We all know that public perception in regards to Covid-19 protocols is changing rapidly. Businesses are re-establishing regular hours, restaurants and malls are getting busier, youth sports are starting up, even live music is happening again. The public’s expectations about what libraries should be offering now, how “open” they should be, is inevitably shaped by their day-to-day experiences at these other places that are reopening. As a place paid for by the public, it’s my view that public libraries’ Covid-19 protocols need to keep pace, broadly speaking, with the expectations of the public that pays for our services.
Beginning Monday, May 10th, we will switch from our current appointment-based method of limiting traffic to a capacity-based method of limiting traffic. To start, 35 patrons will be allowed in the building at a time. Patrons will no longer be asked to make appointments to use a computer or to browse. Study rooms will reopen for two-hour visits by reservation or, if a room is available, on-demand. Most seating and study tables will be made available but play areas will stay closed. While browsers and readers will be encouraged to limit their time in the building, that’s not something we will monitor or police. We will reopen on Sundays 1pm-5pm. Masks will still be required.
I realize that we’re making a big leap here. The relatively low capacity limit that we’ll start with, however, should allow for plenty of social distancing (see the map I’ve included below for an example of what 35 patrons in the building might look like) and I expect most browsers to respect our encouragement of quick visits which will allow for a steady rotation of browsers.
We’re going to be operating between two worlds for a little while: one where we have to accommodate those that have been vaccinated or are simply tired of Covid-19 restrictions and expect a return to normalcy and one where we have to accommodate those with a more cautious approach. I expect this plan to take us through most of this “in-between” period which I assume will last the spring and most of the summer. Details on how we talk to patrons about this change are forthcoming. Let me know if you have any questions.
