The Heart of the Three Village Community
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No More Late Fees
Emma Clark Library Has Begun Phased Re-Opening Plan and Overdue Fines Are Eliminated Permanently
Setauket, NY – June 5, 2020 –
The staff of Emma Clark Library is back in the beautiful 1892 building, preparing for safety and social distancing measures. The building had been closed as per Governor Cuomo’s executive order, but all at the Library are pleased to be able to start a phased reopening of the physical services, in addition to the online services that were always offered and new virtual classes and programs that the Library started providing during quarantine.
This week, library employees have returned to the building for Stage 1 of the Library’s re-opening plan. During Stage 1, only staff are permitted in the building, but patrons may begin returning items in the Book Drop. The Library is thrilled to announce that the Board of Trustees voted recently to permanently eliminate overdue fines on most items. This includes items that patrons had during quarantine, as well as all overdue fines going forward. The Library will be fine-free for all materials (with the exception of video games, Museum Passes, Playaway Launchpads, and Library of Things items).
When can you start borrowing physical materials again? Contactless “front door” pick-up is scheduled to begin on Monday, June 15, which is Stage 2 of the plan. After patrons receive a notification from the Library that their items are ready for pickup, they can go online (see emmaclark.org for detailed instructions) or call the Library at 631.941.4080 to make a reservation for a specific day and time to pick up their items at the Library’s front door. The packages will be discretely wrapped, and patrons may simply pick up the bundle with their name on it. During this time of front door pick-up, only staff will be permitted inside the building.
Returned items will be quarantined for 72 hours before being checked-in and re-shelved. The borrowed materials may not come off the patron’s record immediately, but with no overdue fines, that should not be an issue.
For Stage 3 of the plan, which will begin on or about Monday, June 29, the building will open to the public. There will be some modification of facilities and no public events or gatherings, in order to maintain social distancing measures.
Each of these stages is subject to change and will depend on the status of the area metrics and guidelines from the Center for Disease Control, Suffolk County, and New York State. For more information on the phased re-opening plan and the most updated library news, the public is advised to continue to monitor the Library’s social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) and website at emmaclark.org.
All at the Library are looking forward to welcoming the community to the building soon. The Library will also continue to offer their regular online resources, as well as the new virtual classes and events. The Board and staff would like to thank Three Village residents in advance for their patience and support during this process.
The Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, located at 120 Main Street in Setauket and online at emmaclark.org, provides public library service to all residents of the Three Village Central School District.
“The Heart of the Three Village Community”
Phased Re-Opening Plan
We’re Back in Our Beautiful Building –
Emma Clark Library’s Phased Re-Opening Plan Has Begun!
Stage 1
Library employees have already returned to work in a reduced capacity to prepare the building for safety and social distancing measures. Staff only are permitted in the building.
Patrons may now begin returning items in the Book Drop. Please do not rush to drop off materials. We have permanently eliminated overdue fines going forward! (with some exceptions)
Stage 2 – June 15 –
Contactless “Front Door” Pick-Up
After patrons receive notification from the Library that their items are ready, they must visit our website (emmaclark.org) or call the Library (631-941-4080) to reserve a pick-up timeslot. Your items will be discretely wrapped. Simply pickup the package with your name on it at our front door.
How long until my items are ready for pickup? This depends on whether or not your items are available. If the items are available on our shelves, they will generally be ready within a day. If an item has been recently returned, it’s quarantined first for 72 hours. If someone else has the item out, then it will be available after it is returned and the item has been quarantined.
Staff only in the building during this time.
Instructions for How to Schedule Your Pick-Up Date and Time Here
Stage 3 – July 8 –
“Browsing & Borrowing” – Modified Opening of the Building for Public Use
The building will be open to the public with social distancing in place. There will be some modification of facilities and no public events or gatherings.
Each of these phases is subject to change and will depend on the status of the area metrics and guidelines from the CDC, Suffolk County, and New York State. All materials will be quarantined for 72 hours before being checked-in and re-shelved (they may not come off your record immediately, but do not worry – there are no overdue fines!).
This is new for everyone, and we will be navigating it together. We know we can count on your patience and support.
We look forward to welcoming our community into the building soon!
More information on our phased re-opening plan to come. Please continue to monitor this page and check our social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) for updates.
Emma Kids Virtual Art Show Hosted by the Library
Setauket, NY – May 6, 2020 –
Do your kids want to show off their artwork to the community?
Kids living in Three Village (up to 6th grade), can submit a photo or scanned copy of original artwork – including paintings, drawings, sculpture and mixed media works – for the Emma Kids Virtual Art Show hosted by Emma Clark Library.
All art should be submitted via email to Marcela Lenihan, Children’s Services Librarian, at marcela@emmaclark.org by May 31, 2020. Entries must include:
- Artwork attached to the email
- The artist’s full name, age, grade, and elementary school(only the child’s first name, age and grade will be displayed)
- If they would like community service credit for their submission, please request one in the email. Limit of 1 hour of community service per student.
In June, the Library will hold the Emma Kids Virtual Art Show displayed in a slideshow format on the Library’s Facebook page (@EmmaClarkLibrary) and the Library website, emmaclark.org. Emma Clark Library staff can’t wait to see the creative projects made by our Three Village kids while they’ve been home!
The Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, located at 120 Main Street in Setauket and online at emmaclark.org, provides public library service to all residents of the Three Village Central School District.
“The Heart of the Three Village Community”
Library Buddies and Virtual Story Time: Connecting with Kids
Setauket, NY – May 15, 2020 –
People of all ages miss the Library, but they can still connect with Emma Clark Library’s staff and get that community feel. Two new ways that the children’s department is doing just that is by bringing the children’s librarians into Three Village homes…virtually, of course!
First is the “Library Buddies” program, where kids can have personalized, one-on-one time with their favorite librarian. The children’s librarians will read stories to kids and chat with them. Kids can show the librarians their favorite toys, stuffed animals, knick knacks, pets, songs, what they’ve read at home…or they can even read to librarian! It’s similar to a Show-and-Tell session and is all about making the child feel comfortable and happy. Parents or caregivers may request for their child to speak virtually with one of the librarians in Emma Clark Library’s children’s department by emailing kids@emmaclark.org. In the email, please include:
- The first name and age of the child.
- Library barcode number (either child or parent).
- Which Librarian the child would like to “hang out” with.
- Preferred day and time to meet virtually.
The Librarians will email back to confirm, as well as include instructions on how to join via Zoom.
The Library is also hosting “Virtual Story Time with Mr. Brian” every Tuesday and Thursday from 1:30 – 2:00 p.m. Brian Debus, Head Children’s Librarian, will read some of his favorite stories. After the Story Time, participants will receive a link for a simple craft that can be done at home. Parents or caregivers may register their children for the virtual story time by visiting emmaclark.org/virtual-classes-events. Library cardholders may sign up for one session or all.
Both of these programs will take place on the Zoom platform and are for Three Village children ages 3 years old through 2nd grade.
“On behalf of the librarians here at Emma Clark, I know we all miss the children’s smiling faces, and we can’t wait to see them at the Library again,” says Mr. Debus. “But in the meantime, I hope that what we’re doing virtually through the Library keeps the children and their parents happy. Because in the long run, it’s all about the happiness of the children.”
These two new programs are in addition to the DIY Library Story Time @Home, a service that was announced at the beginning of April. This “virtual story time kit”, curated by the children’s librarians, contains educational and fun activities around the theme and text of a book chosen by the patron. These complete and meaningful story time plans can easily be done from home. More information can be found at www.emmaclark.org/diylibrarystorytime/.
If Emma Clark Library patrons have questions about how to use Zoom or any other technology-related questions, they are welcome to take advantage of “Time with a Tech”, personalized one-on-one technology help. To do so, Library cardholders simply send an email to techhelp@emmaclark.org and include their library barcode number & phone number. Jen Mullen, Technology Librarian, or Bob Johnson, Information Technology Manager, will call that number back between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday.
The Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, located at 120 Main Street in Setauket and online at emmaclark.org, provides public library service to all residents of the Three Village Central School District.
“The Heart of the Three Village Community”
The Heart of the Three Village Community
