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Etcetera > No Library ? Unthinkable!

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message 1: by Carol/Bonadie (last edited Mar 14, 2020 07:41AM) (new)

Carol/Bonadie (bonadie) | 9510 comments We are going to have to create a glossary term for this situation that none of us would have ever imagined. My library just announced it is closing for 2 weeks (minimum) in light of COVID-19 concerns. Not surprising given all the other closings, but Yowza!! The good news is I have plenty of books/audios on loan (in fact more than I could read in 2 weeks) but the very idea of not being able to use the library sort of blew my mind! Work from home--no problem. Long lines at the grocery story--I can deal. Wearing gloves to pump gasoline--doable. No library? Nooooooooooooo!!!!

(in case I have to say it, the above is not meant to make light of the COVID-19 situation, just meant to get a smile)


message 2: by Maureen (new)

Maureen Carden | 173 comments I have been putting books on hold and hoping to get them before the library decides to close. Not a lot, but a few.


message 3: by BarryP (new)

BarryP (barrypz) | 3502 comments does your library allow remote from home for e books and audios? I don;'t do that, but I could.


message 4: by OMalleycat (new)

OMalleycat | 1448 comments My library isn’t closed yet (as of last night’s news still only four confirmed cases in my state) but all events have been cancelled. That’s big because March is our city-wide Big Read.

The library has sent out emails explaining online resources. I’ve got more than enough books at home but I’m going to miss my book clubs.


message 5: by Ann (new)

Ann (annrumsey) | 16982 comments Carol: Yes, yikes and not an easy decision I am sure for facilities of all kinds.
Our library announced cancellations of all events until mid-April, but the facilities were staying open. With the tornado damage from March 3rd possibly being a factor for that - impacted people needing internet, etc. We've got four damaged branch libraries still closed from the tornadoes. One is supposed to reopen on Monday.

I've got one print book out and all my holds are digital but not being able to go when I need a book fix, like so many things, unthinkable.


message 6: by Shomeret (last edited Mar 15, 2020 03:36PM) (new)

Shomeret | 1493 comments Both the library systems I deal with have closed indefinitely as of
tomorrow. They have advised keeping the books you have until the libraries re-open. Everything is automatically renewed. This is a good idea for me. I have stacks of them.


message 7: by Sherry (new)

Sherry  | 4527 comments Carol/Bonadie wrote: "We are going to have to create a glossary term for this situation that none of us would have ever imagined. My library just announced it is closing for 2 weeks (minimum) in light of COVID-19 concer..."

all the libraries around me are closed, too, carol. we can still access the online, but not it's not the same. who'd have ever thought this would happen?


message 8: by Sherry (new)

Sherry  | 4527 comments Barry wrote: "does your library allow remote from home for e books and audios? I don;'t do that, but I could."

i do for e-books. really easy except many times the book(s) that i want have long waiting lists and only 1 or 2 copies so it can take a long time to get them. i've never done videos, though.


message 9: by Maureen (new)

Maureen Carden | 173 comments Ours just closed and I missed the announcement. I’m going to do my best to return all e-books immediately, as opposed to being a bit lackadaisical about it, unless I knew there was a waiting list.


Susan  (on hiatus) | 30 comments I just went to my local library today and saw the closed sign. I should have figured since everything else is closed. I have several books and Kindle unlimited, but I'll miss going.


message 11: by Ann (new)

Ann (annrumsey) | 16982 comments My library announced closing this afternoon after all and understandably so, but sad especially with kids out of school.
Sherry - the waiting lists on many of the new popular books are terribly long here too.


message 12: by Dan in AZ (new)

Dan in AZ | 2960 comments Library is closed, BUT can still put books on hold. Pick them up in parking lot of library. Relaxed due dates and all fines suspended.


message 13: by Carol/Bonadie (new)

Carol/Bonadie (bonadie) | 9510 comments Barry wrote: "does your library allow remote from home for e books and audios? I don;'t do that, but I could."

It does, but I don't do it. And I'm lucky, my habit of being overbooked and a library felon or whatever our term for it is -- finally pays off. I have seven books borrowed so plenty to read. A few weeks earlier same library announced no more fines, they did a survey and found that people were avoiding the library because of overdue books. I didn't quite follow the logic but was glad to profit from it. Now all books extended to the middle of April.


message 14: by Carol/Bonadie (new)

Carol/Bonadie (bonadie) | 9510 comments Sherry wrote: "all the libraries around me are closed, too, carol. we can still access the online, but not it's not the same. who'd have ever thought this would happen?..."

So true, Sherry. So much that we never thought could happen as become reality. One wonders where it will end.


message 15: by Amy (new)

Amy | 1346 comments Our libraries just closed tonight.


message 16: by Carol/Bonadie (new)

Carol/Bonadie (bonadie) | 9510 comments Dan in AZ wrote: "Library is closed, BUT can still put books on hold. Pick them up in parking lot of library. Relaxed due dates and all fines suspended."

Library staff are still there so I suppose I could continue to put books on hold, and probably will as I come across ones I want to read in the future that may have a long wait.


message 17: by Donnajo (new)

Donnajo | 4355 comments They aren’t any where ready to open libraries in NJ. Said when then they do it will be in stages. First for mine the delivery service will pick up books that have been out since this all started and books will be in quaranteened they haven’t come out with much more except things will be different. People can’t used computers or different things. We were talking to one guy at shore and we were all saying that it will be awhile until you even feel safe taking out a book. Sure you can wipe it down but what about the pages. Spray it maybe.


message 18: by Donnajo (new)

Donnajo | 4355 comments Our library just started back with first phase this week. books that have been out since this all started still have no fines but can be returned. they will go in quarantine for certain amount of time. Not all libraries are open only certain ones. You can only go into lobby I believe and you can call your book (only 1 is allowed) that you want in and only from your library. Inter library is not available yet nor the delivery service. I'm still not ready for getting out books. I mean how do you really trust that the quarantining them will do anything. You can go to other libraries in the area that is in your system if they are open you can get a book from them. I'm not sure how many total you can get. I think they are just slowing seeing what works and how it turns out. Still not letting people use their computers, copiers or anything like that and you can't walk around the library to see which book you want.


message 19: by Shomeret (new)

Shomeret | 1493 comments Donnajo, the reason why quarantining works is because coronavirus only stays on particular surfaces for a particular time frame. I don't know how long coronavirus stays on book covers, but I do know that it stays on paper for only two hours. So book covers is the problem that requires quarantining.

My library systems are allowing returns by book drop and quarantining them. As of today, one system is allowing me to pick up holds at curbside at the library that you prefer. The other library system has only a few branches doing curbside pick up, so I can pick up my hold when it arrives at the branch that they have designated for me as the pick up branch. This is a little less convenient unless I am doing pick ups for holds at both library systems. My designated pick up branch for one system is on the way to my preferred branch in the other system.


message 20: by Donnajo (new)

Donnajo | 4355 comments I did take a book yesterday to the little free library at shore (toni morrison) and there was a good amount in box and someone had put a cardboard box of books on the wall near by with more books. I did take one out of the box a MHC one. I was going to wipe down outside but never got around to it.
I also jointed up to the library's summer reading program. something reading it's called. I was able to get a app for it for my iPad. easy sign up did it last night. every book you log into it and review gives you 100 points. with 100 points you can buy a ticket also on site. at the end of summer they go in a raffle. so I ended up logging all 3 books I finished on weekend. so I'm off to a good start.


message 21: by Ann (new)

Ann (annrumsey) | 16982 comments Thanks for the insight on the reasoning behind a five day quarantine against corona virus and the low impact on paper Shomeret!
Our library system started the curbside pickup option today with a five day quarantine for returned books dropped in the book drop. I’ve had a non-fiction book out all this time and still haven’t finished it. (Oops)
I’m glad to be able to borrow print books again. They took all our previous holds away though, so I’m starting again with a blank hold list. Probably not the worst thing but I don’t remember what I had on hold.


message 22: by OMalleycat (last edited Jun 22, 2020 07:50PM) (new)

OMalleycat | 1448 comments Ann wrote: "They took all our previous holds away though, so I’m starting again with a blank hold list. Probably not the worst thing but I don’t remember what I had on hold..."

Oh my, Ann. This must be a first for you since the invention of reserving books!

👋👋👋 Patting Ann’s back.


message 23: by Ann (new)

Ann (annrumsey) | 16982 comments Lol thanks Jan O’Cat! It is most unusual! Of course I have a full Overdrive digital hold list so technically I didn’t have to go cold turkey with no holds at all.
As for the in person library visits being curtailed during the corona virus- going so long without, at the least, a weekly (or more) trip to the library hasn’t happened since I got my first library card at age six. A few, ahem years ago 🤣🤣
OMalleycat wrote: "Oh my, Ann. This must be a first for you since the invention of reserving books!
👋👋👋 Patting Ann’s back. “

Ann wrote: "They took all our previous holds away though, so I’m starting again with a blank hold list. Probably not the worst thing but I don’t remember what I had.."



message 24: by Donnajo (new)

Donnajo | 4355 comments Our library you can only get books from that location. You call or I guess do online for it they let you know when it’s ready when you get to library they bring it to lobby in a bag put it on table and once they leave lobby you go in and get it. I think only allowed 10 items. You still can’t go into library itself only lobby between two doors. Limited times opened for both getting books and for drop offs. Any audio, dvds that type of thing there is box in lobby to return books you only drop off outside in box.


message 25: by Ann (new)

Ann (annrumsey) | 16982 comments I checked out a hardback library book yesterday using the new curbside pickup option, expanding from digital only since March. It was good to be able to do that; though I felt for the librarian scrambling around the parking lot with at least ten cars there in progress of picking up.
We call when we arrive and give our library card number. No sooner had I told her my make and model of car - another car of the same general description pulled in. Crazy times!


message 26: by Dawn (new)

Dawn | 1371 comments Our library is doing a similar system. We reserve online. Can only reserve books in our home library, they aren't doing any inter-library loans right now. When I get an email that our book is ready, I call and give my card number (although they usually know it when I call...lol!). Then when we arrive we call again, our spots in the parking lot are numbered. Open our truck and they drop the book in! Returned books get quarantined for 72 hours. So far I've only gotten brand new books that I had reserved before the quarantine, so I felt quite comfortable reading. Not sure yet about reading a book that has been in circulation.


message 27: by Ann (new)

Ann (annrumsey) | 16982 comments Dawn: Great idea to number the parking spots - I hope my library decides to add that feature. it would, at least on Saturday afternoons, help ease the pick-up stress.
Dawn wrote: "Then when we arrive we call again, our spots in the parking lot are numbered.."


message 28: by Kirsten (new)

Kirsten  (kmcripn) My library is opening back up for curbside pickup - yippee!!


message 29: by Ann (new)

Ann (annrumsey) | 16982 comments Kirsten: that is terrific! I am happily picking up curbside again and it is certainly better than no library print books.
Having had a primary voting closure of curbside pick-up period a few weeks ago (since my library and many of them in our city are polling places) I am starting to plan how I can have books to tide me over for the regular election early voting period that may shut us down again.

Kirsten wrote: "My library is opening back up for curbside pickup - yippee!!"


message 30: by Barbara K (new)

Barbara K We just got back from voting - at our local library!!!! There was something enormously satisfying about combining the two - books and ballots. 😊


message 31: by Ann (new)

Ann (annrumsey) | 16982 comments Barbara: Books and ballots - I like it! 📚📚
Curbside pickup is suspended until after early voting at my library. The only two times I've been inside my library since March were to vote. There was a woman ahead of me in line Saturday listing the books she wanted to request. I had stocked up prior to the early voting hiatus.

Barbara wrote: "We just got back from voting - at our local library!!!! There was something enormously satisfying about combining the two - books and ballots. 😊"


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