Zoom Library Board Meeting
24 Hour Closure
Library Board Meeting
Closed for the Holiday
Library Closed 12/17/2020
Library Board Meeting Virtual Access
The Cambridge Public Library Board will hold the monthly meeting via Zoom on October 27th at 10:00 AM. To join the meeting please use the following link:
Topic: Cambridge Library Board
Time: Oct 27, 2020 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87861836524?pwd=MHJMRldLZnRpcE00akFyWU9US3hIQT09
Meeting ID: 878 6183 6524
Passcode: 64Cysw
Reopening: Next Steps
Don’t forget new hours start tomorrow!! Wednesday, Friday and Saturday the library building will be open for browsing, and other in-person services. Some important reminders:
*Masks are REQUIRED to enter the building and must be worn properly at all times.
*If you cannot wear a mask for ANY reason please contact the Library Director and we will work out reasonable accommodations to serve you.
*Building capacity will be restricted with no more than 10 individuals inside the building at one time.
*Use of a library computer will require an appointment. Computer use will be limited to 30 minutes per appointment with a 15 minute interval for cleaning and disinfecting.
*A library staff member can be contacted during OPEN hours by calling the library at 518-677-2443 or by emailing the Library Director at cbecker@sals.edu.
***Please be patient with the staff and your community members as we begin the next steps of this process. We look forward to seeing our patrons, even if it is only briefly!! 😉
Curbside Services Begin June 23rd
Library Announcement
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Every year at this time the Cambridge Public Library releases a report to our community highlighting the many accomplishments of the previous year. Admittedly, the library’s Board of Trustees and Library Director were excited to do so again this year. 2019 was an incredible year for Cambridge Public Library. Sadly, the recent events have made the annual report to our community especially difficult to write. 2020 has been tumultuous, tense, and at times terrifying. It is critical that our community not only hear about the wonderful things that happened last year, but also the plans that your library has for the future.
Cambridge Public Library hosted 324 programs at our library in 2019 and had nearly 4,000 patrons in attendance. Youth programs such as Preschool StoryHour, Book Club, Robotics Club, Art Club, and Science Club were held at the library 3 times a week. Patrons of all ages also enjoyed monthly health and wellness lunches, author visits, climate change workshops, financial wellness dinners and more. In addition to expanding our programming, the library added new morning and evening hours to meet the needs of our community. The library also began the first steps necessary to develop a construction plan, working with an architect who specializes in historic buildings, that would meet our needs for space and accessibility while preserving the historic beauty of the library. Cambridge Public Library won the Southern Adirondack Library Program of the Year Award for our Better Readers Program and received a “5 Star” rating in Library Journal’s National Library Index for the 8th year in a row.
Despite the impressive increase of Cambridge Public Library’s programs and services in 2019, nothing could have prepared us for the challenges of 2020. When the library building was closed in March of 2020 we were optimistic that the COVID-19 Pandemic Emergency would pass quickly. In the meantime, your library and the rest of the Southern Adirondack Library System scrambled to provide digital library cards, expand electronic resources, and make themselves available virtually to all of our patrons. Since closing the doors of the library building Cambridge Public Library staff members have been helping patrons via email and phone to access medical information, find affordable health insurance, answer Unemployment Insurance questions, offer homework assistance, and more. In addition, public wi-fi access is available 24/7 from the parking lot, and patrons can access free resources on our website such as NovelNY, Libby, TumbleBooks, and NewsBank.
As New York State moves forward Cambridge Public Library has developed a Step-by-Step Guide to reopening our library. Curbside and delivery service of library materials will begin on June 22, 2020 dependent on Capital Region developments. Summer Reading Programs will be done virtually this year and will be open to all ages. Every community member who completes the Summer Reading Challenge will receive a $10 gift certificate to a local small business. As your library begins the reopening process it is critical to remain flexible. We will do our best to provide the highest level of service while maintaining the safety and well-being of our staff and community members. Cambridge Public Library encourages our patrons to contact the Director of the Library with any questions or concerns and to check our website Cambridge.sals.edu for up-to-date information.
Be well. Be kind. Be Cambridge Strong. We will see you soon!