Perrot Library Reopening Status Update, 8/28/2020

Perrot Library Reopening Status Update, 8/28/2020

Air purifiers that kill mold, bacteria, and viruses have been installed in our HVAC systems. Touchless faucets have been installed in the restrooms. We are modifying the public service desks with plexiglass shields, similar to those found in retail shops. Before we can allow visitors in the building, we must complete these preparations and plan for traffic flow in the facility. We will coordinate opening procedures with the Greenwich Library and consult with state, town, and local health officials to ensure the safety of library visitors and staff. In the meantime, we invite you to choose books, music, movies, and magazines through our online catalog and call or email us to use our very successful contactless curbside pick-up service. You can make an appointment to access a computer in the Binney Room or access the internet with your personal digital device anytime through our robust WiFi service in the Library’s garden, front plaza, or parking lot. Enjoy our virtual programs and call/email us with your information requests and reading recommendations. For further details, visit us at www.perrotlibrary.org

Kevin McCarthy, Library Director
203-637-3888
kmccarthy@perrotlibrary.org

Upcoming Event: Zoom Book Discussion on American Dirt

Perrot Memorial Library & The Greenwich Pen Women

present a Zoom Book Discussion on

American Dirt

by Jeanine Cummins

Facilitated by Kathy DiGiovanna of Greenwich Pen Women

An Editors’ Choice Selection from The New York Times Book Review, as well as a regular entry in Perrot’s Top Ten list of hot books for the last several months, American Dirt is the story of a Mexican mother and her son who are forced to flee their homeland when her husband’s expose on the local drug cartels is published. Here’s what Maureen Corrigan of NPR’s Fresh Air had to say about it: “American Dirt is a literary novel with nuanced character development and arresting language; yet, its narrative hurtles forward with the intensity of a suspense tale. Its most profound achievement, though, is something I never could’ve been told… American Dirt is the novel that, for me, nails what it’s like to live in this age of anxiety, where it feels like anything can happen, at any moment.”

Tuesday, September 29th, 2020 at 7 PM via Zoom

Register for this event 

For more information, contact lending@perrotlibrary.org

American Dirt is available to check out as a physical copy, an audiobook CD, an ebook, or a downloadable audiobook

Temporary issue with Optonline.net email addresses

Patrons with Optonline.net email addresses are currently NOT receiving our holds notification and due date reminder emails. If you have an Optonline.net email address, you will need to log in to your library account or give us a call (203-637-1066 or 203-637-8802) to get your holds/due date information. You can also provide us with an alternate email address. Our vendor is working on the issue and hopes to have it resolved shortly. Our apologies for the inconvenience.

Upcoming Virtual Event: The Pollinator Victory Garden, with Kim Eierman

Upcoming Event:

The Pollinator Victory Garden

with author and environmental horticulturalist Kim Eierman

cosponsored by the Greenwich Botanical Center, the Garden Club of Old Greenwich, the Riverside Garden Club, Pollinators Pathway, and the Greenwich Conservation Commission

Wednesday, August 26th, 2020, at 7 PM

Register for this event on Zoom

The passion and urgency that inspired WWI and WWII Victory Gardens is needed today to meet another threat to our food supply and our environment-- the steep decline of pollinators. This webinar will offer practical solutions for winning the war against the demise of these essential creatures. Based in New York, Kim Eierman teaches at the New York Botanical Garden, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Native Plant Center in NY, and the Rutgers Home Gardener's School, among others. 

Perrot Library Reopening – Status Update, July 27, 2020

Perrot Library Reopening – Status Update, July 27, 2020

The library building remains closed to visitors, but we will begin adding the following library services in August:

1. We will be available on Saturdays (beginning August 1st) from 12 noon to 5 PM for same-day reference, readers’ advisory, and circulation services via telephone and email. Curbside holds pickup will be available on Saturdays from 12:30-4:30 PM: Call 203-637-1066 (adult/teen) or 203-637-8802 (children) to schedule your pickup

2. Effective Monday, August 3rd, patrons will be able to use a computer in our Binney Room by appointment only:

• Two public use computers will be available for up to one hour per visit between the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM, Monday through Friday
• Library visitors must call 203-637-3870 in advance to schedule their day/time to use the computers or printer/photocopier
• You must provide your Perrot or Greenwich Library card number when you call to schedule your appointment
• When you arrive for your appointment, you must call the Reference Desk at 203-637-3870 to be escorted by library staff via the front door to the Binney Room. When you have completed your work, staff will escort you back through the front entrance. All other sections of the library remain closed
• Only one person at a time will be allowed for each computer session. No one else is permitted in the building at the time of your reservation, including children, spouses, siblings, friends, and relatives
• Everyone must wear a face mask while in the library

Please contact the Reference Desk if you have any questions or concerns: lwhite@perrotlibrary.org, 203-637-3870.

Kevin McCarthy, Library Director

203-637-3888

kmccarthy@perrotlibrary.org

Perrot Library Reopening - Status Update July 10, 2020

Perrot Memorial Library has implemented several changes as we take careful steps to reopen the library for our community:

• We have installed air purifiers on our HVAC system that kill mold, bacteria and viruses
• We have distributed PPE to all staff and deployed disinfectant to all service desks and high-touch/contact areas
• We are providing requested materials for borrowers through our no-contact curbside pick-up service
• Our book drop is once again open 24/7/365
• We have extended our hours of service to include Tuesday and Thursday evenings
• We are providing same-day reference, reader's advisory and lending service via telephone, email, and the Library's online catalog
• We present virtual storytime programs, virtual singalongs, and book clubs for our Young Readers
• We have made internet access available for visitors using their own digital devices in our parking lot, garden and front plaza

Next Steps for our Phased Reopening:

• We are planning to offer computer use (by appointment only) and extending our service hours to include Saturdays (noon to 5 PM) in early August
• We will expand our virtual programming to include author talks and other interesting presentations for adults
• We will fully reopen the Library for public use in conjunction with the Greenwich Library, the reopening of Greenwich Schools, recommendations from the Connecticut State Library, advice from Greenwich Town Officials and the consent of the Perrot Library Board of Directors, hopefully this Fall, if not sooner

-Kevin McCarthy, Library Director
203-637-3888
kevinm@perrotlibrary.org

Booklists and Craft Instructions From This Week's Virtual Programs for Kids

Here are the booklists and craft instructions from this week's virtual programming for kids! You can place holds on our suggested books and retrieve them via curbside pickup. If you need a paper copy of the craft instructions, give us a call and we can set up a curbside pickup for you for those as well.

If you are interested in signing up for our virtual programs, this PDF has all the links to register via Zoom: http://perrotlibrary.org/uploads/8/8/3/0/88303230/perrot_summer_zoom_programming_kids.pdf


Pat-a-Cake Booklist
https://greenwichlibrary.bibliocommons.com/list/share/274909817/1672336539

Early Words Booklist
https://greenwichlibrary.bibliocommons.com/list/share/274909817_perrotyouthservices/1672178139

2s and 3s Together Booklist
https://greenwichlibrary.bibliocommons.com/list/share/274909817/1672185889

Fun for 4s and 5s Booklist

https://greenwichlibrary.bibliocommons.com/list/share/274909817/1672317850

  

Stuff & Nonsense Booklist

https://greenwichlibrary.bibliocommons.com/list/share/274909817/1672210699

Stuff & Nonsense Craft Instructions

http://www.perrotlibrary.org/uploads/8/8/3/0/88303230/stuff_and_nonsense_week1.pdf

Virtual Summer Programs for Kids

Register today for our summer virtual programs for kids! Programs will be held via Zoom. All registration links are available here. Questions? Please call us at 203-637-8802. 

Winners of the Perrot Memorial Library's Haiku Contest Announced!

During the COVID-19 crisis, we reached out to the public and asked them to submit haiku--3-line, 17-syllable Japanese-style poems--that described their experience with the pandemic, the closures, and the impact of both on their daily life. The response was terrific! We received over 160 original haiku from people all over the world, ranging in age from 9 to ??? Here is what our judges had to say about the submissions:

"We were struck by the universal themes of fear, love, anger, joy, surprise, sadness and loneliness, and we were intrigued by turns of phrase that demonstrated heart, humor and imagination. In nearly all cases, the haiku were heartfelt and intimate, and some were truly exceptional."

We are very pleased to announce the winners of our haiku contest:

Children

3rd-4th Grade Winner: Arielle Levy, Greenwich, Connecticut

5th-6th Grade Winner: Jingmi Chen, Old Greenwich

7th-8th Grade Winner: Sophia Singh, Denver, Colorado

Teens

First Place: Penelope (Penny) Duran, Frankfurt, Germany

Second Place: Yurika Sakai, Greenwich, Connecticut

Third Place: Divya Shenoy, Riverside, Connecticut

Adult

First Place: Heidi Stein, Mahopac, New York

Second Place: Michael Dudley, Ontario, Canada

Third Place: Susan Russo, Arlington, Virginia

Congratulations to all the winners, and a huge thank you to all those who participated, including our judges who gave of their time and expertise. We will publish all the haiku in a booklet, which will be available in printed form and as a pdf on our web site.

If you have any questions, please contact Judy Sgammato, head of Circulation Services, at 203-637-1066 or at jsgammato@perrotlibrary.org.

Adult Summer Reading Program 2020: Food for Thought

Following on the amazing response to our 2019 Adult Summer Reading Program, we are once again inviting our patrons age 18 and over to participate in our Food for Thought Summer Reading Program. Beginning Monday, June 22 and running through Labor Day, visit http://perrotml.readsquared.com to sign up and log your summer reading. Here's what you need to do to join in the fun:

1. Visit http://perrotml.readsquared.com.
2. On the right-hand side of the page, click on Register. Enter your name, phone number, library card barcode, and email address.
3. Enter a username and password you'll remember.
4. Make sure you click the small box to Accept the terms on the Registration page.
5. Once you're registered, you can log in at any time and enter information on the books you're reading this summer. Click on the Log Reading tab to enter the book's title and author, and click on the Review Book tab to give the book a starred rating and, if you choose, a brief review.
6. When you're done, click on Submit, and log out.
7. That's it. Enter as many times as you wish for a chance to win a gift card to a local eatery.
8. The winners will be announced the week of September 7th.
9. Call 203-637-1066 or email jsgammato@perrotlibrary.org for more information.
10. Happy Reading!!

When Will the Library Reopen?

When Will the Library Reopen?

The many questions we've received about the Library opening are certainly heartwarming. We're glad to be providing a service that you'd like to see resume. The decision to open our library building will be in accordance with a review and agreement by the Perrot Memorial Library Board of Directors, compliance with guidelines and recommendations by the Greenwich Department of Health and other Town officials, the physical characteristics of our building, and in coordination with the Greenwich Library. Our resources may not allow us to immediately restore the same levels of service we once provided.

Here are some of the things that we need to address before Perrot Library can reopen to the public in a way that is safe for both visitors and staff:

• Adequate PPE for library staff and visitors
• Possible limits on the number of people in the building
• Possible limits on the amount of time visitors spend here
• Separation of people using computers or study areas
• Redesign or suspension of events that bring in large groups
• Redesign or adaptation of places where people interact face-to-face, such as check-out desks or reference services
• Disinfecting of shared surfaces multiple times every day
• Installing air purifiers that kill mold, bacteria and viruses in our HVAC systems

We are anxious to return to the high quality personal services that you cherish, but we are now challenged by the need to make radical changes that will significantly alter how we serve you. Before we are ready to open fully, we will continue to help you by phone or e-mail and will expand no-contact services such as virtual programming and curbside delivery. 

While libraries have the State's permission to open during Stage Two of the reopening plan, we will not open until we have adjusted the environment to make it safe for all.

For a detailed list of rules and recommendations for reopening Perrot Library, please see: Connecticut Sector Rules for Reopen: Libraries

Visit our home page often for updates on our progress: www.perrotlibrary.org

-Kevin McCarthy, Library Director
203-637-3888
kmccarthy@perrotlibrary.org

Children's Summer Reading 2020 at Perrot: Imagine Your Story

Summer is here-- and that means it's time to sign up for Perrot's summer reading club for kids! You can participate (and win prizes for reading!) starting TODAY, through Wednesday, August 5th. The Summer Reading theme this year is IMAGINE YOUR STORY!

Because the library is still closed to the public, we will be using ReadSquared to manage our summer reading program. Simply make an account with ReadSquared, and you can log books read and even review them. After you read your first, third, and fifth books, you get a prize!  Once you've read your first book, you get a magnetic bookmark. When you read your third book, you can pick either a dragon grabber OR a unicorn headband. After you read your fifth book, you get a brand-new book (this year, we will have to select the book for you)! Once you are eligible for your prizes, please call us (203-637-8802) to set up a time to retrieve them via curbside pickup.

​Parents, you can also set up a ReadSquared account for your child who is not yet reading independently. Once you have logged 20 books read to your child, you will get a free book! Once you are eligible for your prize, please call the library to set up a time to retrieve them via curbside pickup.

Please note: Your Perrot ReadSquared account will be separate from your Greenwich Library ReadSquared account. You may sign up for both programs and receive prizes from both libraries. 

FAQs on No-Contact Curbside Pickup at Perrot Memorial Library

FAQ's on Non-Contact Curbside Pickup at Perrot Memorial Library

How Does No-Contact Curbside Pickup Work?
Place holds on books and materials in the Library catalog or by calling our librarians at 203-637-1066 (Adult Desk) or 203-637-8802 (Youth Services Desk). Curbside pickup is available on Monday/Wednesday/Friday from 9:30 AM-5:30 PM, Tuesday/Thursday from 9:30 AM-7:30 PM, Saturday from 9:30-4:30 PM, and Sunday from 1:30 PM-4:30 PM. Once your holds are ready, you'll receive an email notification with a link to choose the date and time that you can pick up. When you arrive on your self-selected date/time, please look for a bag labeled with your first name and the first initial of your last name, along with the last four digits of your phone number. Adult/Teen items may be picked up from the table outside our Main Building side entrance; Youth Services items may be picked up on the table outside the Radcliffe Building entrance. For your safety, remain in your car until library staff have returned inside the Library. And, please observe all social distancing rules.



What About the Books I Currently Have Checked Out? Will I Be Fined?
Our book drop has been reopened, but there's no need to rush. Please do not worry about fines. Although we cannot apply a further global extension beyond July 1st for all items still out (without disrupting the loan periods for new checkouts), we have increased the number of renewals to 10, which should give you plenty of time to return your items without charge. If you do incur a late charge during this time, please call Judy Sgammato at 203-637-1066 x15. Our book drop is once again open 24/7, including weekends.


How Will the Books and Materials Be Handled?
To protect our patrons and Library staff, all returned items will be quarantined for 96 hours before being checked in and returned to circulation. Library staff will handle books and materials with PPE, including gloves, masks, and protective gear.



Can I Bring Book Donations?
Unfortunately, we cannot accept book donations at this time, so please do not leave them outside the Library or in our Book Drop.


Are the Perrot Memorial Library Buildings Reopened?
The Perrot Memorial Library buildings continue to be closed to the public until further notice. We continue to plan the next phase of safely reopening our buildings to the Old Greenwich community.


What If I Have More Questions?
Staff are on hand to answer your questions by phone at 203-637-1066 (Adult Desk) or 203-637-8802 (Youth Services Desk), or by email at lending@perrotlibrary.org. Feel free to contact Library staff with any additional No-Contact Pick Up questions at 203-637-1066 or at lending@perrotlibrary.org prior to your arrival. We’ll be happy to answer any questions or concerns!

Upcoming Event: Virtual Book Discussion on "The Dutch House"

Zoom Book Discussion on The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

Facilitated by Sarah Darer Littman of Greenwich Pen Women

Wednesday, June 10th, 2020, at 7 PM 

A finalist for the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, The Dutch House is a New York Times bestseller and a favorite among Perrot patrons. Here's what Amazon has to say about it: "A richly moving story that explores the indelible bond between two siblings, the house of their childhood, and a past that will not let them go. The Dutch House is the story of a paradise lost, a tour de force that digs deeply into questions of inheritance, love, and forgiveness, of how we want to see ourselves and of who we really are."

The Dutch House is available as an e-book and a downloadable audiobook from the Library on Overdrive.

Free registration on Zoom.com is required for participation.

For more information and to receive an invitation to this meeting, contact lending@perrotlibrary.org

Young Critics' Club's Favorite Books of 2019-2020

BREAKING NEWS!

The Young Critics' Club (YCC), our 6th-, 7th-, and 8th-grade book club, has just voted on its favorite books of 2019-20. Their favorite book of the year is: CHARLIE THORNE AND THE LAST EQUATION, by Stuart Gibbs!

Be sure to take a look at the rest of the group's favorites for some fabulous kid-approved picks for middle-schoolers!