Douglaston Library To Reopen For To-Go Service

DOUGLASTON, QUEENS — Douglaston residents will soon be able to join their neighbors and pick up books at their local library.

The Douglaston/Little Neck library is among five more branches of the Queens Public Library that are reopening for to-go service on Wednesday, April 21, the Queens Public Library announced on Thursday.

The libraries in Baisley Park, Howard Beach, Middle Village and Woodside will also reopen for to-go service next week, bringing the total number of locations open to the public to 39 — including the QPL branch in Bayside.

Each reopened library has an area inside that’s designated for pick ups, and return machines outside of the branch for returning materials.

Unlike the 34 library locations that are already open, and operate six-days a week according to the QPL website, these five new libraries will be open three days a week — Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

"We are trying to increase the number of to-go locations and looking at our current staffing levels we are able to open these additional five locations three days a week," a QPL spokesperson told Patch over email.

Hours at the newly reopened libraries are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Friday with a one-hour closure from 1 to 2 p.m for cleaning, and 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, with a one-hour closure from 3 to 4 p.m. for cleaning.

“We have heard from many people who have said they feel safe and protected in our branches, whether they are working in or visiting them, said Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott in a news statement last summer, when the Astoria library reopened.

In addition to daily cleanings of the library itself, all materials that are returned to the library will be "quarantined" for 24 hours before they become available again, according to the QPL website.

Also, all staff and visitors must wear masks and stay at least 6 feet apart from one another while inside the branch.

Although the library won’t open until next week, customers can start making requests for books, movies, audiobooks, and other materials today. Requests can be made online, through the QPL app, or by phone.