New Rochelle Public Library Closed Due to Coronavirus

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The main library and the Huguenot Children’s Library will be closed on Saturday, November 7th, with the expectation of reopening on Thursday, November 12th after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19.

The library administration and Board of Trustees is taking this action to protect the health and safety of patrons and staff, as well as the New Rochelle community.

Because of social distancing and protective measures the library has in place, it is unlikely that library patrons were in direct contact with the positive-tested staff member.

After consulting New York State COVID-19 personnel and the Westchester County Health Department for the appropriate actions to follow this discovery, the library will move forward with the following steps:

• Disinfecting the circulation area and adjacent lobby space to provide a safe space for usage.
• Closing the library for public use and limiting staff access to the facility for only essential activity.
• Encouraging staff with sustained circulation department staff contact (15 minutes or longer with distances 6 feet or closer) to obtain a COVID-19 test to determine their health status.
  

The library will monitor the status of the health of is staff during this period of closure and plan to reopen our facilities on November 12th to our current hour and service levels if possible. If this plan is impossible to implement, the library will notify our community about our alternative approach.

The book drops at the main library and HCL will remain open for returns, and the no-fines policy for the return of late material will also continue. Staff will not be available to answer phone calls or messages during this period.