Thank you for your patience as we navigate this “new normal”. Our goal right now is to offer critical library services while protecting everyone’s health and safety.
A few things have changed recently, and we want to keep you up to date.
First, new studies have shown that the COVID-19 virus may remain alive on plastic surfaces for up to 5 days, rather than the 3 days that prior research had shown. We have adjusted our quarantine period on returned items accordingly. This means that when you return items (to the outside book drop, please), the items will remain on your library account for 5 days until the quarantine period is over and they can be checked in. No overdue fines will accrue.
Second, we now have newspapers available for you to read. There is a bottle of hand sanitizer by the newspapers, and you are asked to sanitize your hands before and after handling the newspapers.
Third, we have opened a third computer. There is still a 30-minute time limit in place to minimize exposure and to allow for others to use the computers. If you are doing something important on the computer that may take more than 30 minutes, please let us know and we can accommodate you.
I know that many people are waiting for the opportunity to put holds on books and movies from other libraries. The OWWL system is working on a plan to safely restore this service, but concern remains high about transporting items throughout the 4-county area and risking spreading virus from possible contaminated items. We don’t know when inter-library delivery will resume, but will continue to keep you updated on the library’s website and Facebook page.
We miss everyone who comes to the library’s classes, events and games. We are hopeful that we can start to resume some indoor events in October, with limited numbers of people. This decision will depend, of course, on the number of COVID cases in our area and the governor’s executive orders.
With the start of school next week, we have been thinking about how to allow students to use the library’s WIFI when they need it, while also maintaining our health and safety standards. The teen room will be open 11am to 7pm, and students actively doing schoolwork will be allowed to stay in the library for more than 30 minutes, but the actual time allowed will be determined by the demand. Unfortunately, students will not be allowed to come to the library to just hang out in the teen room or the children’s room.
Will we continue to monitor the situation and offer as much as we can offer safely. Stay healthy.
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