For many years now, the Sloatsburg Public Library’s bread and butter has been welcoming patrons into the library’s building, the historic former St. Francis Episcopal Church in the village center along Route 17. From holding seasonal programs for children and adults, to Summer Reading, camp, concerts, and classes, the library’s doors opened to a world of activities.

Like many businesses around the village, the library had to shut its doors during New York’s imposed stay-at-home quarantine and pivot to learn other ways of doing business.

The staff has been busy behind the scenes, creating a whole new online presence, while working to support a community engagement initiative by calling Sloatsburg seniors 55 and older. The library not only checks in on the community but lets patrons know about services that are available and will even work with them to access those services online.

“We are trying to break down the digital divide at this time,” said Sloatsburg Library Director Annmarie McAnany.

The library has decided that during this time of need throughout the community, it’s not appropriate to go out for a budget vote this year. What that means is that the library will continue operation under its existing budget and make cuts and adjustments to offset any cost increases.

With patrons unable to check out materials, the Sloatsburg Library has quickly set up a new Virtual Branch at SPLfromhome.org that offers easy access to online services and streaming that includes movies, books, a whole learning universe, complete with languages (Rosetta Stone) and classes, and even the best of British TV.

McAnany said some patrons contacted her to ask about masks and she then reached out to Sloatsburg resident Heather Saviano, who has been making masks as part of the Masked Warriors Project in Rockland County. Mask making, as with other recent cottage industries, has blossomed in this time, where people have proven flexible and industrious with their home office time.

A package of homemade masks sewn by Sloatsburg resident Heather Saviano, who donated masks to the Sloatsburg Library community outreach effort.

McAnany said that the library is supporting the work of the Sloatsburg Food Pantry by providing them with thousands of copies for the Food Pantry’s on-going information campaign. The Pantry has seen a substantial increase in customers using its twice monthly service.

McAnany said she is excited to see the library staff create such positive online enthusiasm for patrons — on both social media and through SPLfromhome.org, the library’s new connect from your couch Virtual Branch.

“The first couple of weeks of working from home were stressful for everyone,” said McAnany. “But now everyone has really stepped up, each finding a way to contribute in terms of programming and suggesting how to meet patrons’ needs during this time. I think the library is an important asset now more than ever, and we’re all trying to support the community in its time of need.”