COVID-19 Protocols Make the Library An Extra Quiet Place to Study

The SUNY New Paltz Sojourner Truth Library has seen several changes to its operations in the Fall 2020 semester. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the library has introduced several health and safety measures to reduce the risk of disease spread while still allowing students access to their services.

The library offers three separate reservation times Monday through Thursday: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. They have also recently added two times on Sunday: 1 to 3 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. Only 50 students are allowed in the library during each time slot, and reservations must be made on the library’s website, library.newpaltz.edu, before arrival.

Emily Smith is a pre-graduate student as well as a library staff member. For work changes caused by pandemic precautions, Smith said that “we have screens” and “there’s a lot less staff now physically present, most of our stuff is virtual, it’s a lot more quiet.” However, she also said that “there’s more options now for books” and “it’s super convenient for more things to be online.”

Students are no longer allowed to check out books on their own, and instead need to use the library’s curbside borrowing program accessible through its website. Additionally, only the main floor of the library is open to the public with the two lower levels that house the stacks being closed off.

Aleah Speller, a third-year student majoring in digital media production, said she is not using the library as much this semester. “I’ve been trying not to come as much because of the risk, in the age of COVID it’s just always in the back of your mind,” Speller said. She makes sure to disinfect her workspace before and after use with the library-provided wipes, but “it’s almost easier to be like, ‘I’m just going to do my work at home’ just to eliminate the anxiety.”