Dear Teaneck Public Library patrons and community members,
As we continue to make preparations for safely expanding library services inside the building, I want to also take a moment and share a brief report on the library’s response to the initial outbreak of COVID-19 last spring.
While we closed the library building on March 13 in response to the rapid rise in coronavirus infections, we also quickly pivoted many library services to provide expanded community access during this time of need.
From March 13 through July 2, we saw a 144% increase in usage of our electronic materials, including downloadable eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines, and streaming music, movies, and TV shows. More than 22,700 items were borrowed using our Libby, Hoopla, Kanopy, RBDigital, and other mobile apps.
We supported remote student learning by providing online access to the online tutoring Brainfuse platform, Creativebug‘s craft classes and workshops, and a variety of educational and research databases to help with homework. To help connect students, parents, and teachers to all of the library’s resources at their disposal, we developed a Resources for Students toolkit, and are continuing to update for the fall schoolyear. This, and other pages on our website were viewed more than 33,200 times between March 13 and July 2.
Unable to offer in-person events, we launched virtual versions of our popular programs including storytimes, crafts, yoga, read-alouds, meditation, book clubs, and lectures. These programs were offered via online platforms including Zoom, Facebook Live, and YouTube, with more than 8,600 attendees participating or viewing.
While the pandemic forced residents into quarantine and isolation, we sought new ways to continue connecting with you. We implemented a new chat service and routed phone calls to remote locations where we answered more than 1,200 of your questions by phone, text, email, chat, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram. In addition, we made hundreds of phone calls to residents who submitted an online form asking for a check-in phone call.
In mid-June, Governor Murphy began permitting libraries to offer outdoor services, and we responded by launching contactless pickup of library materials on June 22. Since that day, we have checked out more than 29,000 books and other physical library materials, with a majority delivered by way of doorside pickup.
I’m incredibly proud of the way our library has responded to this unprecedented public health crisis. But none of this could have been accomplished without the work of the people who make our library go.
I want to thank the staff who have worked non-stop to adjust to the daily challenges and reinvent ways to safely and effectively deliver services to our community, the library’s Board of Trustees for guiding our organization through these changes, and the Friends of the Library for their steadfast support.
And I want to thank you, the residents of Teaneck, for your patience, support, and dedication, as we continue to navigate this fluid environment.
Have a safe and happy weekend. And I wish a happy Yom Kippur, to all those who celebrate!
Sincerely,
Allen McGinley
Library Director
Thankyou! The library has been so accommodating!