You are reading

Queens Public Library to Reopen Some Branches Next Month

Queens Public Library branch in Ridgewood (Google Maps)

June 17, 2020 By Allie Griffin

Queens Public Library will reopen some of its branches next month as New York City begins to return to pre-coronavirus normalcy.

Six to eight branches in the borough will open for pick up and drop off services in mid-July, with more to follow, President and CEO of Queens Public Library Dennis Walcott said.

The library shut all of its 66 branches on March 16 due to the coronavirus pandemic and will reopen the branches to the public in stages. The locations of the first six to eight branches have not yet been disclosed.

“As we learn from the initial branch reopenings, we will gradually open other locations and expand services,” Walcott said in a statement.

Library visitors will be able to drop off books to return and pick up materials requested in advance at the branches, but will not be permitted to browse shelves or use public computers.

Each branch building will undergo extensive cleaning before reopening and staff members will reconfigure the space to meet social distancing guidelines.

All visitors and staff members will be required to wear masks. Staff members will also provide masks to those without one.

All returned books and items will be set aside and “quarantined” for a period of time before they are placed back onto shelves. Book donations will not be accepted.

Public programming and events will remain cancelled, but Queens Public Library will increase its virtual and online programs and resources.

“We will continue to increase our collection of ebooks and other digital resources, and to offer virtual programs, services, activities, and events on our social media channels and other platforms,” Walcott said.

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

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

Recent News

Hollis man charged with raping 14-year-old told teen, ‘I can help you get work’

New details have emerged in the case of the Hollis man accused luring a 14-year-old boy into his car in St. Albans and then allegedly raping him on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 1.

Virgilio Taveras, 63, of Hillside Avenue, was arrested by detectives from the Queens Special Victims Squad two days later and booked at the 107th Precinct in Fresh Meadows. Taveras was arraigned on the Fourth of July in Queens Criminal Court on a complaint charging him with rape in the second degree, luring a child as an E felony, endangering the welfare of a child and other related crimes.

Deadly Belt Parkway crash claims lives of Springfield Gardens man and Manhattan mother: NYPD

A Springfield Gardens man and a passenger in his car died after they were involved in a multi-vehicle chain-reaction crash on the Belt Parkway near Kennedy Airport on the morning of Saturday, July 5.

Noah Thompson, 24, of 179th Street, was behind the wheel of a white BMW 428i traveling eastbound on the Belt Parkway in Howard Beach at 6:05 a.m. when he failed to navigate the roadway approaching the Nassau Expressway exit.