The library will reopen, at reduced capacity, on May 24, 2021. We can’t wait to see you! Here are the things you need to know about what to expect from your library experience.
Hours of Operation for the Month of May + June
- Mondays – Thursdays
- In person browsing and curbside pick up 10am – 8pm
- Fridays
- In person browsing and curbside pick up 10am – 5pm
- Sundays
- In person browsing and curbside pick up 1pm – 5pm
Requirements for All Visitors
- Maximum occupancy of 150 patrons in the building at a time will be enforced. The maximum occupancy in the Children’s Room is 15. This will be strictly enforced by Library staff. If the capacity limit is reached, those patrons who have been onsite the longest will be asked to conclude their visit.
- Anyone who has a fever, cough, chills or is otherwise not feeling well or who are self quarantining should not visit the library.
- When entering and for your entire time inside the library, all patrons ages 2 and up, must be wearing a face covering. Face coverings that completely cover the mouth and nose are required and mandatory as per Executive Order 107. Masks, bandannas or scarves are acceptable. Hands, shirts, or other clothing are not acceptable face coverings.
- Please observe the social distance of six feet between you and the staff and you and your fellow patrons.
- As of May 10, BCCLS and the Library are no longer quarantining materials. All returned items must be placed in the book drops on Clinton Avenue. You can check your account here.
- Patrons may stay in the building for up to 1 hour
- No one under the age of 14 may enter the Library without a parent or guardian. Our unattended child policy can be found here
Available In Person Services
- Browsing and pick up holds/requested materials
- Library card registration
- Book sale
- Wireless printing (via your smart device or laptop)
- Photocopier
- Faxing
- Notary public
- Passport Applications by appointment only
- Reference assistance
- Library of Things – Kindles, Roku sticks, STEAM Kits
- Museum Passes
- Public Adult PCs (Please note: sessions will be limited to 30 minutes per day)
- Quiet Study Rooms (Please note: first come first served, limited to 30 minutes per day)
In Person Services That are Temporarily Unavailable
- One on one in person technology instruction
- Use of public meeting rooms for community groups
- In person ESL tutoring sessions
During Your Visit
- When possible browse for materials with your eyes and not with your hands.
- The building will be cleaned and sanitized before opening each day. At any point throughout the day, patrons may be instructed to vacate the building or a particular area so that library staff can clean and disinfect.
- Outside furniture may not be brought into the library.
- We encourage you to continue attending our fantastic virtual programs, using our e-materials and our online databases.
- There will be less public computers available due to spacing requirements. Therefore, computers can only be used once per day for 30 minutes. You can make a computer reservation while on-site. Only one guest pass per person, per day will be provided.
- Assistance from staff will be provided at a safe distance.
- As museums reopen we will activate our passes for check-out.
- If there is a line to check-out materials, we ask that you opt to use our new mobile check-out service.
Library Phone and Chat Assistance
Have a question? Need help? The Library is offering phone and chat reference service on Mondays–Thursdays from 10am–8pm and Fridays 10am-5pm. Outside of these hours, you can submit a message online.
Returns
Please return all items at the book drops on Clinton Avenue.
Book Donations
The Friends of the Library are not accepting donations at this time.
Questions and Answers
Can I get items from other libraries?
As per a recent BCCLS announcement, you may now make requests through the online catalogue that can be picked up only at the Bergenfield Library. You can choose to pick up your request in person during library hours or via curbside pick-up by calling 201 – 387 – 4040 x0 and scheduling a pick-up date.
Is there a maximum for how many items I can request via curbside pickup?
We are asking that patrons request no more than 10 items per day to help us to manage high volumes of requests.
Can outside groups meet in the library?
No – at present there are no spaces for group meetings. All library events and programs (and Summer Reading) are all being done virtually at least through the end of the summer. Meeting room space will become available at a later stage, but we do not have a time frame for this currently.
Can I sit on benches outside the building?
Yes – benches outside the building are free to use. However, it is important to note that the library is NOT managing the benches and outdoor seating for safety purposes. Therefore, using outdoor seating at current is at your own risk.
Do I need to wear a mask when picking up or dropping off items?
Yes – all patrons MUST wear a mask when picking up or dropping off items as those spaces are just inside the building.
Evolving Services
Details on hours of operation and technology use will be forthcoming. New Jersey remains under a public health emergency and the Library is taking a cautious path to resume services. Governor Murphy’s “The Road Back” plan gives all New Jersey public libraries the ability to phase in services according to local needs, staff capacity, and the community’s situation. The Library’s decisions will continue to be informed by the Governor’s executive orders, recommendations and orders from the state and county health departments, guidelines from the CDC, and cooperative planning efforts with local organizations and public libraries.
COVID-19 Safeguards
For the limited staff in the buildings, the Library will follow guidance about the number of people per square foot, social distancing, and sanitation practices Please see our COVID-19 Policy.
More Information
As more information is made available, this website and Library social media Facebook, Instagram, Twitter will be updated. You can also sign up for the Library newsletter for updates.
