Can't borrow books for the rest of the month
By Lena Kovadlo
@lovebuglena (44721)
Staten Island, New York
March 14, 2020 2:31pm CST
Due to the coronavirus all NYC public libraries have shut down for the rest of March. That means I can't check out any books for at least a few weeks.
Hubby asked me what I am gonna do and if I have any books to read. I told him I have one book and it's close to 600 pages. He said that is not enough for me.
Well, it will take time to read this book in its entirety. And how long it will take depends on whether I actually take the time to sit and read and how many pages I read when I do. It can easily take me a few weeks to read it.
It's not the end of the world if I can't take out any books right now. It's not like I can't survive without a book...
8 people like this
10 responses
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
14 Mar 20
I have anticipated libraries shutting down.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (44721)
• Staten Island, New York
22 Mar 20
Seems like they will be closed for some time. As will everything else.
1 person likes this
@things4gotten (476)
• United States
22 Mar 20
Ebooks are still an option. I have been using the internet archive for finding my reading lately. Its probably not ideal for most as it means having to read on a screen rather than holding a physical book and not a lot of people like that, but if you need something to read it is connected to hundreds of libraries. Something like that could work as a temporary alternative until the libraries are fully opened again.
@lovebuglena (44721)
• Staten Island, New York
22 Mar 20
I do not read e-books so have never taken them out from the library. Not sure how that works. I think I need to download some app or something to be able to borrow e-books. Have to look into it.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (44721)
• Staten Island, New York
23 Mar 20
@things4gotten I used a kindle once and wasn't a fan.
@things4gotten (476)
• United States
23 Mar 20
@lovebuglena Its worth looking into. Doesn't have the same weight, smell or feel of a real book but it has some advantages. I use something called Moonreader for books formatted in Mobi, PDF and Epub. But it doesn't seem to work on books that I have purchased off of amazon which I have to use their app for. Hope you can manage to find something that works out for you while you wait for the libraries to open again.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (44721)
• Staten Island, New York
22 Mar 20
If people have to return books they will not be penalized for being late. Books can only be returned once the libraries are back in operation. No one knows when that will be.
1 person likes this
@id_peace (14005)
• Singapore
23 Mar 20
I think that can be challenged to the library as this is not because no one want to return the books but they could not due to their shutdown.
I am pretty sure that they will be reasonable about it.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
14 Mar 20
I've heard about some libraries that are closing down but extending the loan periods for people. If you were really desperate, you could borrow an e-book as I can't imagine that that part would shut down.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
14 Mar 20
@lovebuglena The only problem will be for those who do decide to use ebooks, the apps might get overloaded and go down.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (44721)
• Staten Island, New York
14 Mar 20
I don't like e-books so have never tried borrowing one from the library but I bet that should still be allowed as you don't need to go to the library to get it.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (44721)
• Staten Island, New York
14 Mar 20
@ScribbledAdNauseum Oh, so you need a special app to borrow e-books from the library?
@lovebuglena (44721)
• Staten Island, New York
15 Mar 20
As a precaution, yes. Especially when there are many cases of people diagnosed with the virus.
1 person likes this
@Michellekidwell (29427)
• Sonora, California
14 Mar 20
I have book cases full of books, and I review for Netgalley so I'm good in that department!
@Michellekidwell (29427)
• Sonora, California
14 Mar 20
@lovebuglena Its a service where you can get Arc copied of books for review, they are usually Kindle copies but I've been given physical copies as well!
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
14 Mar 20
Our libraries are also closed at the moment, but I already have plenty of library books, so I am not going to run of out things to read. I read on their website that all late fees from the period will be deleted when the library opens again. I am so happy about that because I have many library books 
@lovebuglena (44721)
• Staten Island, New York
14 Mar 20
Same for NYC libraries. Late fees are waived as it should be.
@lovebuglena (44721)
• Staten Island, New York
14 Mar 20
Are you referring to shutting down the library?
@LindaOHio (181642)
• United States
14 Mar 20
I have 2 books from the library right now. One is 400 pages; and I'm halfway through. The other is over 1,000. That will take me a while. Our libraries are open so far. I also have a bookcase full of books.
@lovebuglena (44721)
• Staten Island, New York
14 Mar 20
They told us that late fees will be waived for patrons whose books are due on days when the libraries are shut down. I returned mine Thursday, so no need to worry about that. I've got plenty of books at home but they are those I've already read. Your area must not have a lot of cases so they don't feel it is necessary to close the libraries for a while.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (44721)
• Staten Island, New York
14 Mar 20
Yes. And very quickly. Hope it will get back to normal soon.
1 person likes this
