The Library Begins Curbside Pickup Services

The Town of Pelham Library is pleased to announce that we will begin contact-free, pickup services beginning Monday, June 15th. We are eager to see you all again and get materials in your hands! Please note that this service is only available to Pelham cardholders at this time.

Here’s How It Works

Intra-library loan between libraries in the Westchester Library System (WLS) will be resuming on July 1st. Please cancel any old holds on your account that you no longer want. Curbside pickups are by appointment only and the Library building remains closed to patrons.

Patrons will need to have a valid Pelham library card and know the card number and PIN (usually the last four digits of the phone number on the account.)  For any questions or problems with your account, or to apply for a new card, you may call the Library during regular Library hours at 914-738-1234. You may also email the Library at pelhamlibrary@wlsmail.org at any time.

How to Place a Curbside Order

Placing a request for curbside pickup is easy and works the same way as placing a normal hold.

1. Go to the online catalog (or download and use the app).
2. Place your hold and select the Town of Pelham Library as your pickup location.
3. You will get a notification that your hold is ready via email, phone call or text, depending on the settings in your account. Holds will only last for 5 days before being made available to other patrons.
4. Once you receive notification that the hold is ready, call the library at 914-738-1234 to schedule your pickup time. If you don’t get a notification within a few days, please check your account online or call “Westchester Library System by Phone” at 914-674-4169 to see if your hold is filled. You will still need to call the Library directly at 914-738-1234 to schedule your pickup time.
5. If you are using the Westchester Library System app by Capira Technologies, there will be a new feature allowing you to schedule pickup in the near future. We will let you know as soon as that feature is available.

How to Pick Up

1. If you are driving: come to the Library at the appointed pickup time, park your car in the parking lot and call the Library at 914-738-1234 to tell us your name and make/color of your car and the last four digits of your Library card number. A staff member will place your items in a bag, come out, and pace the bag in the passenger side front seat or your trunk. There is no need to get out of your car.
2. If you are walking: please call upon arrival and practice social distancing on the library grounds. A staff member will bring your items out in a bag. Please remember to wear a mask on the grounds of the Library.

Returning Materials and Late Fees

Now that the library is doing curbside, borrowed materials can be returned 24/7 via the book drop at the Carol Place entrance, at which point they will be quarantined for four days before being checked in and available to another patron for check out. For this reason, borrowed items may stay on your record for six days after you have returned them. Don’t worry, you won’t incur late fees!

Guidelines and Best Practices

Curbside pickup services are the first part of our staged re-opening plan that we will be rolling out in accordance with guidelines from the CDC and the New York State Department of Health. To that end, we have implemented a number of new measures:

• All materials that will be made available for curbside pickup have been quarantined for five days and will be quarantined again for five days before re-circulating.
• Additionally, we will initially be loaning Pelham-owned books, DVDs and CDs only.
• Inside the building, there have been many operations modifications, including reduced staff and physical distancing, mandatory masks and the disinfecting of high-touch areas and equipment.
• If unable to follow social distancing, patrons and anyone over the age of 2 accompanying them to pick up materials will also be required to wear face masks.

NOTE: An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. According to the Centers for Disease Control, senior citizens and those with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable. For more information on who should take extra precautions, please visit the CDC’s COVID-19 Information Page.