LIBRARY CLOSED STARTING MARCH 16
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Our physical doors may be closed, but our e-resources are ALWAYS open!
Click here for access to ebooks, movies, tv shows, audiobooks, and more!

The decision to close the Middlesex Public Library is not one that leadership takes lightly. We understand that now,
more than ever, our patrons need accessibility to legitimate and factual information and sources. The Library is, and
always has been, the trusted institution to bring that reliable information to an uncertain world.

The physical and emotional health of our patrons, staff, and community is our highest priority. Therefore, due to the increasingly rapid transmission of the novel Coronavirus/COVID-19, it is the decision of Library Director Chrissy George and the Middlesex Library Board of Trustees to close the Middlesex Public Library to its staff and the public, starting Monday, March 16. The Director and the Board will reevaluate this on a weekly basis.

As previously mentioned in our Preparedness Plan, it’s important to remember that cancelling programs and limiting
certain services does not give in to panic. Removing opportunities for large groups of people in confined spaces results
in a variety of indirect and direct ways of managing the spread of this virus - keeps the number of infected people lower,
prevents medical systems from becoming overwhelmed, and buys time to allow the medical community to distribute
and examine options. As the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), WHO (World Health Organization), and all of our
national and statewide leaders, scientists, and epidemiologists have reported, “Social Distancing” is one of the best ways
to prevent the spread of this virus, and the Middlesex Public Library intends to do our part in that as well.

RETURNING MATERIALS: ALL materials have extended due dates until March 31. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN MATERIALS TO OUR OUTDOOR BOOK DROP, OR LEAVE THEM OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY. YOU WILL NOT ACCRUE FINES ON ANY MATERIALS FROM NOW UNTIL MARCH 31. We encourage our patrons and our staff to stay home, and, thusly, our Book Drop will not be emptied on a regular basis, to ensure a reduction of transferring potential germs.

ALL PROGRAMS CANCELLED: AS OF MARCH 16, ALL PROGRAMS HELD IN THE LIBRARY - ADULT, CHILDREN, AND SCHEDULED/BOOKED MEETING ROOMS, AND FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY PROGRAMS ARE CANCELLED. Library sponsored and independent programs using our meeting rooms are ALL CANCELLED. No exceptions.

CITIZENSHIP CLASS: CITIZENSHIP TEST CLASS....PLEASE CONTACT MR. JOHNSON FOR INFORMATION.AT 732 -447- 5548 OR lulu4836@ aol.com.

READY REFERENCE OPTIONS: We are always accessible via email to answer your reference queries. If you have
questions and need our help, email us at Reference@middlesexlibrarynj.org, or send us a message on our Facebook
page and we will be happy to provide you with the assistance you need.

PHONE ASSISTANCE: We will have limited staffing voer the next two weeks. If you need to reach someone via phone,
please call our main line. If staff is not available to answer immediately, please leave a voicemail message. Staff will be
checking voicemail messages frequently, and someone will return your call as soon as we possibly can.

FACEBOOK AND WEBSITE: At this time, the BEST way to stay up to date on Library openings is on our Facebook page
and our website. We will be updating both extremely frequently with information not only on closings, but important
news links and ways to get thru the social distancing and self quarantining in the best ways possible, without going stir
crazy. Check both our sites - we will help you navigate this situation! You can learn a new skill, enrich your current
knowledge, visit museums and travel the world from your couch - we will make it possible!

DIGITAL RESOURCES: We encourage users to utilize the many digital remote services available as much as possible. We
provide electronic access to a variety of library materials, including: Books and Audiobooks (Hoopla, Libby by
Overdrive), Magazines (RBDigital), Music (Hoopla), and Movies and TV Shows (Hoopla). You can also view a complete
list of all electronic resources and instructions on our website. We have increased our budget and limits for electronic
resources in an effort to provide our community with continuing literacy and learning opportunities.

VIRTUAL “MOVE IT MIDDLESEX” STORYTIME: We are working with the Middlesex Borough Recreation Department to
bring a VIRTUAL STORYTIME to our Facebook and to the Recreation’s Facebook. Once a day, we will be posting videos
and live check in storytimes with the effort to get kids ages 2 and up to listen, read, interact, and MOVE. We don’t have
exact times yet, but anticipate the storytimes to be uploaded starting Tuesday, March 17, and to be available to view in
real time and at a later time, to fit into your child’s learning journey during the day/night. Keep an eye on the Library
Facebook page, Recreation Facebook page, and the Library and Borough websites for more information on our “Move It
Middlesex” Storytimes!

FREE MATERIALS: In addition to accessing out materials online, we will have a cart outside in the vicinity of either the
Senior Center or the Library with free paperbacks and other books that you can take home and keep, swap out, etc.
Please note that this is NOT open to book donations; if the cart is full we ask that you exercise courtesy and not use it as
a place to donate personal purged materials.

ONLINE CHILDREN’S BOOKS AND OTHER SERVICES: We have a variety of online kids’ books and websites that we can share to assist in virtual learning for our young patrons at this time. In the next few days our website will be updated
with an array of services to encourage learning and literacy in this remote time. We are here to continue to support the
journey of reading and learning; and this is the perfect time to tap into the creative abilities that transcend the paper
pages.

HOLDS AND INTERLIBRARY LOAN: Holds and ILLs are suspended at this time. If you have placed a hold, it will be “on
hold” until the Library reopens. The Library is not sending out or receiving holds at all.

PRIVILEGE RENEWALS: LMxAC (Libraries of Middlesex Consortium) has extended all Library Cards for an additional
month at this time. If you need your PIN or card number, please call the Library and leave a voicemail, and someone will
return your call as soon as possible. Library card numbers and pins are necessary to access our electronic materials.

This is an anxious time for our country, our state, and our town. The Library encourages you to use social media as a means of maintaining connections and avoiding isolation at this time. While we are in this crisis, technology can be a wonderful tool to help you continue to learn and communicate while also joining in the mutual goal of social distancing to manage this virus. Middlesex is a team, a close knit community, and together we will use all our resources to emerge MIDDLESEX STRONG and most of all, MIDDLESEX HEALTHY. We thank you for your patience and your flexibility in navigating and walking this unprecedented path with us!

We encourage all of our patrons to rely on verified and legitimate sources of information for news.  Please visit the following websites to keep up to date with all the news on Coronavirus/COVID-19. And, of course – WASH YOUR HANDS!

HELPFUL LINKS:
State of NJ, Department of Health
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
The World Health Organization (WHO)
Videos from the CDC on COVID-19
CDC Department of Preparedness Twitter Feed
Fact Sheets for parents and children
National Public Radio (NPR) comic explaining Coronavirus for kids
Handwashing Reminder Signs

And also, it’s important to engage in emotional health checks and balances during situations such as this. Check here for information on how to control anxiety and emotions during this time.
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Coronavirus Information

Please click on the below verified and legitimate resources from the
Center for Disease Control to help you learn about the current outbreak of Coronavirus.

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Library Electronic Resources!

Check out some of our new resources, available to you right from your home computer, tablet, or smartphone!