MARCH 16, 2020
As recommendations and reports are changing hour-by-hour with regard to the risk of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), your public library is prioritizing the health and safety of patrons and staff.
Following the lead of many other government and public agencies, Highland Park Public Library remains closed to the public for the time being. Staff will now only be available by email to provide reference and informational services. Please email us at highlandparklib@gmail.com or adultref@hpplnj.org, and we promise to reply within 24 hours.
We ask that you do NOT return any materials at this time. The outdoor book drop will be locked throughout the rest of the building closure. While the risk of transmission through surfaces is not extremely high, we are being as cautious as possible for the safety of library staff. All due dates have been extended through mid-April, with continued extensions forthcoming as necessary. There will be no fines charged during this time.
The library continues to provide many online resources. If you are a resident of Highland Park and do not have a library card, but would like to freely download ebooks and audiobooks, as well as access other valuable databases, please email us for a temporary card number. Keep your eye on our online newsletter and Facebook for more details about making the most of our virtual resources. (Share this message and encourage others to sign up for our online newsletter.)
As a reminder: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the World Health Organization, stress the importance of practicing social distancing and discontinuing large gatherings in order to slow the rate of transmission, lowering the number of active cases at one time. The simple act of closing our physical doors and keeping staff at home temporarily can help us avoid overwhelming the healthcare system. For a more detailed explanation, please visit flattenthecurve.com. The most current and best possible resource for all information related to COVID-19 still remains through the CDC: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
Please email us with any questions, or visit us online at www.hpplnj.org.
Thank you for your patience during a time of uncertainty. Please keep yourselves safe by staying home, limiting interactions with others, washing your hands, and taking care of each other in whatever ways you can.
