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Katie's Corner
December 2020
We hope everyone is staying safe in this holiday season. The library continues to be busy with people ordering and picking up materials, using the wi-fi from the parking lot, as well as printing, copying, faxing, and having documents notarized. Sadly, curbside service does not allow people to use our public computers or to browse the collection. I would like to take some time to answer the question of when we expect to allow patrons back into the library building. We now have enough hand sanitizer and PPE, as well as policies that make mask wearing mandatory for entering the building. We are now waiting for new infection rates to go down as they are again rising precipitously. In order to open for curbside services we had to implement many new state-mandated safety procedures including daily disinfection of workspaces and equipment. Staff are required to take their temperature and log it daily. All staff also wear masks 100% of the time while in the building. Since we opened the library for curbside service in June we have had two different cases of staff members developing high temperatures and flu-like symptoms. In such cases the staff member must quarantine, get tested, and await test results. Because we have such a small staff, having one person out makes it challenging to keep the library operating six days a week. When the person who is quarantining has worked closely with other staff, those staff also need to quarantine. In these cases, our small staff is stretched very thin and it is challenging to keep the library operating. It would be impossible to have the library building open in these circumstances. So we are trying to do the safest thing possible (curbside) so that we can provide uninterrupted services. If you have thoughts about this issue I urge you to take our Patron Satisfaction Survey on the library’s website. We are using feedback in order to plan for better library services.
In this season of giving thanks I would like to thank the Friends of the Library for all that they do behind the scenes, such as help get this newsletter out, fundraise, advocate, and help the staff move heavy boxes and equipment. The library’s board of trustees also deserves many thanks for guiding the library through these difficult times with all the many new safety protocols and policies, maintaining a balance between providing services and keeping staff and patrons safe. I would also like to thank the Woodcrest community for donating a new children’s table, and for helping out with our book giveaway. Most of all, I thank the staff for all of their hard work and dedication. We added an extra phone line for the curbside service and there are many times in the day when multiple phones are ringing and the staff are challenged to stay calm and courteous, and attend to each person with friendliness and patience. The staff are also taking care of our home-bound patrons, making weekly deliveries and pickups all over town. They are helping parents choose books for their kids (just give us a subject and grade level and we will find you some great books), as well as promoting new services such as online tutoring. It turns out it takes a village to run a library and I am so glad to be going through this historic time with so many kind people.
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Thank You
to Our Generous Donors
Donations continue to arrive in the mail and through the donation portal on our web page in response to our annual membership letter. Your contributions support our programming and other library improvements. We appreciate your participation in this fund drive, especially this year as our other fundraising efforts are not able to happen due to the pandemic.
Eileen Hall
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Story Hour with Miss Annie
Please join us Thursday’s at 10am on Rosendale Library’s Facebook page for a wonderful live event! Miss Annie shares stories, songs, finger plays and craft ideas for you and your little ones to enjoy.
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Browse our Virtual Bookshelf!
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Rachel Callan
and Indigo Mist Books
Thank you to our good friend Rachel Callan. She has been selling used magazines for us from her online store and sending us donations several times a year. Please check out her website indigomistbooks.com where she sells books, comics and magazines. Her business donates ten percent of each sale to local charities.
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Free Homework Help
Ulster County public libraries are now providing online one-on-one tutoring services for all grades through high school and some college classes. Students can find a tutor for virtually any subject, or get help preparing for the SATs or ACTs.
To access this service visit the Rosendale Library website and click on the Free Tutoring button on our homepage on the left. If you do not have a library card, no worries! Library cards are free for all Ulster County residents. Sign up online or in person.
Tutoring is available from 2p.m. to 9p.m. every day of the week.
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