Libraries have found various ways to meet community needs since closing to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each public library board, working with the manager, determines what services it can provide during this period. Public Library Services Branch (PLSB) recommends that safety should be at the forefront of any decision to provide curbside delivery for physical material or to have staff in a building. This includes vehicle and road safety if you are providing curbside delivery/pick-up.
The Provincial Operations Center shared the following information. Libraries can operate but cannot allow public access into the facilities.
- While public access into libraries is restricted as per Order 02-2020, nothing specifically prohibits a library from offering the delivery or curbside pick-up of books and other items.
- The safest option is for any library is to expand its online offerings and limit the handling of books and other items.
- As a workplace, a library that offers curbside pick-up is responsible for keeping both patrons and workers safe from virus transmission. This means that the library must put measures in place to prevent transmission from handling books and other items.
- Risk mitigation strategies should address the latest knowledge relating to the risk of transmission of the virus from inanimate objects.
- The COVID-19 virus can survive up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to 3 days on plastic and stainless steel. As books cannot be effectively cleaned and disinfected, it may be wise to store books for a minimum of 24 hours before making them available to a new user. Plastic or stainless-steel items should be cleaned and disinfected immediately upon their return to the library.
- Patrons should be advised to wash hands before and after handling books and other items, avoid touching their face while reading and to avoid sneezing or coughing onto the page while reading.
- Patrons who are immune compromised or otherwise susceptible to COVID-19 infection should not take out items from the library.
- Books and other educational resources can help to maintain basic societal function, however the library should consider limiting the types of items they make available to the public for pick-up.
The Public Library Services Branch in Manitoba has produced a communication on the sanitation/safe handling of books that may be of use during your decision-making.
PLSB staff are working remotely and are happy to answer your questions. Our region’s direct contact is Ken Allan p: 780-641-9363 m: 780-292-2228, ken.allan@gov.ab.ca