The Corinth Free Library is committed to serving its community during hard times and good. The year 2020 has brought unprecedented challenges to our nation, state, and area of service. To continue serving our patrons during this difficult time, while placing the health and safety of our community at the forefront, the Library Board of Trustees has adopted the below Temporary Safety Practices Policy.
The board’s authority to adopt these measures is found in our charter, bylaws, New York Education Law Sections 255, 260, 226, 8 NYCRR 90.2, and Article 2 of the Not-for-profit corporation law. We also consider it our duty to develop these measures to make our services accessible at this time.
Staff at the Corinth Free Library have the authority to enforce these measures like any other of the Library’s Rules. Concerns about this policy should be directed to the Library Director. Thank you for honoring these measures, which are designed to keep our community safe, while allowing access to the library.
Movement between phases is at the discretion of the library and subject to Executive Orders, the New York State Department of Health, Saratoga County, and the Town and Village of Corinth. All phases are dependent on the availability of PPE and cleaning supplies as well as the health and availability of our staff.
Corinth Free Library Temporary Safety Practices
Phase 1: No public allowed in building
Following the guidance of SALS (the Southern Adirondack Library System), the precedence of member libraries and government and public health recommendations, the Library Director will establish a re-opening date for the Corinth Free Library, in coordination with the Board of Trustees. To prepare for this opening date, staff will work a full-time or modified schedule in the building and will clean, process returns, process new items, take phone calls, take care of mail and administrative tasks, work on getting the building ready for public access, re-organizing and working out logistics of quarantining returned materials, work on collection development, and continue planning. If staff is working a shortened schedule in the building, they will make the rest of their hours up in continuing to work at home.
Our staff is small enough that we can easily work in the building while maintaining social distance. Face masks and gloves will be provided to staff. Masks will be used as needed while in the building if staff need to be within 6 feet of each other. Gloves will need to be available to empty the book return, though staff may opt to wash their hands before and after this task instead. Plexiglas barriers are not needed yet as the public will not be allowed in the building.
The public will be allowed and encouraged to return materials to the outdoor book return during this time. All returned items will be brought inside the library by staff wearing PPE and the items will be quarantined for a length of time to be determined by SALS.
Phase 2: Some public services restored – Curbside service
At this stage services will be provided at curbside only, as the public will not be allowed in the building yet. Members can request items either through the catalog or by phone and we will set a time for pick-up. If members of the public don’t have a car or are walking they can call or knock on the door and we will bring the items out to them.
It will still be requested that all returns be made to the outside book return, and quarantining of materials will continue.
Staff will be masked when dealing with the public. They can wear gloves to deliver items and/or wash their hands before and after each delivery is made. Members of the public should also be masked during transactions and when within six feet of staff. Every effort will be made to keep contact very limited. Plexiglas barriers are still not needed yet as the public will not have access to the building.
A modified schedule is still recommended here, with perhaps a special time for immune-compromised / vulnerable people. Once curbside pick-up is running smoothly, if staff is willing and able, limited home delivery to that population may be considered.
Phase 3: Open to the public, limited access allowed in the building – curbside & desk service
Access will be to the lobby and front of desk area only. The stacks will be closed to the public. Pick up of materials will continue and be done either inside at the desk or at the curbside. Additional services now available are: faxing, coping, printouts via eprint all done by staff to limit contact on machines. The public will have access to the PC catalog to aid in placing requests and checking their accounts. Access will be through the front door only and public will be allowed only in the entranceway and the area directly in front of the desk. The bathroom will not be accessible. For people who need to use the ramp: while the back door will be locked there will be signage and they will be instructed to knock for admittance. They will only be allowed into the area immediately in front of the back door.
It will be requested that all returns continue to be made to the book return box and quarantining of materials will continue.
Staff will be masked for all interaction with the public. Glove use or frequent hand washing will be required of staff at all transactions. Members of the public will be required to wear masks or protective coverings for their nose and mouth while inside the building. The library will not be providing masks for members of the public. Hand sanitizer will be available on the desk and near the front door and people will be encouraged to use it. The door to the children’s room shall remain closed to prohibit access to that level. Floor decals will be used to highlight social distancing. Plexiglas barriers will be in place at this point for the safety of both staff and members of the public. Barricades or caution tape will be used to prohibit public access to certain areas. Due to the small size of the library and recommendations from government concerning capacity limits, some patrons may be temporarily asked to queue outdoors on the porch and sidewalk.
A modified schedule is still recommended here for public access in order to allow staff time to stage materials for pickup and to do the necessary cleaning. One day per week will be reserved for curbside access only. Immune compromised and vulnerable populations will be encouraged to visit on that day. If home deliveries are possible, they will also happen on that day. Staff will be required to work a full schedule with the remainder of their hours either in the building while it is not accessible to the public, or working from home.
Phase 3A: Open to the public, with increased but not full access allowed in the building
At this phase all precautions and regulations in place in Phase 3 will remain in effect. However there will be limited access to the public use computers. Appointments for PC use will be highly recommended and encouraged. Time allowed on the PCs will be limited and strictly enforced as there will be fewer computers available due to social distancing regulations. When a person arrives for their appointment, staff will lead them to a PC. Each PC station will be wiped down after use before another person is allowed at that PC. Computer users will not be allowed to wander in the building or have access to areas other than the computer station.
A “Grab and Go” area will be set up to allow some browsing of the collection and this area will be stocked with items from all sections of the library. Staff will assist in placing of holds or, if possible, in bringing items to library patrons from other sections of the building. The number of people allowed in the “Grab and Go” area will be limited due to social distancing rules and people will be encouraged to find what they want and leave. A time limit will be in place so that as many people as possible are given the opportunity to browse.
Masks are still required in the building. People who wish to browse or use the PCs will be required to use hand sanitizer before being allowed to do so.
Phase 4: Library provides increased access to public while maintaining social distancing and safety measures.
At this phase all precautions and regulations in place in Phase 3A will remain in effect.
Staff will be working full hours. The library will be closed to the public for the last half-hour of each shift in order to allow staff time for cleaning. Staff will continue to be masked for all interactions with the public. Masks and social distancing will be required of the public. Floor decals may need to be adjusted or removed at this stage. Plexiglas barriers will remain in place.
As long as quarantining of materials is still ongoing, the stacks will remain closed to the public. As long as NY State is still in a state of emergency the number of people allowed in the building will be restricted to 10 at any one time. The back door will remain locked with admittance there by knocking so as to better keep track of numbers in the building.
Computer use remains the same with a limited number of computers available, time limits on use in place, and time allowed in-between uses to allow for cleaning of the PCs. The best practice would be one person at a PC at any time, though an additional family/household member might be allowed to help, though no more than 3 people would be allowed in the computer area at any one time. Appointments will be encouraged.
Additional space will be made available for browsing. Within that space there will be very limited wooden seats for laptop or other use. There will be time limits at the seating areas to encourage library use, but not lingering. Programs will remain virtual, consist of grab and go kits, or take place outside, if allowed. In-house access to magazines and newspapers will depend on current recommendations regarding viability of the virus on paper.
If deemed safe enough the Children’s Room may be made available with the following restrictions in place. No toys or board books will be out for use until there is a vaccine readily available or public health officials give the all-clear on resuming normal activities. Only one family at a time may be in the room and there will be a limit on the amount of time that they may remain in the room. As access will be limited, appointments will be HIGHLY recommended. There will be a limited number of wooden seats available and all soft seating will be put away.
Curbside pick-up will still be available and must be arranged ahead of time.
It will still be requested that all returns be made to the book return box.
Phase 4A: Additional increased public access with precautions in place as conditions warrant
Operation of the library is contingent on local, state, and federal recommendations regarding the current health crisis. The library will continue to reassess and adjust operations as appropriate to reflect these recommendations as conditions change.
The library will continue to be open 35 hours per week with staff working a full schedule. Staff will be masked for all interactions with the public. Staff will continue to clean their workstations at the end of each shift.
Masks will be required of all as indicated by the CDC when the local towns and/or counties are deemed to be in a state of substantial or high community transmission. There will be disposable masks available for those who need them.
Use of the Children’s Room will continue to be monitored with appointments highly recommended and access limited to help maintain distancing. Toys and other non-circulating materials will remain put away until it is deemed appropriate. Masks will be required of all who use the Children’s Room.
While some areas may remain off limits to the public due to space and storage necessities, the majority of the library will be open for browsing. Barricades will be moved to encourage safe distances around staff areas while allowing access to the book stacks. There will be additional limited seating and table space made available. The bathroom will be open to the public. Only two computers will continue to be available at this time; these will continue to be cleaned after each use.
In-house programs will be on a limited basis with a hard cap for attendance. Outdoor programing will be allowed and encouraged depending on the weather. The use of Pagenstacher Park’s pavilion remains a strong possibility for outdoor programming as does the old Fireman’s Field across the street from the library.
The Plexiglas barriers will remain in place.
Phase 5: Open to the public for a regular schedule with no barriers or protective measures needed.
- All phases are dependent on adequate supplies, PPE and staffing capabilities. Cleaning will be increased during phases 1-4.
- Communications: To aid the community in honoring these requirements, the Library will make this policy available on its website and post it in the building.
- ADA: In the event any safety requirement is not practicable on the basis of a disability, please contact Rebecca Fasulo or Michael Hadfield at 518-654-6913, or write to cor-director@sals.edu or 89 Main St., Corinth, NY 12822. The library is committed to safe access for all.
- Code of Conduct: Adherence to these practices shall be enforced as requirement of the Library’s Code of Conduct until such time as this temporary policy is revoked.
This policy was approved on June 1, 2020
It reflects the best information available at that time and is subject to change
Masks are required * Please maintain safe distances
- Browsing
- Computer use
- Curbside or Inside Pick up of Library Materials
- Printing
- Faxing & Photocopying
- Library Account Services
- Children's Room by Appointment
- Farm 2 Library
For quickest curbside pick up of materials please call ahead to schedule a time: Call 518-654-6913
For curbside appointment call 518-654-6913
- Monday: 10 am-5 pm & 7 pm-8:30 pm
- Tuesday: 10 am-5 pm & 7 pm-8:30 pm
- Thursday: 10 am-5 pm
- Friday: 10 am-4pm
- Saturday: 10 am-3pm
Call 518-654-6913
Or email: cor-director@sals.edu or cor-contacts@sals.edu
Saratoga County Public Health: https://www.saratogacountyny.gov/departments/publichealth/
New York State Department of Health: https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/coronavirus/
Medline Plus: https://medlineplus.gov/coronavirusinfections.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
Accessible:
NFB-NEWSLINE®– a free electronic information system available to legally blind and print-disabled Americans, now includes a coronavirus Breaking News section. The Breaking News information is available to all states and Puerto Rico, even those without sponsorship, so everyone can stay knowledgeable about new developments.
Children’s Information:
PBS For Parents, How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus – an article filled with resources to promote conversation and hygiene habits
Industry Specific:
Food Industry Resources for Coronavirus (COVID-19) – To keep New York’s food processing industry safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, Cornell’s Institute for Food Safety has created a comprehensive, practical and convenient website for commercial processors.
Protect Yourself:
Avoid Coronavirus Scams- A running list of current Covid-19 Scams provided by the Federal Trade Commission
Two Easy No Sew Masks– Don’t have a mask? Learn to make two very easy masks to protect others and yourself