The Library Offers Essential Services

Watch for a date soon when the Syracuse Library will begin offering curbside service for book and movie checkouts. When the library begins bringing staff back in to work together, there will be limited hours and no patrons in the building. Call-in or online orders from the Syracuse Library’s collection will be the first physical services offered. 

The Library on the Trails and Earth Day

Once the stay-at-home order is lifted, Thursday morning walks on the trail will resume. Erlene Yentes, the new trails director, will be joining the library for a half-hour morning walk. This is a great time to talk about trail updates and to learn about what adopting a section of the trail does for the community. The Syracuse Library is getting a section to maintain with volunteers.

The launch for the trail pick-up was to be on the 50^th anniversary of Earth Day. On the first Earth Day, picked up trash led to regulations to clean up landfills. Earth Day continues to be recognized because it brought a commitment to the environment that had few political divisions. It was seen as a way to make sure that there was clean air, water and land resources for future generations. 

The removal of lead from gasoline visibly cleared smog from the air over major cities. Chlorofluorocarbons were removed from aerosols to effectively protect the earth from radiation from a hole in the atmosphere. Literally tons of refuse was removed from streams and roadsides with the result that people felt empowered to keep the earth a clean and safe place to live. 

Earth day, like the trail’s cleanup, is more than a one-time event. The time-out during the COVD-19 pandemic is a good time to look at man-made pollution as we pause in our activities. The air is visually clearing due to polluting industries shutting down and fewer diesel vehicles on the road. The library looks forward to facilitating community discussions about our experiences when we return to a full business model. 

Who Needs Masks

Making cloth masks for everyday use is a priority for our community. When asked about who needs the masks, Janelle Fancil of the EMS said, “Honestly, I think getting them (cloth masks) in the hands of the public is the biggest struggle at the moment.” The Syracuse Library has a drop box by the building where 100% cotton can be donated for the purpose of making masks.