement. The mask mandate applies to all patrons two years of age and older. This mandate takes effect on Monday, Dec 13 and will be reassessed on Jan 15.
Therefore, beginning Monday, all members and visitors to the Library age two and older will be required to wear a mask everywhere in the building. The only exception to this rule will be for receptions in the Members' Room, where members and guests are required to show proof of vaccination and wear a mask except while actively eating and drinking.
We know the vast majority of our community are fully vaccinated (and boosted!) and we thank you for doing your part to keep everyone safe. Thanks in advance for complying with the mask mandate.
As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly.
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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November 30, 2021
Dear members,
Two days ago, the World Health Organization issued an update calling the Omicron variant a “variant of concern” (Update on Omicron, 11/28/21.) At this time, the World Health Organization has indicated that it is not yet clear whether Omicron is more transmissible compared to other variants or whether it causes more severe disease than other variants. It may be days or weeks before more information is known. While there are as yet no known cases of the Omicron variant in the United States, it’s most likely that it’s only a matter of time before it reaches our area. President Biden has called Omicron a “cause for concern, not a cause for panic.” Mayor DiBlasio has not reinstated mask mandates but the NYC Health Commissioner has issued an advisory encouraging New Yorkers to get vaccinated, get their booster shots, wear masks indoors, and social distance, as the best prevention against COVID-19.
Here at the Library, our COVID-19 policies remain in place. Masks are required everywhere on the First Floor (Circulation Area and Reference Room), in the elevators, and on the Third Floor (Children’s Library, Whitridge Room, Little Whit.) We strongly encourage all members to mask up everywhere else in the building. Proof of vaccination and masks are required for in-person events. There are ample spaces for members to social distance in the Library, and MERV-13 filters are installed in our HVAC system for proper ventilation throughout the building.
As we have throughout the pandemic, we will continue to monitor the news and information from government and health authorities, and make changes to our protocols as appropriate.
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions, concerns, or comments.
All best,
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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November 11, 2021
Dear members,
One of the things we've missed the most this past year and a half is seeing so many of our youngest members reading, writing, studying, singing (ok, sometimes crying), and perusing the bookshelves in the Children's Library. As many of you probably were, we were anxiously awaiting the news about vaccine approval for ages 5-11. So I'm thrilled to report that we are continuing our gradual reopening of the Children's Library by opening up limited seating for children to read and study again. Tickets will be required & issued at the Circulation Desk to manage capacity limits. As a reminder to all members: masks are still required on the First Floor, in the elevators, and on the Third Floor. Until further notice, however, children's events will remain online. More details on the reopening of the Children's Library are here.
Thanks to everyone for getting vaccinated and completing your vaccination series. Randi and Susan Vincent will be waiting to greet you, so please come on by and say hello. And if you have any questions at all for any of us, please reach out!
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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October 6, 2021
Dear members,
Wishing you all a happy autumn - I suspect that it's not just librarians who look forward to curling up with a warm blanket, a cup of tea and a good book.
Since it has been a while, and the pandemic is still very much with us, I want to also take this opportunity to remind everyone of our COVID-19 policies, which have continued to evolve with the latest information and news and after ongoing discussions with our staff and members.
- Masks are required to be worn by everyone on the First Floor (Circulation Hall and Reference Room), in the elevators, and on the Third Floor (Children's Library, Whitridge Room, Little Whit)
- Everywhere else in the building, masks are strongly encouraged for vaccinated individuals. Masks are required for unvaccinated individuals.
- In-person events attendees must provide proof of vaccination (Excelsior Pass, vaccination card, photo of vaccination card) at event check-in and masks are required to be worn during the event. In-person event attendance will be limited; most events will be presented both in-person and online.
We know that there is a significantly high rate of vaccination among our members and staff - 90% of our membership live in zip codes in which the average vaccination rate is 90%. But we continue to encourage everyone to get vaccinated and to complete your vaccination series. Let's keep everyone in our New York Society Library community safe.
As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to me!
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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August 16, 2021
Dear members,
Today, we're excited to announce our lineup of early fall events. Check our newsletter or the Events page on our website to peruse the line-up and register. Beginning in October, we will be presenting in-person events again. It's been a long time and we are looking forward to it, but we want to do this safely. Seats for in-person events in the Members' Room and Whitridge Room will be very limited, and all individuals attending in-person events will be required to show proof of vaccination (Excelsior Pass, vaccination card, photo of vaccination card) at check-in. We also plan to livestream events so that everyone can enjoy the programs.
Please note, however, that we continue to monitor all the news about COVID-19, and we reserve the right to make changes to any or all events including postponement, cancelation, or a change to livestreaming only. Registrants will be contacted as far in advance as possible in the case of any such change.
Unvaccinated individuals (including children) must wear masks in the building at all times. We strongly encourage even vaccinated individuals to wear masks for your safety and the safety of your fellow members and our staff. We continue to monitor the latest news and guidelines, so please keep an eye on this page for policy updates.
Enjoy the rest of the summer!
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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August 2, 2021
Dear members,
On July 27, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued new guidance recommending that even fully vaccinated individuals should wear masks indoors in areas of substantial or high transmission. While all of NYC’s boroughs are considered areas of high transmission, this morning, the Mayor announced that the city will not mandate the use of masks indoors but will focus on increasing vaccination rates.
Likewise, we will not reimpose a building-wide mask mandate at this time. However: we will continue to require unvaccinated individuals to wear masks, we will strongly encourage vaccinated individuals to wear masks, and all of our public-facing staff will wear masks.
I hope you will all read through the CDC’s latest guidance thoroughly. The CDC recommends fully vaccinated people wear a mask regardless of the level of transmission, particularly if they or someone in their household is immunocompromised or if someone in their household is unvaccinated. Vaccinations are still the most effective way to prevent transmission and to prevent serious illness if you do become infected with COVID-19. Fully vaccinated people who have a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should be tested 3-5 days after exposure and should wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result.
Please get vaccinated! And if you are already vaccinated, all of us in the New York Society Library community thank you! As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me.
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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July 28, 2021
I know you are all carefully following the latest news about the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant. On July 27, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued new guidance recommending that even fully vaccinated individuals should wear masks indoors in areas of substantial or high transmission. All of NYC’s boroughs are considered areas of high transmission, according to the CDC. You may be wondering what that means for us here at the Library since we just relaxed our mask mandate a mere month ago. Right now, we remain status quo – meaning that masks are required for unvaccinated people and recommended for those who are vaccinated. Both New York City and New York State authorities are still evaluating the CDC guidelines, and we will wait to hear from them before making any further decisions.
As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me.
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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June 15, 2021
On June 7, Governor Cuomo announced that most statewide COVID-19 restrictions would be lifted once 70% of New Yorkers age 18 or older have received the first dose of their COVID vaccine series. On June 14, the CDC reported that New York met that threshold.
What does this mean for us here at the Library?
Beginning Wed, June 16:
- Masks will be optional for all but unvaccinated members, visitors, and staff
- Unvaccinated individuals, especially children, must wear masks. We will not check vaccination status.
- The Reference Room will return to public use, with limited capacity
- Reference Room computers will return for member and visitor use in checking the Library catalog
- The space booking and ticketing system will be eliminated for all spaces in the building except the Individual Study Rooms
- Individual Study Room availability is viewable on the website here, and rooms can be booked by emailing requests@nysoclib.org
- Seats in the Hornblower Room, Little Whit, Whitridge Room, and stacks will be first-come-first-served
- Members will no longer need to sign in and out of the Members’ Room
- The Children’s Library will remain open only for browsing and checkout until further notice. Adults and children must wear masks in the Children’s Library.
We now set our sights on the fall, when we are planning to resume in-person events, and hopefully, reopen the Children's Library for reading & study. Thanks to all of our members and visitors who stuck with us and helped us get to this point. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you have questions or comments.
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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May 25, 2021
On May 19, NY State adopted the CDC's Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People and relaxed capacity restrictions. We have been working on a proposal in response to these new guidelines, while continuing our careful and studied approach to a return to normal operations.
NY State’s guidelines allow businesses to eliminate the 6 feet of required social distancing, and to increase capacity, only if all patrons within the establishment – or a separate designated part of the establishment – present proof of vaccination status.
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Beginning June 7, we will open the Individual Study Rooms and the Hornblower Room on the Fifth Floor to fully vaccinated members ONLY. Fully vaccinated members will be able to remove their masks while working in those spaces ONLY. All members, regardless of vaccination status, must wear masks everywhere else in the building, including the Fifth Floor hallway.
Some things to note:
- ONLY fully vaccinated members can use Individual Study Rooms or the Hornblower Room on the Fifth Floor.
- Members must provide proof of vaccination when picking up an Individual Study Room key or Hornblower Room ticket. Otherwise you will be directed to another workspace in the building.
- Members must present proof of vaccination every day you use an Individual Study Room or Hornblower seat. We will not document or save your vaccination information.
- Valid proof of vaccination includes an Excelsior Pass or a paper form. If you were vaccinated in NY State, we encourage you to download the Excelsior Pass. The name on the proof of vaccination must match your membership record.
- Fully vaccinated means 2 weeks after the 2nd dose of a 2-dose vaccine (Moderna/Pfizer) or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnson).
- Masks may only be removed while in an Individual Study Room or seated in the Hornblower Room.
- The capacity in the Hornblower Room will be increased to 20 seats with 4 feet of social distance between them. 12 seats will be reservable in advance, and 8 will be available for walk-ins.
- Masks must be worn everywhere else in the building, regardless of the person’s vaccination status. This includes the hallway on the Fifth Floor.
We realize that this may not satisfy all members who would like to read or study or browse the collection without their mask in other areas of the building, but until more New Yorkers are vaccinated, we feel that this is a good next step in moving even closer to normal.
As always, please feel free to reach out to me with questions or comments.
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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May 18, 2021
My, how fast information changes! Yesterday, Governor Cuomo announced that NY State will adopt the CDC's Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People, effective Wednesday, 5/19/2021. This allows businesses to relax mask restrictions for fully vaccinated people, while unvaccinated people must still wear masks in all public setttings.
What does this mean for the Library?
Until further notice, masks are still required for everyone while in the Library building. However, we are currently evaluating our options for relaxing mask rules and social distancing and will update everyone on any policy changes as soon as possible. Please continue to check this webpage and read our bi-weekly e-news for regular updates.
Thanks for your patience! As always, email me at cwaters@nysoclib.org if you have questions or comments.
Carolyn
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May 14, 2021
Do I still have to wear a mask in the Library if I'm fully vaccinated?
YES.
By now, you have likely heard the encouraging news that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued new guidelines indicating that fully vaccinated people no longer have to wear masks outdoors or indoors. However, those guidelines do not override federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial laws, or regulations put in place by businesses and workplaces.
As I write this, New York State health authorities are still reviewing the CDC guidelines and have not yet issued a response. To date, only 39% of New York City residents (49% of Manhattan residents) are fully vaccinated. Even when mask restrictions are lifted in the city and state, there will be myriad questions to answer about how to implement the change. I will continue to communicate with you about our policies and ask that you continue to check this webpage and read our bi-weekly e-news. If you should have any questions, however, please don’t hesitate to reach me at cwaters@nysoclib.org.
In the meantime, I’ll answer some other questions that members have asked me in the last week or so:
Does the Governor’s announcement of the easing of capacity restrictions beginning May 19 impact the Library?
Not at this time. While the announcement does end capacity restrictions for many establishments in the tri-state area, the 6-foot social distancing rule remains in effect in New York. And all of our reading and study seats are already 6 feet apart.
Could you eliminate the masking or social distancing requirements if members provide proof of vaccination?
For small spaces like ours, the state guidelines are not entirely clear at this point when or if we could eliminate the 6 foot social distancing requirement with proof of vaccination. However, even when that might be possible, it creates procedural and legal questions for us to consider. We continue to follow the state and city guidelines and will make our decisions accordingly.
Are you still quarantining books?
No. Since late March, all returned books that were dropped in the return bins have been checked in the same day. The CDC has indicated that COVID-19 is predominantly spread via airborne droplets and particles, not through surface transmission. Members may either return books to the Circulation staffer at the Front Desk, or continue to drop them in the return bins provided inside the front door and in the Reference Room. Either way, the books will be checked in the same day.
Are you charging fines on overdue books again?
Yes. Beginning May 3, we began charging fines on overdue books, after over a year of waiving these fees. We ask that you please return your books in a timely fashion; your fellow members who are waiting for the books will appreciate it!
Are you charging members for lost books?
Yes. We are beginning to send bills for lost and missing books. There are still nearly 300 books checked out to members that have been due since we closed the building last year. Many of those have holds on them. We understand that there may be extenuating circumstances, so please email us at requests@nysoclib.org and we will work with you on a solution.
Is the membership level still down?
Yes. While I am encouraged by the increases in the past two months, the total number of Library memberships is still 20% lower than the beginning of the pandemic. As you know, this has a significant impact on our bottom line, since membership fees cover a full 25% of our operating costs. So we are very grateful for every member who renews, every new member who joins, and everyone who supports the Library. There is still time to donate to the Spring Appeal and “help this rare gem keep its luster!”
As always, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me if you have any questions at all. I thank you all for your support and assistance getting us to this point. We are making so much progress, and it feels so good to be getting back to normal!
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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February 25, 2021
This is the text of the message from Head Librarian Carolyn Waters for our March 1 newsletter.
Dear Members,
I haven’t updated Our COVID-19 Response page since my early December message. I think that is a positive and hopeful sign. I’m thrilled to hear from so many of you who have already gotten your first – and second vaccine shots. Congratulations! I’ll be heartened when more of my staff are able to get theirs – and no, we’re not considered essential workers (but it puts a smile to my face hearing from those of you who think we should be)!
The situation is improving, slowly, but we have not reached the end of the story yet. And until further notice, our extensive health and safety protocols remain in place. Compliance by members and visitors has been exemplary and the staff and I thank you all so much for your continued vigilance and adherence to our rules.
But we are making one important change to our mandated mask policy. Given the new, more aggressive variants of the virus that are spreading through our area, we are asking that all staff and visitors to the building wear masks that experts believe provide an effective barrier against COVID-19. These include non-medical fabric masks with multiple layers, surgical masks, or filtering face-pieces like N95 or KN95 masks. The following face coverings will not meet our mask requirement: face shields without a mask, bandanas, gaiters, balaclavas, ski masks, and scarves. We keep a supply of surgical masks on hand should you need it or wish to double up your usual mask while in the building. Just ask at the Circulation Desk.
I'm very proud of the fact that we've been able to open and remain open all this time. We couldn't have done it without everyone's commitment, so thank you. And for those of you who are not yet comfortable coming by the building, we understand. We are open seven days a week, and our vast selections of e-books, digital magazines, electronic resources, and virtual events are also available to you, and books can be requested by phone or email and picked up in the vestibule. Under certain circumstances we can even deliver books to you. Just email or give us a call - we're here to help. No one should navigate a pandemic without something good to read!
If you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to email me, or any one of our staff members: help@nysoclib.org for tech assistance, requests@nysoclib.org to place holds on books or request a space to read or study, reference@nysoclib.org for all those burning questions.
Stay safe and be well.
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
Our health and safety protocols:
- Everyone must wear a mask covering nose and mouth at all times while in the building. Permitted masks include non-medical fabric masks w/multiple layers, surgical masks, or filtering face-pieces like N95 or KN95 masks. Note that face shields worn without a mask, bandanas, gaiters, balaclavas, ski masks, or scarves will not be considered to meet our mask requirement. We have a supply of surgical masks on hand should you need it. Just ask at the Circulation Desk.
- Our adjusted 10:00 AM weekday opening time ensures that staff can travel at less crowded commuting times. 2/3 of our staff continue to work from home or on a hybrid remote/onsite schedule.
- The number of reading and study spaces on each floor have been limited and rearranged to ensure that workspaces are 6 feet or more apart and that capacity is less than 40%.
- For contact-tracing purposes, all members must check in upon arrival and must sign in/out in the Members’ Room or pick up a ticket or key to work in the Hornblower Room, individual study rooms, Little Whit, or the stacks. More information on reservations and what to expect are here.
- MERV-13 filters, which help trap small particles from airborne viruses and bacteria, have been installed in the HVAC system.
- A large supply of gloves, masks, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant spray is on hand and available for all to use.
- All reading & study spaces and desks are being cleaned between each member use. More frequent cleanings in general have been implemented throughout the building.
- Elevator capacity is limited to one family at a time or 1 person in the stacks elevator and 2 people in the main elevator.
- We ask all members and staff to please stay home if they are feeling unwell or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, or have had to travel outside the state and are now required to quarantine; all onsite staff are required to complete a health screening before coming to work.
Some resources:
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November 27, 2020
This is the text of the message from Head Librarian Carolyn Waters for our December 1 newsletter.
Dear Members,
I hope that you all had a wonderful – and safe – Thanksgiving. As I celebrated in my household of two (with the rest of my small family via Zoom), I reflected on this past year and how grateful I am for both my immediate family and my New York Society Library family. The friendship and dedication of our extraordinary staff and the generosity and support of our membership has been an overwhelming gift in a difficult year.
As the coronavirus cases continue to climb catastrophically across the country and the months-long declines here in New York City reverse, I have been asked by many members if we are going to close the building again. The answer, for now, is no. But - we are taking this day-to-day. Should the state or city mandate further restrictions or closures that affect our region or businesses such as ours, we will clearly comply. Furthermore, if we find evidence of any exposure within our community of staff or members, or if we feel the risks of remaining open are too great, we will take appropriate action.
I want to reiterate what we have been doing onsite to ensure both staff and member health and safety. It will certainly be reassuring to know that we have found that everyone has been exceedingly compliant in following our onsite procedures. However, continued vigilance is key. The actions we all take – or don’t take – affect our families, colleagues, and friends and neighbors.
- Everyone must wear a mask covering nose and mouth at all times while in the building.
- Our adjusted 10:00 AM weekday opening time ensures that staff can travel at less crowded commuting times. 2/3 of our staff continue to work from home or on a hybrid remote/onsite schedule.
- The number of reading and study spaces on each floor have been limited and rearranged to ensure that workspaces are 6 feet or more apart and that capacity is less than 40%.
- For contact-tracing purposes, all members must check in upon arrival and must sign in/out in the Members’ Room or pick up a ticket or key to work in the Hornblower Room, individual study rooms, Little Whit, or the stacks. More information on reservations and what to expect are here.
- MERV-13 filters, which help trap small particles from airborne viruses and bacteria, have been installed in the HVAC system.
- A large supply of gloves, masks, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant spray is on hand and available for all to use.
- All reading & study spaces and desks are being cleaned between each member use. More frequent cleanings in general have been implemented throughout the building.
- Elevator capacity is limited to one family at a time or 1 person in the stacks elevator and 2 people in the main elevator.
- We ask all members and staff to please stay home if they are feeling unwell or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, or have had to travel outside the state and are now required to quarantine; all onsite staff are required to complete a health screening before coming to work.
Please be safe and let us know if there is anything at all we can do to assist you. Our book pickup and return service and book delivery service will continue for those not yet ready to come inside. Just email us at requests@nysoclib.org. And our reference staff and help desk are also on hand and ready to answer any questions.
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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September 1, 2020
This is the text of the message from Head Librarian Carolyn Waters for our September 1 newsletter.
Dear members,
Each evening, as many of you probably do also, I read Governor Cuomo’s daily email, chronicling New York State’s progress fighting COVID-19. Little by little, as the coronavirus numbers in New York City and around the state improve, and the local institutions we love announce plans to open their doors again, it feels as if we just might be moving towards something resembling normalcy. Here at the Library, we’ve taken a slow and cautious approach to reopening, initially providing sidewalk book pickup service, then access to the stacks and Children’s Library. On September 8, we are taking the next big step, reopening the reading and study spaces.
However, to ensure we do so as safely as possible, there will be some restrictions on use and changes to our usual procedures.
Most notably, the number of available seats will be limited to ensure appropriate social distancing and to reduce building capacity. To better manage member expectations, some spaces will require pre-booking with staggered arrival times, and others will remain first-come-first-served. Everyone must wear a mask throughout their time in the building and in all spaces (including the individual study rooms), and everyone must check in, whether they are going to the stacks, the Members’ Room, or any of the reading or study spaces (bring your Library card for fastest check-in.) Please be aware that you may be asked to wait temporarily in the entry stairwell or on the sidewalk in order to prevent overcrowding at check-in and at the elevators. All of the details about what to expect space by space are here, including how to reserve study rooms or seats. Please familiarize yourself with the new procedures prior to your arrival.
We are keeping up with the latest news and information from the CDC and health authorities about how the virus spreads, making ongoing decisions to ensure the safest environment possible for members and staff. Some of our health and safety precautions include, but are not limited to, the following:
- First and foremost, it bears constant repeating that masks covering both mouth and nose will be mandatory at all times throughout the building.
- Gloves will be provided for members to use when handling materials.
- Hand sanitizing stations and disposable wipes are available throughout the building.
- Tape and signage throughout the building remind members and staff to stay 6 feet apart as much as possible.
- The main elevator is limited to 2 people (or 1 family) at a time; the stacks elevator is limited to 1 person (or 1 family.)
- The frequency of cleaning – bathrooms, study rooms, desks, and all high-touch surfaces – has been increased.
- Our HVAC system runs 24/7 to control temperature and humidity for the comfort of staff and members and to safeguard our collections. We are installing Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) 13 filters, and we continue to work with our HVAC vendor to ensure that our system is functioning effectively.
Most important, for the benefit of all, it is vital that everyone, staff and members alike, follow all health and safety guidelines: please stay home if you are sick, unwell, have a fever or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, have tested positive for COVID-19, have been in close proximate contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, or have recently traveled to a state on New York State’s travel advisory list. If you are unable to visit the Library and need assistance with any Library services, for any reason, just let us know.
And if you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly. We want to make sure that we are doing everything possible to keep staff and members safe and healthy, while also providing as much Library access as possible.
I look forward to seeing you and hearing about what you’ve been reading this summer. I’ve just finished Emily Wilson’s extraordinary translation of The Odyssey and so I’m eager to re-watch the 2018 event recording of her visit to the Library (remember those halcyon days of Members’ Room programs?) – I encourage you all to use these last lazy days of summer to discover some of the wonderful past events you might have missed.
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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August 17, 2020
This is the text of the message from Head Librarian Carolyn Waters for our August 17 newsletter.
Dear members,
Thanks to all of you who answered our brief survey to tell us your thoughts about returning to read and work and study in the building. We are glad to hear that the vast majority of you who reported that you used the reading and study spaces prior to the pandemic plan to return when those rooms reopen. The smaller number who indicated that you don’t plan to use those spaces tell us that it’s largely because you don’t feel comfortable returning to any indoor environments until there’s a vaccine. We understand, and we will continue to make our reference services available remotely and to provide book pickup service. Thanks also for all your comments, because it was heartening to hear that you approve of our reopening plans and the way that we have slowly, and cautiously, returned to operations again.
Our current plan is to reopen the reading and study spaces sometime in September, so please read our email messages and watch the website for further details. As always, feel free to reach out to me by email or by phone if you have any questions or further comments.
Happy reading,
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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July 16, 2020
Dear members,
I have really enjoyed seeing so many of you picking up and returning your books on the sidewalk over the past month! Thank you for your patience during this period while we worked out our new procedures. And a most sincere thank-you to all of you who donated so generously to our Spring Appeal and who have continued to support the Library with your gifts, your membership renewals, and your lovely notes. All of us here at the Library are so touched and thankful to serve you, our wonderful community of bibliophiles.
So it gives me great pleasure to announce that we will be re-opening the building on July 27 to allow members access to the book collections in the stacks and in the Children’s Library. We will continue to be open abbreviated hours, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM daily, 7 days a week.
In this phase of reopening, members may once again browse our glorious open stacks and Children’s Library shelves for books to check out, but the reading and study spaces will not be accessible. We plan to reopen these spaces - Reference Room, Members’ Room, Whitridge Room, Little Whit, Hornblower Room, and the desks in the stacks – in a limited capacity at some future point. There will also be no access to Closed Stacks books, rare books, archives materials, current periodicals, or the online public access computers (OPACs) during this phase. So please check our catalog before you arrive, or use the handy QR code that will posted in the building to access the Library catalog on your phone.
For those who are not yet ready to come inside, we will continue with our book pickup service, so if you would like to place a hold on a book in the stacks, please email requests@nysoclib.org or call us at 212-288-6900 x211. As always, you may log in to your Library account to place holds on the most popular books. When you hear from us that your books are ready, you may pick them up from the bookshelves in the entry stairwell. We will continue to quarantine books for 3 days, so returns should continue to be placed in the marked bin. If you are sick or in a vulnerable category, please stay home and take care of yourself. Reach out to us and we will be happy to work with you to make arrangements to pick up or deliver your books. And remember – fines are still waived until further notice.
Our slow and cautious approach to reopening is to ensure the health and safety of our members and our staff, many of whom must travel quite a distance on mass transit to get to work. Our plan has been well thought out so that we can provide member services in the most manageable way while mitigating the risk of infection. Therefore, while you are in the building, we will require you to wear a mask/face and nose covering. Hand-sanitizer stations will be available in the Circulation Hall, by the stacks elevator, in the Children’s Library, and on the Fifth Floor. Signage throughout the building will remind everyone to wear your mask, wash your hands, and stay 6 feet apart as much as possible. We are providing gloves for staff and members to use while handling books, and especially request that you use them while browsing the new books shelves in the Lobby. We are limiting the number of members and staff in the building, and our new hours allow staff to travel to and from work at less busy times of day. We have installed acrylic barriers at the Circulation Desk, and have created a second checkout station in the Reference Room. Tape on the floor will mark off 6-foot distances to give you guidance. We have completely sanitized and disinfected our air-conditioning system, and we continue to work with our vendor to improve air quality and ventilation. And while we have always maintained a high level of cleanliness in the building, we have further increased our cleaning schedule and regimen. I hope that this gives you a measure of comfort as we move forward with our reopening plan.
A summary of the details of this phase of our reopening are here. I look forward to seeing you – behind a mask and from a safe 6-foot distance! Feel free to email me directly if you have any questions at all.
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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June 17, 2020
This is the text of the video message from Head Librarian Carolyn Waters about our re-opening on June 22, 2020. The video can be found here.
Hello everyone! I can’t tell you how excited I am to be recording this video, after 3 long months, right here in front of our beautiful building. And that can only mean one thing: we are reopening! Beginning on Monday, June 22, we will be open 7 days a week for sidewalk pickups and returns, from 11am to 4pm.
I want to give you a little preview of what this will be like. First, you may return books here at our Service Door, beginning on Monday, June 22. Just place your books in the return bin. But remember, we will be quarantining returned books for anywhere from 3 days to up to a week, so you may still see them on your member account for a while. But don’t worry, we are not charging fines.
Second, if you have placed holds on books, please wait to come visit us until you hear from us that your books are ready to be picked up. Someone will contact you by email or phone this week and will let you know your pickup date. As a reminder, if you’d like to check out some books, you can log in to your Library account and put holds on them online, you can email us at requests@nysoclib.org or you can call us at 212-288-6900 x211. For help with online access, email help@nysoclib.org.
On or after your assigned pickup date, stop by during our open hours. Your books will be bagged up with your name and your pickup date on a table outside the Library. If the weather is less than perfect, the tables will be placed just inside the glass doors. If you are not able to pick up your books on or soon after your assigned date or no longer want the books, just let us know. And when you visit us, please wear a mask and remain behind the 6 ft markers on the sidewalk if there are other members already waiting to pick up their books.
And while we are so eager to see all of you, if you are sick or in a vulnerable category, please stay home and take care of yourself. Reach out to us and we will make arrangements to pick up and/or deliver your books.
Also, I ask that you please be patient with us as we begin our reopening. Our primary concern is for the health and safety of our staff and for all of you, so we are taking this one step at a time. As I’ve mentioned in previous communications, in future phases, we’ll gradually allow you back into the building to access the stacks, and eventually, for limited access to reading and study spaces.
Feel free to email me directly if you have any questions at all. See you next week. I may or may not be sitting in a lawn chair outside the building.
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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June 1 2020
This is the text of the video message from Head Librarian Carolyn Waters for our June newsletter. The video can be found here.
Hello everyone. It is now 78 days since we closed the Library building. We are still not yet sure of the exact date that we will re-open, but I feel certain that we are getting close. I’m sure that you are following the news about New York City’s re-opening plans as closely as I am. Word from the Governor’s and the Mayor’s offices is that the city might begin Phase 1 as soon as June 8th. We’re a unique institution, though, and at this point, don’t exactly know where we fit in the state’s phasing plan, so we’ve petitioned the appropriate government authorities to get some guidance.
In the meantime, I want to let you know in a little more detail what our plans are when we do open our doors. Our re-opening will be slow and gradual, in order to allow us to assess the risks, ensure that appropriate health and safety measures in place, and work out the kinks in our new procedures. Initially, we plan to open only for curbside, or more precisely sidewalk book checkouts and returns. You can, right now, if you wish, place holds on books online or email us at requests@nysoclib.org, and once we actually return to the building, you’ll also be able to call us to request books. We’ll give you a pickup date when you can stop by to get your books, which will be packaged up for you and available on a cart or bookcase just inside the glass doors. We will require you to wear a mask and remain six feet apart from staff and fellow members. We’ll have a bin for returns at our service door, but don’t be surprised if your books are not checked back in right away – we plan to quarantine the books for potentially up to 72 hours once they’re returned. In future phases of our re-opening, as city and state guidance allows, we’ll begin to open up our Circulation Hall and the stacks to you, and then eventually, the reading and study spaces.
The staff have been and continue to be here to support you, providing a wide range of e-books, magazines, programs, and research support. And we want to thank all of you who have followed member Stacy Schiff’s brilliant rallying cry and who have donated to the Spring Appeal and renewed your memberships. Thank you so very much! But we need more of you to help us get back to business at 53 East 79th Street. Only 30% of you have been renewing and it’s not enough to sustain us. We really need you. Please donate what you can and please renew. And remember that when you do renew, the weeks of the Library’s closure will be added to the duration of your membership.
For updates, keep an eye on your email and our COVID-19 Response Page.
Email help@nysoclib.org if you need any online assistance. Email requests@nysoclib.org to place holds on books. And email me at cwaters@nysoclib.org if you have any questions or just want to say hello and tell me what you’re reading. I’m looking forward to welcoming you back to the building very soon.
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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May 2, 2020
This is the text of the video message from Head Librarian Carolyn Waters for our May newsletter. The video can be found here.
Hello again. It’s been 5 weeks since I last spoke with you, and 7 since we closed the Library building. I hope you are all safe and healthy, and finding inspiring ways to occupy yourself while we all shelter in place. The staff and I have been busy running the Library remotely – and I hope that you’ve taken advantage of some of our virtual offerings – by reading an e-book or a digital magazine, participating in a workshop or reading seminar, watching a lecture, or even hanging out with your fellow members at digital teatime. Peri and Simen in our Cataloging Department have designed a very fun New York Society Library Bingo game to help you pass the time. I hope you’ll check it out on our website.
We still don’t know when we will be able to reopen the building. We are waiting for further guidance from state and local authorities. But we are making plans for our return and I want to stress that things will be different. We think that the best way to begin bringing back in-person services and to ensure the health and safety of our staff and members, is to phase in services and programs over time. For instance, accommodating only curb-side book checkout and returns and local delivery and pickups in phase 1, introducing lobby and stacks access in phase 2, and then limited access to reading and study spaces after that.
These initial plans could change, but we are actively working on our various options and details for every phase of our reopening so we will be ready to go. In the meantime, due dates have been extended, fines are being waived, and when you renew, we will be extending your membership. We continue to add events, so read the e-news and follow us on social media. And Acquisitions is keeping up with new book releases, so check out the new books list and add titles to your holds list for when we reopen.
I’ve heard it said on a number of occasions, how unprecedented this time is. But the Library is 266 years old, and this is our 4th closing for circumstances outside our control. You all know about the American Revolution, but what about the 1803 yellow fever epidemic, or the closing due to a coal shortage during WWI? So, as an institution, we’ve been through hard times before, and we will survive. But we do need your help. The closing has already had a sharp, negative impact our bottom line. So I’d like to ask you to please renew your membership when it expires, and if you can, consider supporting the Library with a donation. Every bit helps.
Please email help@nysoclib.org if you need any online assistance. And I’ll continue to keep you updated on our plans for our reopening. We are all anxious to get back to 53 East 79th Street. In the meantime, please feel free to email me at cwaters@nysoclib.org with any questions or comments. Please stay safe. We’ll see you soon.
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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March 31, 2020
This is the text of the video message from Head Librarian Carolyn Waters for our April newsletter. The video can be found here.
Hello, everyone. As you may have suspected, I’m recording this message from my home office, where I’ve been keeping in touch with the Library staff as well as with many of you for the past two weeks. I want you to know that we all miss you terribly and we can’t wait till the day we are able to reopen.
At this time, the Library building remains closed indefinitely while we wait for further information and guidance from government authorities. But the virtual New York Society Library is open for business. The staff and I have been working hard to ensure your continued access to services and programs while adding new ways to deliver them.
Sara, Katie, and Marialuisa in Events have had to cancel some events and postpone others to future dates. But we are also moving many online via the Zoom platform. If you were already registered for events, they will be in touch soon to discuss the options. I hope you’ll join us for a special version of Teatime on Friday, April 3 at 3pm on Zoom. And no worries if you’re unfamiliar with Zoom – we are here to help you.
On the books side, Steve and Patrick are still busy buying books, including adding new e-books to the Cloud Library, so I encourage you to check that out. Our virtual Library also includes digital magazines like Condé Nast Traveler, Film Comment, and The Spectator, as well as a whole host of electronic databases.
If you’re looking to read about books or other topics of interest to Library members, visit our blog on our website or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
For those of you concerned about overdue books: don’t be! Mia and her Circulation team have extended the due date for all books to April 13. If necessary, that will be extended further, and we’ll be waiving all fines during this period.
And I want to let you know that when you renew your membership, Diane will be extending your expiration date for the amount of time that the Library remains closed, however long that turns out to be. This extension will affect all renewals from March 16, 2020 to March 15, 2021.
But we do need your help. Please consider supporting the Library with a donation, if you can. And please do renew your membership when it expires. We won’t be able to send renewal notices at this time, but you can check your status, renew, and make donations online – AND you’ll be able to continue to use all of our wonderful online resources.
Please feel free to email help@nysoclib.org if you need any online assistance, or email me directly with any questions or comments. Please stay safe. We’re all looking forward to seeing you soon.
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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March 20, 2020
Dear Members,
I promised to keep you informed if and when I had further news to share.
I have just learned that one of our members who spent time in the Library has been diagnosed with COVID-19, commonly referred to as the coronavirus. The member, who attended a writing group meeting in the Little Whitridge Room (“Little Whit”) on February 26, is being treated.
The other Library members who were in direct contact with this member have already been notified. No other members or staff have reported that they are experiencing any symptoms. The building is already undergoing cleaning and disinfecting this week, which had previously been planned to occur during our closure.
As a reminder, if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, immediately contact your primary care physician and please also notify me if you had spent any time at the Library. More information can be found on the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html.
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of Breath
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.
Stay well,
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
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March 16, 2020, 9:00 AM
Dear Members,
By now, you know: the Library is closed today through Tuesday, March 31. Could it be longer? Yes. Please continue to check our website and social media for updates. We will also be in touch by email when we have further news. Just a note that as of 3/16, our phone lines are down.
In the meantime, we encourage you to investigate all you can do remotely. Our Electronic Resources page is full of information about how to access e-books, audiobooks, digital magazines, and reference materials. Our Events Department has archived all of our past event recordings here. If you need any assistance accessing our online resources, please email help@nysoclib.org.
Please feel free to be in touch with me directly. Stay safe, stay healthy! We look forward to seeing you soon.
best,
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
212-288-6900 x244
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March 13, 2020, 3:30 PM
Dear Members,
Having gotten used to getting only one email a month from us, getting three in one week (two in one day!) must be disorienting. But these are strange times.
Like most of our fellow libraries and institutions, we have just made the difficult decision to close the Library entirely to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Library will be closed from Monday, March 16 through Tuesday, March 31.
We will remain open our usual hours this weekend, 11 AM - 5 PM, so that you may come in and check out books. We know what a balm a good book can be, and want to make sure you can stock up for the weeks we will be closed. However, please note that only the stacks will be accessible; the reading and writing spaces will be closed.
We are sure you will agree that this is the right thing to do to ensure the health and safety of our community. If you have any questions, please do let me know. And I look forward to hearing what books kept you company in the weeks ahead.
Best,
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
212-288-6900 x244
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March 13, 2020, 10 AM
Dear Members,
I wrote to you just a few days ago - but what a few days it's been. I want to keep you updated on our continuing response to COVID-19.
For at least the next month, all of our planned events have been canceled or postponed to a later date.
Our hours for the next two weeks, beginning on Monday, March 16, will be amended as follows in order to allow our staff to commute on less crowded trains and buses: Monday & Friday 10 AM - 4 PM, Tuesday - Thursday 10 AM - 8 PM, Saturday & Sunday 11 AM - 5 PM.
We have removed half of the chairs in the Hornblower Room and additional chairs in the Whitridge Room and Little Whit in order to provide appropriate social distancing. The desks in the stacks remain a viable option. We will be monitoring the occupancy of the Members' Room frequently.
We are continuing our cleaning protocol to wipe down high-touch surfaces several times a day, and we have provided disposable wipes throughout the building. I urge you to follow the guidelines from health authorities and wash your hands frequently, don't touch your face, monitor your health more closely, and please, stay home if you are sick or not feeling well.
Please continue to check our website for updates, as we may make further changes to our operating schedule or plans, as needed. But remember, you don't need to visit our building to make use of all of our great resources: download an e-book, read a digital magazine, do research, view a recording of one of our past events! As always, do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have questions or concerns.
Best,
Carolyn
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
cwaters@nysoclib.org
212-288-6900 x244
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March 9, 2020
Dear Members,
No doubt you are following the news of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as carefully as we are. To keep everyone safe, we want to update you on what measures we are taking to ensure the continued health of our staff, members, and visitors.
We will remain open during regular hours and all events will go on as planned. We are increasing the frequency of cleaning in the building, especially the high-touch areas, and have provided disposable wipes throughout. We also ask everyone to please follow the guidelines from the NYC Health Department for protecting yourself and others from spreading respiratory illnesses, like the flu and coronavirus. Most importantly, please stay home if you’re sick or feeling unwell!
We will continue to monitor the news and recommendations from local, state and federal authorities, and will make decisions and communicate to everyone as the situation evolves. We encourage you to check our website for updates. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly.
…and while I have your attention, just a reminder that our sidewalk replacement project will begin in the next day or so and take approximately one week. While we will remain open throughout, please be prepared for noise and some disruption.
Stay healthy!
Carolyn Waters
Head Librarian
212-288-6900 x244
Resources:
