Closing for Coronavirus

Calling all public, K-12, academe, and special librarians: is your library closing because of the coronavirus? How long? How many of you are expected to report to work as usual while the library building is closed?
Mine is closing for 2 weeks and all neighborhood branch book drops city-wide will be locked. We'll be getting administrative pay.

Chester County PA libraries are closed through, I believe, 27 March. Affiliated libraries are on their own but I know that the West Chester PA Borough library is closed. I know volunteers are not to come in but I don't know about paid staff. All county non-essential staff are to work from home or not come in and they will be paid as I understand it from the press conference the county commissioners held on Friday afternoon.

Chicago Public Libraries remain open, but all programming, events, and meeting room bookings are cancelled. A great many libraries are early-voting sites and day-of polling places (we have our primary on 3/17), so they CAN'T close!

>1 princessgarnet: For those of us not in the USA, what is "administrative pay"? Thanks.

>4 Cynfelyn:, >1 princessgarnet:

Heck, for some of us who are in the USA, what is "administrative pay"?

Southern Maryland Libraries are going to be closed for two weeks, starting this past Saturday. Book Drops are unlocked and, if possible, administrative personnel are supposed to work from home.

The director did get the library to agree to Administrative pay for all those out for these two weeks.
(Administrative pay means the library pays the salary from their own emergency funds, rather than it coming out of the payroll, since they won't have true time sheets to track for it.)

>6 gilroy:, thank you and yes! It's a payroll term used for government workers.

In Central Virginia here. The Jefferson-Madison Regional Library is closing as of 6 pm on March 16 through the end of March, at least. Our book drops are open and managers will arrange to empty them. All due dates will be changed to April 6 once we close tonight. The last two days have been crazy busy as patrons come in to stock up on lots of library materials. This is all happened very quickly. We moved to canceling programs and closing meeting rooms starting Saturday the 14th. The governor of Virginia has ordered all schools closed for two weeks starting the 16th as well.

All regular staff will be paid. We are treating it the same way we do weather-related closures. Upper level managers are being asked to come in if they can, though that may still be subject to change. Managers are compiling lists of tasks that staff can work on from home, just small things, not trying to fill a full day but an hour here or there.

As of now, Penn State University Libraries are open to the public reduced hours (M-F 8am-7pm, S&S noon-5) while the University has stopped all in person classes, asking profs to go online as much as possible. A few of the branch campus libraries are closed to the public.

Things keep changing here in Illinois, but it seems likely that most public libraries will close, and many academic libraries are doing the same. I attended an emergency webinar from RAILS this morning, and they are shutting down interlibrary delivery across the northern part of the state. Of those that commented in chat, most libraries that are closed seem to be paying staff as usual (if at all possible). Some libraries are closed except for drive-thru or curbside delivery, and others are open because their boards won't let them shut down until they're forced.

We had a lot of uncertainty at the academic library where I work (at a smaller, private university), and the library has mostly been open regular hours this past week, despite in-person classes moving online. But today, all university common areas are being closed until further notice, including the library. The handful of full-time librarians will continue to work from home, but the part-time librarians and student worker staff will not. Since we're still working, I expect the full-time librarians will be paid as usual, but I rather doubt that'll be the case for the part-time and student staff, unless something is decided at the administration level that I don't know about.

ETA: Happily, HR did announce that part-time staff will be paid as usual while the campus is shut down, but unfortunately student workers are not included.

Here in Oxford, my college (Linacre) library is still open, but I've been sent home to work, and since I'm the sole member of library staff, there's not much I can do for my readers other than help them get hold of online stuff. The Bodleian Libraries are all closing today too, and don't expect to be opening again until June. We'll all continue to get paid.

One day, all this will be over, and the books and readers will still be there. Hopefully the librarians too.

2020-03-17:

The National Library of Wales closed to readers at the end of business today, although it will still be open to the staff.

The National Library of Scotland has also closed all of its buildings today, although whether or not the staff have been sent home is not clear from the public announcement.

Edited 2020-03-19:

NLW now closing to staff 17:00 today.

>12 Cynfelyn: I've visited the National Library of Scotland! :) When I visited in 2016, there was a temporary exhibit about maps on the main floor, so I enjoyed exploring it. The other memorable bit for me was the reproduction of the Edinburgh city map in the year 1700 over the main entrance. Wish I'd snapped a photo! I could've visited the public library across the street but it didn't happen.

My branch manager didn't give any of us work assignments while the library system is closed. The branch managers have to check to see that patrons aren't leaving library materials on the ground. Our administrative staff and outreach staff are working remotely. Patrons can check out and enjoy our digital offerings.

We close tomorrow until further notice. Salaried staff (I think there's 6 of us) will continue to work in the building. Part-timers (all circ staff) will be coming in if they wish and work will be found for them; reading shelves, rearranging the work room, possibly some painting); one p/t who has immunity issues will be doing work at home. We are a rural system (4 branches) in the Ozarks. Most libraries in MO are closing. I personally will be working on summer reading program, and finding/posting educational links, maybe some virtual programs. I would love to do a deep weeding, but the boss is opposed to that. :(

Change for Penn State’s main library. Open to the public noon-2pm for circulation only. Stacks are closed. Access Services (my dept) staff will still be working pulling holds, shelving, scanning for increased online coursework. Some of the branch campus libraries are closed completely.

We closed as of Friday until the 27th, but it's looking increasingly likely it will be at least two weeks after that - that's how long the schools closed, and a main motivation was to keep the libraries from being gathering places for kids who are out of school.

We've closed everything in-person, but are ramping up virtual services. (And, I hope, buying MacMillan ebooks now that we can!) Staff are getting paid - including part-time and temporary staff and pages, which is a great move.

The Chicago Public Library just announced that they will close the great majority of their locations, but the main library and 20 branches will stay open, though no materials will circulate.

“Keeping a limited number of libraries open during limited hours will ensure that we provide for those who have no other place to go for basic access to the internet or other resources."

I always put my tax refund towards my annual vacation rental with the guys I grew up with for the first week of the tourney. Given that the PSU Libraries are still operating (our scanning requests have gone through the roof) and are still open to the public (now down to two hours a day) my plans were scrapped.

So, my refund is going to go to some of our local part time employees that are working two or three jobs to pay the bills and are now having their hours slashed. Just trying to decide who to help out is tough. A part timer that works in the department that I left a year ago actually reached out to me offering to pick up groceries as I don’t own a car. He knows I’m at risk as a diabetic and doesn’t want me riding the bus or taking a cab. I’m tearing up again now just thinking about his generosity. Gotta pay it back.

>17 lilithcat: the main library and 20 branches will stay open

We just discussed whether to go pick up a loan item, given the inherent risk of exposure or transmission to others. But I support them staying open for the stated reason, but won't go get ourselves, figuring neither librarians nor patrons need any more exposure than necessary. (I hadn't heard that materials won't circulate, that's an effective incentive to keep people away unless it's urgent -- or at least, it will be once enough of us know about it.)

>18 manatree: offering to pick up groceries as I don’t own a car

Dangerous times do bring out the best in some people, it's good to remember that in the face of all the bad news we hear about, too.

>19 elenchus:

Here's the full statement of what CPL is doing: https://www.chipublib.org/news/cpl-response-to-coronavirus/

Due to an order from the Governor shutting down all “Non-Life Sustaining Businesses,” all Penn State Libraries are now closed to the public and employees. Will be providing online reference help, but this puts an end to scanning of print materials for now. Our few remaining part timers are now done until further notice.

On Friday, I got a staff update from our library director--our library system will be closed through the end of April. (Same goes for the city school system) The announcement was based on a directive by the mayor.

Thanks to everyone for your responses!

My regional library has closed it's branches, but is also waiving return fees and fines during that time, and the book slots are still open. Sucks, but at the same time, it's best to close down areas where people gather to ease the spread, especially since a lot of elderly people come in to some of the branches.

Self quarantine is a big thing right now here, and other places are closing for at least 2 weeks.

A confirmed case in the county where I live, most likely from a wedding held last week with 200 guests. I work in the next county over, and the boss has given me permission to work from home. Now making a list of things I can actually do from home. No one seems especially worried, but I'm kinda feeling like Typhoid Mary. On the bright side, the director is being pretty liberal...reading books counts!

On Tuesday, ALA announced that the annual conference is canceled for this year:
http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2020/03/american-library-association-canc...
The last cancelation was in 1945 because of WWII.
Chicago already was scheduled to host in 2021.

>24 theretiredlibrarian: "reading books counts!"

Outstanding!

I have now been directed to work at home even more. As of Friday, my county goes on "Stay At Home" order, so I guess I'll do all my work at home after that. We now have 5 confirmed cases.

>24 theretiredlibrarian: Yeah, my director is being nice and liberal too.

Unfortunately I do not get to participate in that liberality because I'm the one that does a lot of the social media and the website is just me, so.... I'm being run off my fingers with this working from home. Oy.

Ah well... hopefully this won't last forever. (In the town where I live we have about 44 cases, in the city where I work it's over 100, although now there are some confirmed people who have recovered too).

Like a lot of other libraries, we're closed at least until the end of April, then we'll see after that I guess.

I do a book discussion group at my local township library in Delaware County in PA. The very earliest I can expect to go back to do a discussion with the group will be the end of May and that is uncertain. The entire state system has been shut down until further notice.

I'm new to the group. I work at the Topeka (Kansas) & Shawnee County Public Library and we've been closed three weeks now with at least two more to follow. The governor is thinking about extending our stay at home order until Memorial Day (end of May). We have been trying to do more online and digital outreach during this time and have some staff who are working from home. Old Chinese curse says "May you live in interesting times." (or something similar) We definitely are!

I am now in Week 2 of "99% Working at Home". There are 18 cases in the county where I live and 0 in the county where I work. So I have to email ahead of time if I want to come in to pick things up, make copies, etc. I am currently on Day 2 of waiting for a response on that. I rather feel like Typhoid Mary whenever I do go into the building.

My local libraries are reopening soon. Staff members are scared. Are there safety suggestions I can make to the more impressionable librarians? (There are a few who listen to feedback.)

>32 aspirit: Suggest you look back through some of the Pro and Con threads, which have had relevant info.
https://www.librarything.com/topic/319381

If you have (or can crowdsource) the capacity to hand out masks of some sort to patrons on entry, that may be ideal. Here's the latest on homemade mask materials testing.
https://www.businessinsider.com/the-materials-that-filter-particles-best-in-home...

Maybe you can be part of the solution in increasing mask universality.
https://www.statnews.com/2020/04/02/every-american-should-wear-a-face-mask-to-de...

One library in England is doing deep cleaning during lockdown.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-52412655

The cleaner doesn't really understand libraries, though.

>33 davidgn: I'm missing what information is specific to safety measures in libraries, or within facilities where people enter without appointments or escorts, touch a variety of surfaces, and move materials in and out. Can you point out a post I should look at again?

Requiring and handing out masks is a good idea. Some of the patrons are likely to worry about covering their faces in public (as racial violence is a more familiar concern than the novel coronavirus) but already know one of the library branches is a safe space.

>34 MarthaJeanne: oof.

>35 aspirit: Pretty much was referring to the general information we know about the virus.

Otherwise, more specifically: apart from requiring masks, the first line is frequent handwashing. Gloves are also a possibility for staff, but chances are without frequent washing/changing and proper removal procedures, they won't do much to avoid cross-contamination. Hand sanitizer is good too (and putting out strategically placed touchless dispensers is a much better idea than requiring/offering gloves for patrons), but no substitute for proper handwashing.

On glove use:
https://www.mlive.com/coronavirus/2020/04/youre-probably-using-disposable-gloves...

And cf.:
https://www.medpagetoday.com/blogs/working-stiff/85241

I would check with your local/regional/national government for what guidelines you need to follow in order to reopen. While they probably won’t have library specific guidelines for you to follow they should have retail & grocery store guidelines.

We are looking at a tiered reopening that is a walking back of our closing stages. We haven't finalized plans, but the first step will be only staff in the building with regular cleaning of high-touch surfaces, books will be quarantined for at least 24 -48 hours after return before re-shelving (Current CDC and IMLS guidelines). We will fulfill holds using a curbside/porchside model and our one drive through window, but hours will be limited. Staff will be provided with gloves and, possibly masks. Mask wearing will at least be encouraged.

Once we let the public into the building, there will be steps gradually loosening the distancing and restrictions. But we will start with trying to minimize closeness. We'll be looking at how we rearrange furniture to maintain distances and discourage loitering. All toys will remain put away as will any hands-on activity. We will start with no programs or public use of meeting rooms, gradually moving to allow larger numbers of people. We are purchasing temporary plexiglas shields for all service desks. We will look at ways to space folks waiting in line. We are not planning to screen staff or patrons or to station someone at the door to limit the number of people in the building at once. We don't think that's fair to staff to expect them to do that. If we have to limit numbers in the building, we will likely not reopen yet, but will wait until most of those restrictions are lifted by local government.

All steps are dependent on being able to source sufficient gloves and cleaning supplies, to include hand sanitizer and soap. There are things I don't know yet, like when we'll be expecting staff with pre-existing conditions or vulnerable family members to return. We'll also be looking at availability of child care given that our schools are closed for the rest of this school year. We are actively looking at other libraries' plans and following discussions on listservs and in professional publications. In our experience, having a clear, written plan so staff knows what to expect goes a long way toward easing anxiety.

As Bibliotecas Brasileiras estão fechadas por conta do COVID-19, isso impede os usuarios de frequentarem principalmente universitários. Eu estudo em uma universidade pública e peguei 2 livros de emprestimos e não devolvi e era pra ter devolvido ontem.

Of interest, this online article was posted about phased openings on ALA Connect. I'm posting the link in the original post:
https://medium.com/@john.alan.thill/a-phased-reopening-plan-for-libraries-as-cov...
Posted on medium.com (4/20/20)
Hope this is helpful!

>39 Social-biblio:, I understood most of what you wrote, having a background in French. It's inconvenient to have your university library closed. Bonne santé!

Thank you for the answers! >38 AngelaCinVA: and >39 Social-biblio:, seeing approaches broken down is very helpful for me. Thank you, again.

I just checked my library system's catalog. Everything is checked out until June 1, and holds are sitting on the shelf available till that date. Unfortunately, nothing that I've returned in the slots has been checked in. How am I supposed to keep track of what I still have at home?

>42 2wonderY: I understand your frustration. There could be a couple of reasons things aren't being checked in. First, that involves a staff member having to come into an otherwise closed building to empty the book drop. If there is any kind of stay at home order or recommendation, they may be limiting staff in the building for their own safety. Our library has very limited staff on site and we are quarantining returned books for at least 72 hours. That means a staff member wearing gloves and a mask will place the books from the book drop on a dated cart. No one will touch those books again for 3 days, the current guidance we have for safe handling based on the lifespan of the virus on plastic and hard surfaces. So there will be a lag between when the book is returned and when you see it come off of your account. Every library will have its own procedures in place. But expect that there is something similar going on at your library.

Some libraries have locked their book drops and aren't allowing returns at all. We haven't gone that far, but we are requesting that people hold on to the books at home. And we are absolutely not accepting donations.

important as libraries are, we are not essential personnel. Library administrators are taking the steps they feel they need to in order to protect the health and safety of their staff. Many staff members have invisible vulnerabilities or family members who are vulnerable. It is not business as usual behind those locked doors. But your library is certainly working hard to figure out how to offer you the best service they can without risk to either your health or the staff's health.

>43 AngelaCinVA:

Some libraries have locked their book drops and aren't allowing returns at all.

The Chicago Public Library has done that, and they are automatically renewing any books that are checked out.

Vienna, too. So now I have stack of 25 read books I would really like to get rid of.

But it's been weeks since I returned them. And someone is in the building gathering up holds.

One key bit I didn't touch upon before: ventilation. European source, but generally applicable.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-03/erc-hto031920.php

The document provides practical recommendations which cover ventilation system operation times, use of window airing, safe use of heat recovery sections, no use of recirculation in central ventilation systems as well as on the room level, and some explanation how to avoid overreactions which are easy to happen in situations with limited knowledge.

It is recommended to switch on ventilation systems a couple of hours earlier and also to extend the operation. Better solution is even to keep the ventilation on 24/7, possibly with lowered (but not switched off) ventilation rates when people are absent in order to remove virus particles out of the building. Exhaust ventilation systems of toilets should always be kept on 24/7, and make sure that negative air pressure is created, especially to avoid the faecal-oral transmission.

In buildings without mechanical ventilation systems it is recommended to actively use operable windows so that one could open windows for 15 min when entering the room especially when the room was occupied by others beforehand. Also, in buildings with mechanical ventilation, window airing can be used to further boost ventilation. Opening of windows in toilets should be generally avoided as this may cause a reverse direction operating ventilation and contaminated airflow from the toilet to other rooms.

Recirculation shall not be used, because virus particles in return ducts can re-enter a building in recirculation sectors of centralized air handling units. Thus, recirculation dampers have to be closed via the Building Management System or manually. When possible, decentralized systems such as fan coil units that use local recirculation, also should be turned off to avoid resuspension of virus particles at room level. Similarly to recirculation, heat recovery devices may carry over virus attached to particles from the exhaust air side to the supply air side. In rotary heat exchangers particles deposit on the return air side of the heat exchanger surface after which they might be resuspended when heat exchanger turns to the supply air side. Therefore it is recommended to (temporarily) turn off rotary heat exchangers during SARS-CoV-2 episodes.

It is also important to understand which actions have no practical effect and are not needed. Transmission of some viruses in buildings can be limited by changing air temperatures and humidity levels. In the case of COVID-19 this is unfortunately not an option as the SARS-CoV-2 virus is quite resistant to environmental changes and is susceptible only for a very high relative humidity above 80% and a temperature above 30 ?C, which are not attainable and acceptable in buildings for other reasons (e.g. thermal comfort). Thus, there is no need for humidification, and usually any adjustment of setpoints for heating or cooling systems is not needed. Similarly there is no need to replace outdoor air filters of the ventilation system, which are not a contamination source in this context. Room air cleaners can be useful in specific situations, but the floor area they can effectively serve is normally quite small, typically less than 10 m2. There have been overreactive statements recommending to clean ventilation ducts in order to avoid SARS-CoV-2 transmission via ventilation systems. Duct cleaning is not effective against room-to-room infection because the ventilation system is not a contamination source if given guidance about heat recovery and recirculation is followed.

>46 2wonderY: I can't speak with any authority about what another system's pandemic protocols might be. I'm sure they have information posted somewhere on their website or social media. If they have an Ask a Librarian service, they may be staffing that during limited hours so you could ask them directly about the status.

If they have limited staff and are providing curbside service, they may simply be overwhelmed. In my system most work is currently being done by managers, who also have to do their regular managerial duties as well. So we're mostly working extra hours. But again, I can't speak to your library's specific situation. Look at what they've shared publicly and if you don't find you answer there, contact them.

Danish libraries are set to open on May 18 (after closing on March 12). Just for lending activities for the time being, so no meetings or activities).

We plan to open for curbside pick up starting May 18. Not sure when we will open to the public. I've been totally reworking the summer reading program...I had started planning in December, but almost everything had to be scrapped. Story time will be virtual; some craft programming will also be done online; children will be given a "prize bag" when they complete their reading. Today I started bagging up "Take & Make" bags of crafts. Hopefully we will reopen by June 1.

We're reopening June 15 (unless stay-at-home orders are extended), but with very limited service.

>46 2wonderY: Even if somebody in the building is gathering up holds (which they may not be; before we locked our bookdrops we just opened all the doors and planned to let them spill into the halls) it is probably one staff member, in full PPE, stacking them on carts as quickly as possible and moving them to a quarantine area. When this started we didn't have a good idea of the chance of spreading the virus on books; the current recommendation is 72 hours quarantine before any processing is done, but since books were already stacked up I'm sure they're waiting until they're back to full staffing.

No determined date for my library system to reopen at this time. All book drops have been locked to the public since March 16th and automatic renewals for everything.
All of our Summer Challenge (Reading) programming will be virtual. (We've been using Beanstack for a few years) Patrons will get gift cards as prizes by e-mail. My library system won't be doing the Summer Meals program this year.

> 46 2wonderY: It’s more likely that the items on the hold shelf are the same items that were on the hold shelf when the library closed, just with extended expiration dates. Even if someone is pulling new holds, they might be isolating return materials before discharge. In my library, the book return has remained open but nothing has been discharged since we left the building in March.

It's opening! It's opening! My library opens up on Monday!

They make a point of saying that books are all renewed until June 18, so we don't have to return them right away. I suppose they don't really want everyone showing up on the first day. They will have enough to do with those who can't stay away any longer. (My husband asks if he knows anyone like that. Does he need to ask?)

Only open to return and borrow books. Not to use computers, not to study in a comfy corner, not for language lessons, ... On the other hand, those aren't things I usually do.

>54 MarthaJeanne: congratulations? How is Austria doing?

We have new COVID-19 cases and confirmed deaths every day, with challenges to accessing testing, no contact tracing, and few businesses that are willing to take full measures to reduce spread. The thought of our libraries opening to physical traffic is terrifying. Fortunately, that's been delayed in my area.

Unfortunately, my local libraries are refusing to expand online options, like ebooks and posts (videos, updates, etc.) to the websites. It's as if they're pretending they will return to work as they knew it any day now. That makes me even less hopeful for safw reopenings later.

>55 aspirit: Austria is doing very well. The number of severely ill never got higher than the hospitals could deal with. Cases are beginning to creep up since we started reopening, but we are way below our peak. One or two deaths a day still, but new cases are in the 20-50 range per day, and far outweighed by the recovered.

This coming weekend will be exciting because restaurants are being allowed to open for eating there. Tables further apart than normal. Waiters in masks. No more than 4 adults and their (minor) children at a table. Guests wear masks everywhere except at the table. ... But we can eat there instead of take away. Yesterday I sooo wanted to sit in a cafe with a cup of tea and a piece of poppyseed cake. Next week! Actually, next week I may not want to.

School finishing classes are back in school already to prepare for their exams. All stores are open, but there aren't as many customers as usual. This is true even in the outer districts, but even more so in tourist areas. Hotels are allowed to open from May 29, but borders are still quite tight.

Our library has at least doubled the new OverDrive choices. I assume at least that for German ebooks. Our books have all been renewed and renewed. Our library cards have been extended for 9 weeks. During the shutdown there have been free digital library cards. I just really, really miss my weekly library fix. On the other hand my To Read collection hasn't been this low in a loooong time.

The government is making it clear that opening up depends on people sticking to social distancing rules. If numbers rise too much we will lock down again.

I should add that our library had closed by March 11. First just the main branch, then the others within a few days. Yes, lengthening our cards by 9 weeks is about right.

Our new rules (in German): https://buechereien.wien.gv.at/Aktuelle-Information

>46 2wonderY: Honestly, I just don't get paid enough to go in and maybe get sick so that someone's record can be clean on the computer. And, those who would be doing most of the actual checking in, they get paid even less than I do (paraprofessional staff vs. me, professional staff). And, just because they're being Brought In, (in my library's case, by the two maintenance guys who making sure the building is secure and not-flooded etc.) doesn't mean that they're being Checked In.

They'll get checked in when they get checked in. And, I have no doubt that there will be lots of leeway when it comes to fines & fees etc.

>56 MarthaJeanne: wow. Good for you all!

That is incredibly different than here. I had to look up Austria's population-- close to my state's in size, tucked into a considerably smaller area-- because your cases per day are smaller than our COVID-19 deaths per day. We have over a thousand cases currently in the hospitals, yet stores are crowded, with many shoppers not wearing masks or maintaining physical distance.

I miss library visits but wouldn't go in our state. I'm hoping to help my friends from my local libraries stay safe... preferably while also doing some work. (Seriously, how hard is it to move Facebook posts to a blog everyone can access? Seriously. I could do it.)

Articles for my reference...

"Reopening: Not 'When?' But 'How?' Libraries consider the realities of a post-pandemic world" -- https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/covid-19-reopening-librari... (April 17)

"How to Sanitize Collections in a Pandemic: Conservators weigh in on the mysteries of materials handling during COVID-19" -- https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/how-to-sanitize-collection... (March 27)

>58 aspirit: Don't get me started on people only putting information on Facebook.

For what it's worth, Austria's Covid19 story started with a piece of total idiocy. A bar girl in a ski area in Tirol had mild flue symptoms in early March, but went to work anyway. People from several countries had great party nights in the bar before flying home. Her bar was closed after she tested positive, but the partying went on in other bars. Cases all over Europe can be traced back to Ischgl. I can't see that the partyers can point fingers. If you play in crowded places with people from all over, you have to realize that someone could be sick.

Hi from Louisiana! We were closed for almost two months as well. Staff started back in the branch on May 20th. We are not open to the public and probably will not be for at least another 4-6 weeks. We will be starting up curbside pick up starting on the 26th. Of course we all wear masks and follow social distancing protocols. Our book drops were closed for the past two months as well. Book drops are now available again and we have to quarantine the books for 5 days before discharging them off of the patrons account. Summer Reading Program is all online this year with Zoom type programs etc. At least we should have some peace and quiet for most of the summer. ;)

Hi from Denmark! Our public libraries have opened again (last Monday). No masks but social distancing, Book drop off is on a table where library staff removes it from. Pick is as usual except the whole library is one way traffic now, so exit = the emergency exit and you end up at the lawn in front of the library. I'm sure it could have been staged more like "Being John Malkovitch" :-)

All are very happy with the reopening. (Still no newspaper reading at the library, help with computers, ... but it's a good start!)

>60 Verkruissen: How is curbside going so far? We're starting that up soon, indefinite duration.

We are now open to the public, shortened hours, only half the computers available, staff not allowed to help with computers or genealogy (microfilm particularly). All the toys and puzzles are put away. One hour after opening, a mom comes in to use the computer; gets mad when told she can't have her drink by the computers, and gets mad again when told staff can't help her troubleshoot the computer; gets mad again when her child who now has the drink is also told not to be by the computer with a drink. Also, her 3 children of questionable hygiene wandered aimlessly around (9, 10, and 11) touching ALL the books and replacing them despite being told by staff several times to place the books in the bin when done. I signed them up for Summer Reading Program, and the mom insisted on signing them up for the Listeners rather than the Readers...one kid did say she wasn't a good reader. Another one of them picks up a book and says, "I read this book! I read it on the toilet!" When I left for lunch, I closed my office door, which I never do, because they gave me bad vibes...all the SRP prizes are in there and I thought they might poke around. I wasn't the only one that got those vibes either. None of them were wearing masks, and our very patient clerk explained to them about "social distancing". Another patron was angry because of a large fine generated before we closed because her adult son had used her card. OTOH, a very nice gentleman came in with an expired card, which we renewed, but then he had issues with the computer not accepting his card number. He was very patient while the problem was fixed, understood when we told him we couldn't get close to help him, wore his mask when he spoke to us, happily paid his $1.65 for copies, bragged about his grandson, and gave us a little donation as well. So in other words, working with the public again is back to normal.

My closest library has opened to curbside pickup. I don't know when. After looking on the website, I have no idea how it's supposed to work. The library hours appear to have returned to normal, and the book drop no longer has a sign saying to hold onto books.

I have no idea if the book we had out when the library closed in March is accruing late fees (which are usually high and don't max out) or if actually dropping it in the box will cause problems (a recurring concern). I have a feeling that logging into my account is going to make me angry.

My wish is for most libraries to do better than this as places reopen services to patrons.

Opening continues here. The library is no longer one-way. Late fees are back in effect. Self service return of books is back. Opening hours are still restricted to the hours, where the library staff are on premises.

Our libraries just opened, except for a few branches that are not large enough for social distancing.

No inside book drop-off; one must use the dropbox outside, and returned materials will be quarantined for 72 hours.

There are limits on the number of patrons, and hours are reduced to allow for more extensive cleaning procedures.

All staff, as well as visitors over 2 years old, must wear masks, and interaction between staff and patrons (such as computer help, etc) will be limited.

Use of self-checkout, where it is available (not all branches have it), is encouraged.

Meeting, study, and music rooms are closed.

We opened for curbside service yesterday. A limited number of neighborhood branch libraries are open with more to follow based on guidance from the Mayor's Office. We're also printing documents for patrons who send their jobs to the branch library e-mail in advance--limit 20 pages. Patrons won't be allowed inside the library.
Our hours have been modified and on weekdays only.

Masks are required for patrons and staff.

No meeting and study room use until further notice.

>64 aspirit: Angry? I seriously, seriously doubt that if a library asked you to keep a book that they're then going to turn around and charge you an arm and a leg in fines for that same book. We're also quite human, not monster ogres. If you do have fines, maybe talk to a librarian about them? You'd be surprised how much we want to help patrons who talk to us instead of assuming we're jerkfaces who shush a lot and such.

We're opening up tomorrow actually. Limited of course. It's not a good feeling. My co-workers seem to think that everyone is going to obey the rules (masks) and that we're not going to have to get hard with these patrons. We get to outright say, 'no you may not come in, we'll do curbside for you, but you're not allowed to set foot in this building without a mask'. And, I think that quite a few privileged jerks in our area are going to hate that and push back. I think that we're also going to get a lot a lot of pushback from the hour limit for patrons and 50 minutes/no extensions on the computer time limit too. (Not to mention, the whole not being able to help them as much either, that's gonna go over like gangbusters).

But, I work with quite a few who haven't worked in libraries as long as I have and have a sparkilier view of patrons (I believe that they will take advantage until you put a stop to it, even the 'nice' ones).

It also doesn't help that our city put out the wrong date for our opening (Mon not Wed) and so, now we get to be pissed at because we're 'changing' our opening. Underneath of the bus, meet librarians. (seriously, all the city had to do was check our website, it's literally at the top of it, in bolded very straightfoward letters and numbers *sigh*)

>68 DanieXJ: I talk to library staff regularly. Good for you and your patrons that you don't charge excessive fees or make them deal with frustrating mistakes in a confusing system, but my concerns are based on my previous experiences with that particular library.

And some librarians are shushy. I'm as sorry that stereotype represent real people as much as you might be.

I'm also sorry you have bad communication in your city. That's bad here, too. Much of my city doesn't even know we have a public library, which it's taking advantage of by not putting out communication about openings and safety measures except for one or two (depending on the day) signs on the front doors that haven't been kept up to date. (The changes in signage seems random on this side!)

When my local libraries are open and under what conditions remains unclear. I know the staff for one nearby library are in quarantine because a coworker (who doesn't work with the public, thankfully) was reluctant to admit to testing positive for COVID-19. My friend at that location had previously been tested multiple times after breaches in safety protocol. (So far, all negative!)

Schools are open again to regular, in-person, group classes despite a sharp increase of total coronavirus cases and the highest number of deaths per day in the state we've seen all year. The schools are largely not requiring masks or distancing, from what I hear. That will impact everyone who's not in total isolation. We homeschool and used to rely on library books for projects. What are the libraries doing in response to the heightened risk of spread? Nothing different than the insufficient measures last month...?

As a patron, my view is libraries are no longer relatively safe places. The handling of closures and openings has been unnerving. I wish more people who could make decisions would keep that in mind. Libraries need trust to thrive. That's diminishing in places.

Update since June: We've got 14 branches open to the public with limited services. It's closed stacks.
Patrons can use our public computers for 45 minute sessions starting on the hour. For crowd control, there are a limited number of computers available for use. If all are taken for a particular time slot, patrons must wait for the next time slot. Or they can sign up for a later time slot.
All returned materials are quarantined for 96 hours in our conference room.

Mobile printing still available. No copying and scanning services.

We're still operating weekdays only with modified hours.