‘Livingston Library services update’

     

The Chancellor Robert R. Livingston Masonic Library of the Grand Lodge of New York has a way forward as circumstances change in the COVID-19 pandemic. The librarian disseminated the following information today:

Livingston Masonic

Library and Museum

Re-opening Procedures

Visits:

• The standard hours of the Library & Museum are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• No walk-in visits by patrons or researchers. All visits are by appointment only.
• Patrons must wear a mask at all times when visiting the Library to return books.
• Patrons must use hand sanitizer when entering the Library, which will be available inside the front door.
• Every patron will write in the guest book the date of the visit, name, and contact information.

General Circulation/Research Procedures:

• The staff is limited, therefore it will take longer to answer genealogy and research requests. All genealogy and research requests should be sent via email either to Librarian Joseph Patzner or Director Alexander Vastola.
• Requests for books from patrons should be emailed either to the Librarian or the Director.
• Research Requests: Materials will be prepared, scanned, and emailed to patrons.
• Book Returns: If patrons want to return or borrow a book from the library in person, they should set up an appointment ahead of time.
• There will be a book drop located just outside the Library’s front door for patrons to return books in case some patrons decide to return their books outside of standard hours.
• Preferably, patrons who mail books should mail them directly to:

Livingston Masonic Library

71 West 23rd St., 14th Floor

New York, NY 10010

• For currently borrowed books, all late fees are waived and due dates for books are extended for the time being.

• Regarding Museum Artifacts: The museum staff will not show or send artifacts to Masonic Lodges or Masonic organizations until September 2020.

Masonic Reading Course:

• The staff is limited, therefore it will take longer to run the Masonic Reading Course.
• Patrons should hold onto the books they have borrowed until the Library fully re-opens. Once this happens, patrons should mail the books to the Library to minimize contact, but also will have the option to return books in-person.
• Reading Course Certificates will be mailed directly to patrons instead of to the staff officers since Masonic activities are still closed.

Donations to the Library & Museum:

• The Library & Museum will not accept donations of books or artifacts until September 2020.

Library Lecture Series:

• All future Library Lectures are to be determined, based on how New York City slowly reopens in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and whether there is a COVID-19 resurgence in the Fall.