Co-working spaces and libraries alternatives to telecommuting during coronavirus outbreak
WESTCHESTER, N.Y. – More than a dozen schools are closed in Westchester and Rockland because of coronavirus, and parents work from home while others scramble to find a place to work as companies close their doors and encourage teleworking.
Not all remote situations are conducive to working.
Co-working places and libraries can be an alternative.
Terry Kirchner, executive director of the Westchester Library System, made up of 38 public libraries, said all public libraries, except the one in the containment area in New Rochelle, are open.
“I think one of the challenges for everyone is really balancing personal health with the need to be productive in terms of the work that they need to do,” Kirchner said.
Though the attendance for library programs has been down, the number of people looking for quiet space to get work done has gone up, Kirchner said.
Kirchner, who noted that all libraries have been proactive in trying to keep surfaces clean, pointed to the many resources people can take advantage of.
“I think this is also a great opportunity for individuals who are finding themselves at home to rediscover all the electronic resources, the e-book, audio books and movies that are available at no additional cost,” he said.
Grace Riario, executive director of the Ramapo Catskill Library System, which serves public libraries in Orange, Rockland, Sullivan and southern Ulster counties, said she expected to see an increase in the number of people coming to utilize the spaces for work.
"That's what happened during Hurricane Katrina," she said.
"Our online resources are being utilized the most. There are a lot of people that are staying home, especially children," Riario said. "So we are seeing a lot of our e-content, such as eBooks, online newspapers and magazines being accessed remotely."
Christy Knell, co-founder of HudCo, a co-working space in Dobbs Ferry, which offers memberships that start at $120 per month, said a few members asked to bring their spouses who are working from home as guests.
“So far so good. From the look of the space, we’re still business as usual, and our data suggests that the number of people coming each day is still around the same,” Knell said.
Knell hopes to keep the 9,000-square-foot space overlooking the Hudson River open and safety has been a priority.
“We’ve added signs around reminding people to wash their hands well,” Knell said. “And we’re doing more frequent disinfecting of common areas throughout the day.”
Lorraine Ash, who edits and ghostwrites books, drives from her home in Allendale in Bergen County to CILK119, a co-working space in Nanuet, five times a week.
Ash said she wasn’t planning to do anything different.
“My office mates are conscientious. Clients continue to meet me at the space," Ash said. "And we're all well.”
Donna Miele, owner of CILK119 in Nanuet, said members were coming to work as usual.
“So far, our paying members have not let their memberships lapse,” Miele said. “We have always followed cleaning procedures consistent with preventing the spread of viral infections such as COVID-19, the common cold and the flu.”
A company policy on groups meeting at the space is being considered.
“Already, a book club has rescheduled on its own; and the writing circles I run have canceled through April 3,” she said. “While there is a lot of fear bubbling up in social media, I don't believe that the organizers of these groups have canceled due to fear, but to an honest evaluation of the risks.”
Editor's note: News on coronavirus changes rapidly, so it's best to call ahead before heading to the library or a co-working space to see if policies have changed or if programs have been canceled or postponed.
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy covers women and power for the Paste BN Network – Northeast. Write to her at svenugop@lohud.com