Community Corner
NY Library Coronavirus Branch Closures Extended Indefinitely
Library officials remain hopeful library branch closures aren't a "long-term situation," but have extended the hiatus indefinately.
NEW YORK, NY — New York Public Library branches will be closed until the foreseeable future, as library officials have made the decision to extend closures past an initially-announced reopening date of March 31, according to an email sent to library members Friday.
"While remaining hopeful that this isn’t a long-term situation, we have decided, after careful consideration, to extend our closures beyond the originally stated date of March 31. As of now, all NYPL branches and research libraries will be closed until further notice to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19," NYPL President Tony Marx wrote in the message.
Library branches have been closed since Sunday, March 14 to help curb the outbreak of coronavirus in New York City. Since then, the number of confirmed cases in the city has skyrocketed. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio declared the city the "epicenter" of the virus outbreak during a Friday press conference, saying that more than 4,000 New Yorkers have tested positive for the deadly disease.
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Due dates on materials checked out from library branches will be extended until after the system reopens, library officials said. All library programming has been canceled throughout the end of May, with the potential for further cancellations if necessary.
"Obviously, it is deeply disappointing for us to postpone these exciting and important events, and unsettling to have such an unclear picture of the next few months. It is also hard for the Library—an organization that for 125 years has served the public through many hard times—to remain closed," Marx's letter reads.
Find out what's happening in Midtown-Hell's Kitchenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The New York Public Library system includes all library branches in Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island. Queens and Brooklyn maintain their own library systems because the systems were founded before the five boroughs were consolidated into a single city in 1898.
Library members can sign up to the NYPL Connect system to receive updates on the library's digital services offered while branches are closed.
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