[Libs-Or] Public Library response to COVID-19 (at this moment....)

Fri Mar 13 12:03:04 PDT 2020

Jackson County Library Services is suspending services at 13 of our 15 branches, effective Monday, March 16, and taking other precautionary measures. Full press release below.

Kari May

JACKSON COUNTY LIBRARy services RESPONDs TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Library events are canceled and branch closures announced

Medford, Oregon (March 13, 2020)—The Jackson County Library District Board voted yesterday to implement protocols immediately in response to the coronavirus pandemic. In response to Governor Brown’s decision to close all K12 schools statewide, JCLS will close 13 of its 15 branches beginning Monday, March 16. The Ashland and Medford branches will be open 10:00 a.m.‒6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday and 12 Noon—4:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

All library programs and meeting room use is also suspended through March 31. Further cancellations and closures will be determined by March 23, with an eye toward making any cancellations at least two weeks prior to event dates. Medford Comic Con, scheduled for Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26, is also canceled. Please see below for the full list of changes and cancellations.

“The role of the library in a community, by nature, is as a public space and we take that responsibility seriously,” says Kari May, Library Director. “As such these adjustments to our services are not made lightly, but with the goal to protect the health of both our staff and patrons.” Libraries are so much more than what is contained within its walls, and we encourage library users to take advantage of our wide-reaching digital resources, and to call or email our reference teams with questions to limit face-to-face interactions.

Effective Immediately:

·         All library-sponsored events are canceled through March 31.

·         Medford Comic Con is canceled.

·         All deliveries and services to homebound will be replaced by deliveries via US Mail (with costs covered by JCLS).

·         Outreach to Child Care storytime visits are canceled through March 31.

·         All in-person appointments with Digital Services staff are canceled through March 31. Staff will be available 10:00 a.m.‒4:00 p.m. Monday‒Friday by phone and/or video conferencing to assist patrons.

·         Computer terminals will be staggered to help ensure social distancing recommendations.

·         Due dates for library materials will be extended for patrons upon request.

·         Storytime videos will be available on jcls.org by March 23.

·         Book donations will not be accepted until further notice.

Effective March 16:

·         Thirteen of 15 branches will be closed through Monday, March 31. The Ashland and Medford branches will remain open and extend their hours to 7 days a week. Operating hours at both branches will be from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday‒Friday, and 12 Noon‒4:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

·         Meeting room usage will be canceled through Monday, March 31.

·         Circulation transactions will be through self-check stations only.

Contacts for reference or Digital Services questions:
Medford Reference: 541-774-8689 / medref at jcls.org<mailto:medref at jcls.org>
Ashland Reference: 541-774-6996 / ashlib at jcls.org<mailto:ashlib at jcls.org>
Digital Services: 541-774-3990 / techsupport at jcls.org<mailto:techsupport at jcls.org>

While our Ashland and Medford branches remain open, we ask that patrons comply with State recommendations to maintain social distancing and hygiene protocols. Library staff reserves the right to limit access to libraries to ensure everyone’s safety.

We continue to monitor local, State, and Federal recommendations and will post updates to services, closures, and cancelations on jcls.org and Facebook (@jclibraryservices).

###

About Jackson County Library Services:
The mission of the Jackson County Library District is to connect everyone to information, ideas and each other. With 15 branches throughout the county, community meeting rooms, programs, outreach to homebound residents and to childcare centers, computer classes, free internet access, 24-hour online resources, and a staff of experts, library services touch nearly every Jackson County resident. For more information about library services and locations, visit jcls.org<http://www.jcls.org/>.

From: Libs-Or <libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us> On Behalf Of DAVID Emily
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2020 11:10 AM
To: 'John Hunter' <John.Hunter at ci.woodburn.or.us>; 'KRIST OBRIST' <KOBRIST at ci.monmouth.or.us>; Libs-or <libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>
Subject: Re: [Libs-Or] Public Library response to COVID-19 (at this moment....)

Springfield Public Library is  open today. We have implemented social distancing on the public computers by only opening the computers that are at opposite ends of banks and positing lots of signage in regarding hand sanitizer before and after. We have removed all the toys in the children’s area. All programming and outreach is cancelled. We will start fine/fee forgiveness.

Schools in Springfield announced closure starting Monday for two weeks. I think we may follow suit, but am still waiting direction from the CM. It is a tough call – we want to be open for people but also don’t want to be potentially exposing people to COVID 19. We are looking at ways to potentially offer limited service apart from virtual access – e.g. holds pick-up, tax forms pick-up. This is all developing.

Good luck everyone.

Emily David
Library and Museum Director
Springfield Public Library
225 5th Street
Springfield, OR 97477
541-726-2235
wheremindsgrow.org<http://wheremindsgrow.org/>
Springfield-Museum.com<http://www.springfield-museum.com/>

[cid:image001.png at 01D5F92F.57BD4AA0]

[SPL_facebook-icon_WEB]<https://www.facebook.com/springfieldpubliclibrary/?ref=sgm>  [SPL_twitter-icon_WEB] <https://twitter.com/wheremindsgrow>   [SPL_instagram-icon_WEB] <https://www.instagram.com/spl_wheremindsgrow/>
Please let me know if you need information provided in another format.
For more information: http://www.springfield-or.gov/accessibility.html

From: Libs-Or [mailto:libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of John Hunter
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2020 10:41 AM
To: 'KRIST OBRIST'; Libs-or
Subject: Re: [Libs-Or] Public Library response to COVID-19 (at this moment....)

In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus, and following along with the Governor’s statewide containment efforts, the City of Woodburn is closing the Aquatic Center and Public Library.  These closures will be effective Saturday, March 14 and will last until April 1. The decision to reopen these facilities on April 1 will be re-evaluated during the closure.

Library users: While the building will be closed, you can still access e-books and digital audiobooks through our Overdrive collection at Library2Go, and access the online catalog to view your account. Library users are encouraged to suspend their existing requests for materials (i.e. “holds”) or modify the pick-up location to neighboring CCRLS libraries. This can be done online or by calling 503-982-5262.

Library2Go link: https://library2go.overdrive.com/
Online catalog link: https://catalog.ccrls.org/

The City prioritizes the health of our community with the utmost importance and appreciates your understanding during this time.

John Hunter, MLIS
Woodburn Public Library Manager
503-982-5259 w | 503-982-5258 f

From: Libs-Or <libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us<mailto:libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>> On Behalf Of KRIST OBRIST
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2020 9:35 AM
To: Libs-or <libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us<mailto:libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>>
Subject: [Libs-Or] Public Library response to COVID-19 (at this moment....)

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Good Day,

This is such a fluid, rapidly changing environment we find ourselves in. While we want to be here and available for our patrons we need to consider all angles of this complex global event. What are your plans regarding programming and your open hours for a 2 week and/or 4 week period?

In light of the Governor's closing schools as of Monday it seems prudent to cancel library programming.

What are your plans in regards to keeping your doors open?

Considerations -

  *   kids out of school may equal more kids visiting the library (usually a good thing).
  *   Often people come to the library when they're sick (and/or bring their sick children).
  *   Vulnerable populations - eldery, immune compromised, etc. - regularly visit the library.
  *   We have so many touch points - doors, computers, books, dvds, magazines, newspapers, furniture, etc.
  *   Staff handles a lot of material and directly handles items patrons hand them.
Our City, as I am certain all other city's and governing boards, are brainstorming and planning. This conversation may help in those planning activities.

Thanks....Krist

Oh, and as of this moment in time we have not yet 'officially' cancelled programs, but I am fairly certain that will happen shortly. We are looking at how we address our open hours to the public to best help slow down the growth of this virus There has been one Officially tested positive case in our county (Polk) which to me indicates there are many more positive cases that have not been tested since they are not testing everyone

Thanks again...Krist

___________________________
Krist Obrist, Library Director
Monmouth Public Library
168 Ecols St. S., Monmouth, OR 97361
503-751-0193 || Facebook: MonmouthPublicLibrary
kobrist at ci.monmouth.or.us<mailto:kobrist at ci.monmouth.or.us>

PUBLIC RECORDS LAW DISCLOSURE This e-mail is a public record of the City of Woodburn and is subject to public disclosure unless exempt from disclosure under Oregon Public Records Law. This e-mail is subject to the State Retention Schedule.
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