Library continues to serve patrons; eyes fall reopening
The Mercer County Library System (MCLS) extends appreciation to its library patrons for their patience and support during this extraordinary time. The staff is working hard at making the nine branch libraries and procedures safe, and anticipates a reopening, with limited services, capacity and hours, this fall.
Although the library branches -- located in the municipalities of East Windsor, Ewing, Hightstown, Hopewell, Lawrence, Robbinsville, and West Windsor -- are not yet open to the public, they are serving their patrons with the contactless delivery of library materials, and tens of thousands of hours of live virtual programming and events, including an online summer reading program, instructor-driven computer classes, and entertaining and informative YouTube videos. During the summer months, library staff had also conducted a food drive, donating more than 900 items to the local food pantries run by Rise and HomeFront.
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"While challenging, it has also been exhilarating to find the Mercer County Library System could, as an organization, be so incredibly adaptable and resilient," County Executive Brian M. Hughes said. "The library has always striven to be the cornerstone of its communities; however, I believe it will emerge from this experience with a deeper understanding of its true relevancy to our communities."
Since beginning the contactless services on June 23, MCLS has facilitated the delivery of more than 252,000 items through almost 18,000 contactless pick-up appointments. Initially, the library filled its backlog of almost 16,000 hold requests, but is now serving patrons in real time. Contactless pick-up hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wednesday 1 to 7 p.m.; and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday hours will be expanded to 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning Sept. 26.
During its closure, the library has issued more than 1,100 eCards, which allow patrons access to a plethora of electronic resources, eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, movies, comics and television shows. In addition, the library has added relevant content to its database offerings, including Brainfuse, a leading online tutoring provider, which serves a diversified client base of school- and college-age students, as well as standardized test takers and job seekers, and has increased its social media presence. During the past six months, the library has seen an unprecedented 50 percent increase in the use of eBook and online audio and video services, with 182,000 e-circulations since March. Patrons can access the internet through the library's free WiFi connection, outside the branches, seven days a week from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m.
More than 83,000 items have been returned to the branch libraries through book and AV drops, which are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the convenience of patrons. The library will not be charging overdue fines for a full month after its reopening. Returned items are quarantined for 72 hours before re-shelving or circulating.
"The library has undergone an immense transformation in how it delivers its services to patrons over the past six months,” Mr. Hughes said. “Although the library has always maintained a hybrid of online and in-branch resources, its physical programming was exclusively in-person until its closure this past March.”
From March until now, MCLS has catapulted its programming and events to the virtual distribution of library eCards, weekly eNewsletters, the posting of more than 1,200 YouTube videos, which have been viewed almost 60,000 times, and has been able to maintain a full monthly calendar of virtual events, including interactive Facebook events and club meetings, computer instruction, and live GoToMeeting programs and presentations.
MCLS has significantly increased its electronic database presence, and has initiated three new email services that include a college essay and resume review, and a personal readers' advisory service, in addition to a chat feature to complement the already existing telephone and email reference services. The library recently began offering a remote printing service. While the Interlibrary Loan Department cannot lend books because the statewide delivery service has not yet been reinstated, it has begun to accept and fulfill article requests.
CURRENT STATUS
The New Jersey Department of Health on Sept. 21 announced 396 new positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the cumulative total of positive cases in the state to 200,154; and 2 additional confirmed COVID-19 deaths, bringing the cumulative total to 14,278 confirmed deaths and 1,791 probable deaths. Mercer County's 7 new positive cases bring its cumulative total to 8,576, with 600 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and 36 probable deaths. To view Mercer County data by municipality, please visit the Mercer County COVID-19 Dashboard at https://arcg.is/1y1eHO. Please note that municipal data lags behind the state data and will update as information becomes available. Visit the New Jersey Department of Health's COVID-19 Dashboard for more statewide information.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sept. 21 announced 37,417 new positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the cumulative total of positive cases in the United States to 6,786,352; and 270 additional deaths, bringing the cumulative total to 199,024, with 55 locations (50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, North Mariana Islands and U.S. Virgin Islands) reporting.
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HAVE GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT COVID-19?
The NJ Poison Control Center and 211 have partnered with the State to provide information to the public on COVID-19:
Call: 2-1-1
Call (24/7): 1-800-962-1253
Text: NJCOVID to 898-211
Visit https://covid19.nj.gov/ or nj.gov/health for additional information
PREVENTION AND SYMPTOMS
COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly through close contact from person to person, including between people who are physically near each other (within about 6 feet). People who are infected but do not show symptoms can spread the virus to others.
To ensure the lowest chance of obtaining the virus, and spreading the virus to others:
• Wear a face mask in public settings, especially when you can’t stay at least 6 feet away from others. Masks help stop the spread of COVID-19 to others.
• Practice social distancing.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place or after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
• Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or use the inside of your elbow.
• Avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.
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Symptoms can appear between 2-14 days after exposure, though some people may not have any symptoms while still being contagious. In addition to fever, cough and shortness of breath, symptoms can include chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.
If you believe you've been infected and you are not in immediate danger, you should contact your doctor by phone. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911, and notify the dispatch personnel that you may have COVID-19. COVID-19 Symptom Checker
JOBS AND HIRING
Did you lose your job or have your hours reduced as a result of COVID-19? The State of New Jersey has created a resource page to help you connect to benefits and resources you need while you are trying to safely get back to work, as well as some tips for coping with the stress of losing a job: covid19.nj.gov/work. In addition, Mercer County’s One-Stop Career Center has posted a list of employment opportunities.
COPING WITH STRESS
If you’re feeling stressed, anxious or depressed due to COVID-19, please call New Jersey's MentalHealthCares Helpline at 866-202-HELP (4357) or visit njmentalhealthcares.org for emotional support, guidance, and mental health referrals as needed. You also may call the SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 (TTY 1-800-846-8517). Listing of additional resources.
CENSUS 2020
It’s not too late to complete your 2020 Census form! It's safe and easy, and it’s your opportunity to bring education, health care, housing and political power to your community. But time is running out – the deadline for completing the census is Sept. 30. Be counted and make your voice heard.
If the paper form you received in the mail doesn’t work for you, you can respond online or by phone. There are so many ways to count yourself in the 2020 Census -- don’t wait! To respond online, visit https://my2020census.gov/login; to respond by phone, call 844-330-2020 (English) or 844-468-2020 (Spanish).
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