No sleep ’till Book-lyn!
The Brooklyn Public Library announced Thursday that it will start the first phase of its reopening on July 13, allowing for grab-and-go book service after over three months of virtual-only services.
“While our virtual library will continue to offer expanded digital collections, we know there is nothing quite like the pleasure of grabbing a new book in the summertime,” said Linda Johnson, CEO of the Brooklyn Public Library, in a statement.
Library honchos say they are still working out the kinks of how grab-and-go will work in each of their locations, but say the goal is to be contactless.
“Our goal is to keep everybody safe — that is our top priority,” said library spokesperson Fritzi Bodenheimer.
The Brooklyn library locations that will reopen in July are as follows:
- Bay Ridge Library
- Bushwick Library
- Kings Highway Library
- Central Library
- New Lots Library
- Flatbush Library
- Red Hook Library
Under the rules of BPL’s “Phase One,” library patrons can pick up book orders made online or over the phone in a small section of the library, and must leave once they receive their order. Browsing, in-person reference, and computer use is still prohibited and book-worms must wear face coverings and maintain a distance from other patrons, according to the library.
Library locations will be open 10 am to 4 pm Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, and 1 pm to 7 pm Tuesday and Thursday.
Library officials say they plan on opening more locations soon but offered no precise timeline for when the next stages of reopening will take place.
“We know how important it is to open our physical locations,” said Anthony Marx, president of New York’s library system. “This first group of branches is only the first step in that plan, but an important one. We hope to safely open more locations soon.”
