Heartland Library branches open with protective measures

By Laura Schiermeier, Staff Writer
Posted 7/1/20

Heartland Regional Library branches have entered Phase three of reopening.

Phase three is the library branches open to the public with precautionary measures in place.

All of …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Heartland Library branches open with protective measures

Posted

Heartland Regional Library branches have entered Phase three of reopening.

Phase three is the library branches open to the public with precautionary measures in place.

All of Heartland’s branches reopened June 8 and 9 and staff say it is going well.

Sneeze guards are in place at the circulation desks. Other precautions library staff are taking include limiting the number of people inside the library.

They began with 10 library patrons allowed at the same time and this number will increase/decrease as they monitor the new Covid-19 cases in the state and counties.

The staff is enforcing the six-foot social distancing and they are encouraging patrons not to linger, but get their materials and leave. They ask patrons not to be in the library for longer than 30 minutes.

Other changes are patrons need to schedule an appointment to use public computers and computer use is restricted to essential business and not gaming or social media, etc.

Staff will wipe down computer keyboards, mice and general computer areas with sanitizer after each patron use.

There will be no use of conference rooms or space for meetings. All returning items will be wiped down with sanitizer.

All physical programs are canceled until Phase four. There are virtual programs offered and these can be found on the library’s website.

Heartland has not yet reached Phase four, which is opening the library to the public without restrictions. This will take place when the pandemic is over or a vaccine is available to everyone.