PASCACK VALLEY AREA, N.J.—We didn’t want to let another issue go by without honoring our area librarians and army of library staff and volunteers.
We just passed National Library Week, and oh—also chalk it up to the gorgeous weather, the end of the school year, and parents’ perennial quest for family friendly summer fun—we’re much in mind of our resilient, inventive small-town libraries.
You’ve seen our weekly library calendar, right? Turn to page 8 for our latest installment, hand-curated, as ever, by Pascack Press assistant editor and “Back In Time” (page 4) local history maven Kristin Beuscher.
You can make a seriously fun adventure out of all the community activities our libraries host, increasingly in person, and through bustling remote platforms.
Tots, kids, teens, young adults, adults, and seniors—all are welcome to explore and share new worlds.
Beyond books (print and digital): music, crafts, animation, storytimes, s’mores, games (lawn-, board-, and screen-based), movies, cooking demos, exercise, show and tell, financial planning, lectures, concerts, snack chats, exhibits, local authors, club hubs, prizes, and help with job searches.
And with vaccine gaining, restrictions easing, and Covid cases down, we’re seeing our libraries head in the direction we’re all eager to feel: more open and abundant.
Westwood Library Director Martha Urbiel tells us, “Though Covid is still a present danger, we have started to open up more and more, while still maintaining remote services.”
The library is open Monday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesdays–Fridays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays through June from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The library is open for 30-minute browsing sessions and checkout during normal hours. Materials now can be dropped off in the book drop after hours, but staff also maintain a bin by the door for easy drop-off.
“We are no longer quarantining items and so wait times should be a lot less. We are still asking that you drop your materials in the drop box or bin by the door; do not bring them directly to the desk,” says Urbiel.
Most programs will remain online with the exception of some outside programs. “Please be sure to check our calendar as we have a lot of programs for kids and adults! We’re not allowing indoor meetings or computer use at this time, but stay tuned as we plan to open more in June for these kinds of activities,” she says.
The Friends of the Library are accepting donations again, however, donations are accepted on Mondays only. Bring your donations between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. and a Friend of the Library will be available. Visit the website for more information.
Check out your local library, then share your favorite library story—or thank a staffer or volunteer—at pascackpress@thepressgroup.net. This summer, let’s all give them something to savor.