Goodland Township Library
Covid-19 Abatement
Library Reopening Plan

The purpose of this plan is to ensure the health and safety of all library employees and patrons while in the library building.  The Covid-19 virus has been proven to be passed by human contact, contact with articles touched by others and by the virus being air-borne.  Therefore, it is necessary to address all of the above in order for our library building to be a safe environment for employees and patrons.

When the Governor allows library buildings in the State of Michigan to reopen, reopening will be accomplished in phases. Each phase will be evaluated on a daily and weekly basis and adjustments made when necessary.

 

Phase I – Employees in the Building (one week)

1. No person other than library employees will be permitted to enter the building.
2. Employees will work opposite shifts so as to limit contact. When both employees are in the building, six foot social distancing will be observed.
3. The library will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized with approved cleaners. All surfaces likely to be touched and all non-carpeted floors will be cleaned with bleach water.
4. Carpets and windows will be cleaned.
5. Toys and puzzles will be removed from the children’s area until it is deemed safe by the CDC to allow such items to be reintroduced.
6. Plexi-glass shields will be installed at the circulation desk in order to limit contact between employees and patrons.
7. Tape will be installed on the carpet near the circulation desk in order to demark 6 foot distances for patrons waiting to check out books.
8. Tape will be installed on carpet in aisles between stacks to make aisles one way.
9. Signage will be created to remind patrons about 6 foot social distancing and to alert patrons prior to entering that a mask must be worn in the building.
10. Patron computers will be moved at least 6 feet apart.

 

Phase 2 – Curbside Service, No Contact (one to two weeks)

1. Library employees wear masks and gloves at all times.
2. All returned books placed in outside drop box. Encourage patrons to return books that were not returned during the closure.
3. All returned books sanitized with Lysol wipes. Books isolated for ten days and then returned to the shelves.
4. Patrons may call to request books and set up an appointment time to pick them up. Books will be collected, bagged, labeled and set outside for the patron. Patron appointments at least ten minutes apart in order to limit potential patron contact.
5. No persons other than library employees permitted inside the building.
6. All surfaces cleaned and sanitized daily.

 

Phase 3 – Library Reopens to Patrons (TBD)

1. Library open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Saturday to be used for thorough cleaning and sanitizing.
2. Library Employees will wear gloves and masks at all times.
3. Frequently touched surfaces will be cleaned and sanitized throughout the day.
4. Patron computer desks and keyboards will be sanitized after each use.
5. Restroom will be cleaned each night.
6. All returned books will be put in outdoor drop box and sanitized and isolated once per day by a library employee.
7. Interior door to the Library to be kept closed between patrons. Signage on door to remind patrons that they must wear a mask to enter the library.   Encourage patrons to close the door behind them.
8. In order to assure social distancing, there will be a limit of eight patrons in the building at one time.
9. Summer programs for June and June story time are cancelled.

 

Phase 4 – Back to Normal Operation

In all phases of this plan, procedures may be altered/added dependent upon how thing are working.  We will need to be flexible.  At all times, the health and safety of everyone must be the main priority. Therefore authority is delegated to the director to make adjustments to the policy between board meetings.

Approved by the Board of the Goodland Township Library