from the sopl library director

New Sunday hours!*

 SAVE THE DATE - OCTOBER 17 (raindate October 24)

Library Hours

Monday    Open to all: 9am–noon;  2-6pm

Tuesday   Open to all: 9am–noon, 2-5pm;  6-8pm

Wednesday   Open to all: 9am–noon; 2-6pm

Thursday    Open to all: 9 am –noon;  2-5pm; 6-8pm

Friday    Seniors only: 9am –noon;  Open to all: 2-5pm

Sunday   Open to all: 1pm–5pm*

Email [email protected]

Call 973.762.0230  M/W  9-6;  T/TH  9-8;  F  9-5; Sun1-5

 For the health and safety of every one and in compliance with all state and local regulations, we respectfully require:

Face coverings (nose and mouth must be covered) and social distancing required outdoors and in the building. (Wifi is available both inside and outside.)

For building entry temperature check is required:  taken by kiosks at each entrance.  (Face coverings and temperature check are required for all over the age of 2.)   The building is open at 25% capacity.

Please return all materials to book drops before entering the building. .(All returns are quarantined for 72 hours.)

Children’s Room:  Maximum 8 people  (small children are included with their adult)

 Main floor: Maximum 25 people  (12 years and up to enter library unaccompanied)

In- building services include:  Public computing: One hour session/day with SOPL or Internet card.  Proctoring, notary, computer assistance are available by appointment (phone or email).

ONLINE SERVICES CONTINUE - Resources and  calendar of programming are all available at www.sopl.org 

 Books you have placed on hold will be held at circulation desks unless you request lobby pick-up.

No food or drink allowed in the building.

Dear Library Supporter, Please join us to help South Orange Public Library continue its services to our community! No Friends Book Sale This Year The Friends Book Sale is our main fundraising event for the Library each year. But the 2020 sale had to be cancelled because of the COVID-19 crisis. Due to the same crisis, providing support for the South Orange Public Library is more critical than ever. You Can Help Since we can’t hold the book sale this year, we need your donation to help raise $10,000 for Library programs and books in 2020-2021. Your donation will help the Friends of the South Orange Public Library fund new books, the film series, the children’s summer reading program, and museum passes, among other Library programs and activities, responsive to the community’s current needs. Please click here for Friends and click on Donate. Or you can pick up a Friends membership form at the library. Thank you for supporting your Library—and your community! Tonia Moore – President, Friends of SOPL www.friendsofsopl.org

SOPL cardholders may now make requests for books.

You may place requests for up to 5 adult titles and 10 children’s titles in any of three ways: Online at sopl.org using your library card and PIN to log into your account and place holds; Email your requests to [email protected]; Call 973.762.0230 (M-W-F 10-3, Tu-Th 10-8).

When your requests are ready, we will contact you to with a 3-hour pickup time. Your items will be placed in a bag with a designated number. We will make every effort to make your requested items available. We are also happy to make suggestions. Any holds you’ve already placed will become part of your request.

During your scheduled pickup time, come to the lobby on the parking lot side of the building. Please observe social distancing and wear a face covering. You can ask a friend or neighbor to pick up your items - they will need to have your bag number. If you have difficulty with pickup, please let us know. A staff member will be available if you have a question.

All items you currently have out, and all new items (which will be checked out for two weeks with renewals possible if there is no wait list), should be returned to the book drops by front and back doors. All items are quarantined for 72 hours upon return.

Now, more than ever, we are looking forward to the re-opening of public libraries as community space for all. Our vision is one in which South Orange Public Library serves as the integral physical and virtual gateway by which our broad and diverse community may access information, congregate to freely exchange ideas...

We are currently restricted by the Governor’s Executive Order 107 which ordered public libraries to close. The library is actively preparing for the next stages. Governor Murphy has stated that the re-opening of public libraries will be considered in the state’s Phase Two plans (the state is currently in its Phase One). Once that order is amended, the first service to be opened will be making hard copy materials for available for pickup. The second phase will be the gradual re-opening of the building, with restrictions as necessary, following best practices and state-wide directives. We will follow all recommended guidelines and are actively monitoring health guidelines and developing protocols. In the meantime, rest assured that preparation is well underway - and that online resources will always be available and online programming will continue.

The library building will remain closed until it is deemed safe to reopen. The library, though, is not. Library staff misses interacting in person but we are here for you. You can call in to talk to a librarian 973.762.0230 M-F 11am-3pm and/or email [email protected] anytime. We will be delighted to hear from you.  The website www.sopl.org has extensive resources available (see video below) If you don’t have a library card, email your request. If you check the calendar page, you will find information about online programs for people of all ages. The Children’s page is adding resources and we are posting new content (lots of great lectures!) on our youtube channel regularly.

We are updating often so check in frequently. Looking forward to staying connected.

The library is still closed. We still have so many resources available from our website sopl.org. Many of the library staff - we miss you all so greatly - are working behind the scenes to continue services as we can, to create other ways for interacting and thereby reminding us that we are all (still) part of a community.

And now I am totally using someone else’s words - words that were written two days ago by Ric Hudgens in IL 

We hope you are among the many people, including all of the library staff, who look forward to March as Makers Month at SOPL. Not only do we have non-stop activities on Makers Mayhem/NJ Makers Day but have speakers and hand-on activities and more. We are still mindful of your concerns and are cancelling all of these events for now while looking forward to re-scheduling them at a later date.

South Orange Public Library is mindful of concerns about the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).  Our library receives an overall cleaning every day. Hand sanitizer is available on both floors of the Library. We are increasing cleaning of doorknobs and other heavily-used surfaces, but personal hygiene measures remain the best way to avoid infection. Practicing good hygiene in shared spaces is always important; we remind everyone that this is a way to show respect for all who use the library.

At this time all other classes and programs will be held as scheduled. Staff will continue to evaluate the changing situation and adjust our response as necessary. We strongly encourage customers who are feeling ill to stay home and not visit the library or attend library programs. This is particularly true if you have a fever or are exhibiting other symptoms.

If you are unable to come to the library to return items, please login to your account online to renew or give us a call or email (973.762.0230 [email protected]) and we will  extend your due date.  Should there be a need to change our hours of operation or cancel any event, the information will be posted on our website.  As always, our electronic materials are available to our cardholders 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These include language lessons, ebooks, audiobooks, and movies. Go to sopl.org to access online resources.

We encourage everyone to turn to reliable, factual information about the virus from reputable government and medical officials.

South Orange Village

NJ Department of Health

CDC

NJ State Library

We thank you for your patience and understanding as we adjust according to the changing situation.

Lastly, a reminder from the Village Health Department:

As of right now, your risk for exposure is low. There has not been a recorded case in Essex County at this time.  However, everyone should stay diligent with precautions to keep that risk low.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Avoid contact with people who are sick.

Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.

Cough and squeeze into a tissue or into your sleeve, not your hands.

Clean frequently touched objects and surfaces, using a disinfecting spray or wipe.

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.