By Kate Hill

Staff Writer

On July 15, the Cazenovia Public Library (CPL) will reopen for limited patron use only.

Visitors will be allowed 40 minutes inside the building to browse circulated materials, use the copier, and access the computers.

Curbside pickup will continue to be available as well.

“We’ll be monitoring how many people are in the library,” said Archivist Elisha Davies. “We’re allowed 50 percent capacity, which is around 15 to 20 patrons. When and if we reach that number, patrons will be asked to wait before they enter.”

According to CPL Director Betsy Kennedy, the library is following all of the detailed guidance from the state and county for a safe reopening.

“It will be wonderful to see people again,” Kennedy said. “We recognize that some people prefer to browse the stacks to find a book they will enjoy, and we [can’t wait for] people to come in and see all of our new materials — over 300 items have been added.”

Patrons who are browsing materials will be asked to follow a one-way traffic pattern through the stacks.

Certain areas like DVDs and audiobooks will be restricted to a specific number of people at a time.

Browsers are asked to limit their handling of shelved items as much as possible.

Three computers will available for public use. Patrons will be required to sign in at the circulation desk and limit their use to 40 minutes.

According to the library, the staff has and will continue to increase its cleaning efforts. Routine cleaning will take place throughout the day to sanitize “high-touch” areas.

The circulation desk has been fitted with a plexiglass barrier, and staff will wear masks at all times.

Chairs and tables have been removed from the stacks to prevent extended stays inside the building. The public restrooms will also be locked and unavailable for public use.

The library will not permit the following during this stage of reopening: entry into the original building, museum or archives; access to puzzles; use of toys in the children’s area; meeting room usage; and public use of library phones.

Patrons who enter the library will be required to wear masks, to maintain social distancing and to use the hand sanitizer available at the entrances. The staff will also encourage hand sanitizer use inside the building by placing spray bottles throughout the stacks.

Individuals who are unable to abide by the library’s guidelines will be asked to leave the building and encouraged to use the curbside services.

Curbside orders may be called in, emailed, or sent via social media along with an anticipated pickup time. Patrons can also place a hold/request through the online Mid York Catalog.

The library staff will remove the book or other item from the shelf, sign the item out, place it in a labeled bag, and leave it outside on a table by the Albany Street entrance (upstairs) or the Riverside Drive entrance (downstairs) for pickup.

Patrons can request more than one item at a time and ask the staff to choose an item for them based on their preferences.

In addition to traditionally available items like books, DVDs and audiobooks, the library is loaning more unusual materials, like “Grandma Sally’s Book Bags,” nature kits, agriculture kits, croquet sets, and fishing rods.

According to Children’s Education Coordinator Jenna Wright-Martin, each Grandma Sally’s Book Bag contains a collection of 10 thematically related picture books and a folder with song and activity ideas for families.

The nature kits include nets, magnifying glasses and bug jars, as well as colored pencils and a notebook for kids to document their outdoor discoveries.

Offered through a partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County, the agriculture kits feature several books and activities.

Fishing rods are checked out with a small tackle box containing extra hooks, weights and bobbers, as well as a local fish guide and a notebook.

Each croquet set comes with mallets, balls, wickets and basic directions on how to play.

According to Kennedy, all curbside pickup procedures follow the recommendations from New York State, Madison County and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In addition to visiting the building, the library is also encouraging patrons to take advantage of its vast collection of downloadable books, movies, audiobooks and magazines. Visit the website for instructions on downloading the necessary apps.

“Putting so many restrictions on people coming to the library is very difficult for us,” said Kennedy. “It’s exactly the opposite of what we want the library to be, which is a place to meet friends and socialize; a place to sit, read and relax; a place to discover history in our museum; a place to delight in the art in our gallery; and a place to borrow reading, listening and viewing material. It will be that place again, but not now. Why not now? The research shows that prolonged exposure puts the public and staff at greater risk of infection. If we are all patient, the day will come when we can reopen fully. Thank you for your understanding and compliance.”

For additional information, updates and online resources, visit cazenoviapubliclibrary.org or facebook.com/CazenoviaPublicLibrary.