May 12, 2020
Dear Valued Library Patron
On behalf of our entire family of libraries, we want to thank
you for your support during the past couple of months. While our doors were
physically closed to you, our Central Mississippi Regional Library System Board
of Trustees and Library Team was committed to providing digital services which
included access to eBooks, Databases, eContent, free WiFi at all branches. We
are grateful that you have continued to support us from a distance. Because of
your support, we have been able to promote safety for our communities and our
library team. We sincerely appreciate your vast loyalty and look forward to
having you visit our libraries again soon.
From the beginning of the pandemic, we have continued to
prioritize the health and well-being of our library team members and library
patrons. As we enter phased reopening plans in our branches, we want to inform
you of the practices and safety protocols we are following to ensure our
libraries remain a safe place to work and provide library services. Below is a
list of policies and operations that our libraries will be following, along
with estimated dates of when each location plans to reopen.
We kindly ask that you refrain from visiting our libraries if
you have any symptoms (coughing, shortness of breath, sore throat, vomiting or
diarrhea), if you have had a fever of 100.4 in the past 48hrs, or if you have
been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID19. Additionally, we
request your participation in our social distancing practices to safeguard our CMRLS
team and patrons. Thank you for your assistance in this matter!
- Libraries will follow all local guidelines to open at specified capacity rates.
- In-person library programming,
such as but not limited to story times and book clubs, will not be offered
until further notice.
- The Library Team Member is
required to undergo a series of health screening questions before entering
the building. Those showing any signs of symptoms or fever are prohibited
from entering the library.
- Study tables and computer
stations are seated at least 6ft apart from one another.
- Availability of computers will
be limited. We will adhere to thirty-minute sessions to allow for others
to use computers. Free Wifi can be accessed on the outside of the library
building.
- Curbside Document Delivery
Services such as printing, copying and faxing are available for a fee. Wireless
printing is available at select branches: Flowood, Pearl, Magee,
Mendenhall, Forest.
- Notary services are available
for a nominal fee at the following branches: Flowood, Magee, Mendenhall
- Library Team Members are required to wear protective masks and gloves with frequent glove changes and hand washing.
- Tables, chairs, and other
library surfaces are sanitized after every use.
- High-touch areas such as
doorknobs, screens, restrooms, etc. are sanitized frequently throughout
each shift.
- Antibacterial soap and hand
sanitizer are readily available for Library Team Members and patrons in
the libraries.
- Library Team Members are
provided proper training and guidance on safety protocols and steps to
minimize the spread of COVID19.
- Meeting room use and study room
use are discontinued until further notice.
CMRLS has a plan for our libraries. The first part of the plan
includes opening Book Drops and offering Curbside Services. During this phase, patrons
will not be allowed to enter our libraries.
Book drops at selected locations will be open starting Monday,
May 18, 2020 (at the following locations: Floyd J.Robinson Memorial Public Library (Raleigh, MS), Forest Public Library (Forest, MS), G. Chastaine Flynt Memorial Public Library (Flowood, MS), Magee PublicLibrary (Magee, MS), Mendenhall Public Library (Mendenhall, MS), Pearl PublicLibrary (Pearl, MS), Richland Public Library (Richland, MS)). All
returned items will be quarantined for fourteen (14) days in the designated and
approved area in the library. The returned items will be in quarantine. Items
will remain on the patron’s account until the quarantine period is completed.
However, it should not hinder the patron from borrowing more items.
Beginning
Tuesday, May 26, 2020, Curbside Services will be available from
10:00 A.M.-5:30 P.M. at the following locations: Floyd J.Robinson Memorial Public Library (Raleigh, MS), Forest Public Library (Forest, MS), G. Chastaine Flynt Memorial Public Library (Flowood, MS), Magee PublicLibrary (Magee, MS), Mendenhall Public Library (Mendenhall, MS), Pearl PublicLibrary (Pearl, MS), Richland Public Library (Richland, MS).
We
will continue to closely monitor the recommendations of local health
departments and authorities to ensure we are serving you in the safest way
possible.
Warm
regards,
Mara
V. Polk
Executive
Director
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