Purpose:
To establish the protocol to be used in the event of a pandemic. If there is a pandemic, the library may be required to operate on limited staffing or take unique measures to help slow the spread of the illness, including service restrictions, limited hours of operation, or possible closure by order of local public health officials. Recovery from a pandemic may be slow, as compared to a natural disaster or other physical crises. It is important to ensure that core business activities of the library can be maintained for several weeks or more with limited staff and reduced hours due to a pandemic.
Library Closure:
Public Health Mandate
The Corinth Free Library will close due to a pandemic in the event of a mandate order or recommendation for closure issued by public health or government officials on the local, county, state, or national level.
Discretionary Service Level Changes
At the discretion of the Library Director, the Library may close, reduce its operating hours, or limit services temporarily in the event that there is not sufficient staff to maintain appropriate staffing levels or if unable to maintain adequate social distancing for health and safety. All library programs and special events will be cancelled.
In the event of closure or reduction in operating hours, the Library Director or designee will maintain communication with staff and the Library Board of Trustees.
Staffing:
Staff who are ill are advised to stay home. If there is not sufficient staffing the library will close.
In providing service safely and efficiently, the following actions may be taken at the discretion of the Library Director or designee.
- Increased health/safety measures for staff (e.g., wearing of gloves, wiping down work areas, etc.);
- Restricted access to areas in the library (e.g., closing floors or unmonitored areas for safety);
- Social distancing practices in public areas;
- Reduction of open hours;
- Cancellation of all programs, special events;
- Closure of the library.
If the Library is open, healthy employees are expected to report to work on time as scheduled, excluding any excused absences following the established Personnel policy. In the event of closure, employees shall be compensated for their regularly scheduled hours.
If the Library is closed to the public, healthy employees may be asked to report to the library for work on appropriate tasks unless specifically forbidden to do so. Personnel may be required to work from home on appropriate tasks.
Quarantine Leave:
All employees are subject to the New York Emergency Paid Sick Leave Law, and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
Communication:
In the event of closure necessitated by pandemic, effective communication about any reduction in services or open hours must be announced in a timely manner. Library staff should follow the normal procedure used for any unexpected closure/program cancellation, which includes posting on library doors, Facebook, and the library website.
Prioritization of Services:
Priority will be given to the following essential services:
- Information services for the public, both in-person and online;
- Payroll;
- Accounts Payable;
- Facility Maintenance.
In the case of reduced staffing or reduced hours of operation, the Library Director or designee will prioritize service-related tasks and assign the daily work plan to staff.
Resumption of Regular Services:
Once the library is allowed to open and function normally the director will work in conjunction with the Southern Adirondack Library System staff and the other libraries in the system to effect a smooth transition to regular hours and services. This may mean that library staff are called to work in the building to prepare for resumption of services. The amount of time needed before allowing the public in will depend on the length of the closure, the schedule for resumption of system-wide services, the need to process materials that may have been stockpiled, and the need to clean and prepare the library for use by the public.
Adopted by the board April 9, 2020