To Our Community

In light of the legal provisions Gov. Cuomo is putting into place immediately, we are discontinuing curbside service, and all Kirkland Town Library staff members will be staying at home as of 5 p.m. today, Friday, March 20.

At this point, the library will remain closed indefinitely. 

As the Governor said in his press conference, all our actions affect one another. We all need to do our part to keep each other healthy.  

You can still get books, movies and magazines from the digital services available on our website. 

And while we won’t be here to answer the phone, the Jervis Library in Rome is graciously offering the support of its librarians who will be available from their homes, Monday-Friday from 11-7 p.m. If you have questions, need to have your PIN reset, need a library card so you can access the online services, or just need to hear a friendly voice — please call them at 315-336-4570. 

We already miss seeing you.

We already miss our daily conversations.

We already miss not being able to provide our services.

However, we will be here when it is safe for everyone to be out and about.

Take care of yourself and each other, 

Anne Debraggio
Director, Kirkland Town Library
315-853-4928

Looking for something to do while you’re at home? We have suggestions for all ages:

• Call us! Library staff are on duty and can get you library materials in our collection to be picked up curbside. Just call 315-853-2038 and let us know what you’d like. Or, we can make some choices for you.
• Our friends at the Kirkland Art Center are encouraging people to #stayhomemakeart. Visit their website to read more.
• Try geocaching. Use your phone to follow clues and find hidden treasures in the community. Search the app store on your phone for “Geocaching.”
• Take a walk through the village on our Poetry Path.
• Check out the free online courses available from Coursera. This could be a good time to brush up on your tech skills or learn something completely new. Khan Academy also has some great learning tools for all ages.

To sign up for daily updates from the Dept. of Health, visit their website.

Watch this video learn how to use Hoopla with your Mid York library card.

Want more information from the Kirkland Town Library? Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter by sending a message to clinton@midyork.org.

Click here to see the latest edition for kids, teens, and families.

Click here to see the latest edition for adults.

Click here to read the March 17, 2020 update from the New York State Dept. of Health.

The library may be closed but our digital services are always open!

This video gives a short introduction on using Libby with your Mid-York Library card. As always, give us a call if you need help.

If you’d like to make a donation to support the digital collection, send a check to the Mid York headquarters, 1600 Lincoln Avenue, Utica, NY 13502. Please write “Overdrive” in the memo line.

Read the NYSDH update from March 16, 2020

5 Steps to Prepare for COVID-19

Infectious disease experts say most cases of COVID-19 are mild to moderate, like the common cold. But it can be more severe in older adults and people with chronic health conditions.

There are simple steps you can take to help protect yourself and your family.

#1 Make a plan

Create plans for school, work and home.

• Make a list of people and organizations who can help if you become sick. Consider: family, friends, neighbors, carpool drivers, health care providers, teachers, employers, the local public health department, health care services, and other resources like mental health services.
• Join a neighborhood website or social media page to stay connected to neighbors, information, and resources.
• Plan ways to care for family members at risk for serious complications, such as older people and people with chronic health conditions.

#2 Prepare as you would for a winter storm

There is no need to buy large quantities of supplies. But it’s a good idea to pick up a few extra items each time you go to the market or pharmacy. That way, you’re prepared and can avoid crowds.

• Pick up some extra foods like canned goods, dry pasta, and peanut butter.
• Have soap, hand sanitizer, tissues, fever reducers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen on hand.

# 3 Get ready for possible changes in daily schedules

At School:

• Make plans to care for your children if schools are closed temporarily. Just like you would for snow days.
• Make plans for alternate after-school care in case they are closed temporarily.

At work:

• Ask to work from home or take leave if you or someone in your household gets sick, or if your child’s school is temporarily closed.

#4 Stay informed:

• Stay connected on your state and local health department’s social media pages and websites for timely and accurate COVID-19 information.
• Be aware of false information circulating on the internet. Accurate and up-to-date information is available from the State Health Department at www.health.ny.gov/coronavirus or its hotline at 1-888-364-3065, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website and social media platforms at www.cdc.gov/COVID19
• If you live alone and become sick, you may need to ask for help. If you have a chronic disease and live alone, ask your friends, family, and health care providers to check on you.
• If you decide to attend a public event, practice good health habits.
  • Try to keep at least 6 feet of distance between you and others at the event.
  • Avoid close contact, such as shaking hands, hugging, and kissing.
  • Wash hands often or use a hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
  • Avoid surfaces that are touched often, such as doorknobs and handrails.

#5 Prevent the spread of colds, flu and COVID-19

Everyone should:

• Stay home when you are sick.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before you eat.
• Cover your cough and sneezes with a tissue and discard in a closed container.
• Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Keep a distance of at least 6 feet to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

For people who are sick:

• Stay home.
• If you have a fever, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicines, such as acetaminophen.
• Keep sick household members away from others. If you have a separate room that is best.
• Use soap and water, a bleach and-water solution, or EPA-approved household products. You can make your own cleanser with a mixture of 1 cup of liquid unscented chlorine bleach in 5 gallons of water.
• Avoid sharing personal items.
• Anyone at high risk for complications should talk to their health care provider for more information.

The Kirkland Town Library will be open on Sunday, March 15, from 12:00 noon to 4 p.m, but will close on March 16^th because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to monitor the outbreak to determine when it is appropriate to reopen.

The library has almost 6,000 visits and more than 7,000 items cross our desks each month. This translates into a lot of personal interactions – and that is at the heart of the KTL. Closing is a difficult decision, but it will help protect the health of our community members and staff, and minimize the opportunities for transmission of the virus.

The decision follows a recommendation from the New York Library Association and was informed by information from the CDC and New York State Department of Health.

We know many in our community rely on the library, so staff members will continue to provide limited services for patrons. You can reach us by calling 315-853-2038, emailing clinton@midyork.org, or messaging us on Facebook.  You will still be able to get books, DVDs and other material – albeit in a unique way.  Please check back for details.

We appreciate your support as we do our part to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Here’s to your health and to taking care of one another,

Anne M. Debraggio, Director