PRINCETON, NJ Restaurant Dining Guide Announcement

Princeton Public Library Begins Accepting Returns June 24

Princeton Public Library’s phased reopening begins June 24, when library customers can begin returning materials borrowed prior to the March 13 closure of the Sands Library Building due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The return of materials is the first of two phases approved by the library’s Board of Trustees on June 19 after Gov. Phil Murphy amended his executive order to allow limited library operations. Phase 2, a date for which has not been set, will involve the contactless pickup of library materials placed on hold.

“We’ve heard from many people since we closed who want to return their books and get new reading material,” Jennifer Podolsky, the library’s executive director, said. “We understand that desire and our staff continues to refine on a plan to safely restore services in ways that put the safety of our customers and staff at the forefront.”

More than 20,000 books, audiobooks, DVDs and music CDs have been out on loan while the library has been closed. To deal with the sudden surge in returns, the library developed a plan centering on the library building at 65 Witherspoon Street:

— Returns can be made to the book and AV drops on Sylvia Beach Way, the one-way lane behind the library building.

— A bin will be placed under a tent outside the library Community Room doors 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays to accept returns from those who walk up to the building.

— Book drops at Princeton Shopping Center and Palmer Square will remain closed until further notice.

— Book drops and bins will be emptied throughout the day and evenings and weekends.

— Special arrangements will be made for those who have 30 or more items checked out on a single card or by multiple members of a household.

— All items currently on loan have a due date of July 15. Extended use fees will begin accruing on July 16.

— Once returned, materials will remain in quarantine in the Community Room for a minimum of 72 hours, in accordance with guidelines developed by the American Library Association.

— The library will not accept book donations until further notice.

“Once the bulk of the 20,000 materials have been returned and processed, we will share our Phase 2 plans for contactless pickup,” Podolsky said.  “Many in the community have expressed gratitude for the services offered by the Virtual Princeton Public Library and I’m proud of the way our staff stepped up to enhance and expand our digital services. Whatever the post-coronavirus landscape looks like for libraries, we know that digital resources will continue to gain importance. We fully expect to be able to meet the evolving needs of the Princeton community.”

For more information on Princeton Public Library’s reopening plans, please visit princetonlibrary.org/reopening.