Rego Park Library To Reopen For To-Go Service

REGO PARK, QUEENS — Rego Park residents will soon be able to pick up new reads at their local library.

The Rego Park library is among eight branches that are reopening for limited "to-go" service starting Aug. 10, the Queens Public Library announced this week.

Each location will be open six days a week for customers to pick up reading materials requested online, through the Queens Public Library app or by phone. All staff and visitors must wear masks and stay at least 6 feet apart from one another.

Reopened branches will be cleaned five days a week, and materials returned through the libraries' exterior return machines will be "quarantined" for 96 hours before they become available again.

The libraries in Whitestone, Astoria, Cambria Heights, Jackson Heights, Queensboro Hill, Ridgewood and South Ozone Park will also reopen Aug. 10, for a total of 15 locations that have reopened since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 3,200 people have checked out items since the Queens Public Library started reopening locations on July 13, according to a news release.

“These numbers, along with very positive feedback from our staff and customers, indicate a strong demand for our resources,” Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott said. “More importantly, we have heard from many people who have said they feel safe and protected in our branches, whether they are working in or visiting them.”

Hours at the reopened libraries are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, with a one-hour closure from 1 to 2 p.m for cleaning; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday; and 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, with a one-hour closure from 3 to 4 p.m. for cleaning.

Queens Public Library customers can check out materials without accruing fines until Oct. 1., and fine-based library card blocks will be lifted.

Those who don't have a library card can apply online and pick up a card at one of the locations offering to-go service.