*All identifying information has been redacted from this document so that it can be shared publicly. Any location names have been replaced with “Montana.”
In response to the escalating coronavirus (COVID-19) health crisis, we want to inform the public that MONTANA Public Library has implemented important health and safety measures. The library has been monitoring updates from the MONTANA County Health Department, state and national library agencies, and the Centers for Disease Control. We hope to minimize disruption to library services and our community but we must prioritize the safety of our users, volunteers, and staff.
The library is prepared to move through three Emergency Response Levels to keep the public and library staff as safe as possible.
The library will move to Stage Two or Stage Three when information from the MONTANA County Health Departments or other government agencies indicate it is necessary and/or prudent to do so.
Should it become necessary to move to Stage Two or Three, updates will be posted on [library website], on the library Facebook page, and communicated with our users and media partners via e-mail.
Regular Library Services continue with additional health & safety steps implemented.
• Board of Trustees and library staff are made aware of the situation, are on alert, and participate in preparation & prevention measures as directed.
• Public is informed about the risks and preventative measures being taken via web and social media.
• Management begins preparations for Stage Two and keeps all staff informed.
Library Services shift to Circulation Only to limit public assembly.
• Library facilities are open under limited use. This could include reduced hours of operation.
• Programs, meetings, or prolonged use of any kind; including study, reading, use of the meeting room, and public computer use are cancelled. If limited computer use can be arranged to comply with health department recommendations, efforts will be made to provide computer use on a limited basis with an emphasis on the essential tasks of tax filing, census reports, unemployment benefits, legal forms, etc.
• Library becomes holds pick up, checkout & return, and quick browsing only.
• Seating areas will not be available to the public.
• Public is informed about limited access and measures being taken via web and social media
• Management begins preparations for Stage Three and keeps all staff informed.
The library is closed to the public. No fines will accrue during this time.
• On the recommendation of the MONTANA County Department of Health or other government agencies or as directed by proclamation, and after informing the Library Board of Trustees, managers, and staff the library is closed to public use and access. If the MONTANA school districts close, the library will be closed to public use and access.
• Depending on the situation, virtual services and other services that do not require extended direct public contact may continue. Curbside pick-up options may be available if approved by the local health department.
• Public is informed about library facility closures, available virtual services, and measures being taken via web and social media.
• The library begins preparations for returning to Lower Stages as the situation changes and keeps all staff informed.
Unless recommended to close by the MONTANA County Department of Health or directed by proclamation, staff will report to work during all stages. Although hours available for public service (i.e. curbside pick-up) will likely be reduced from the library’s regular operating hours, all staff will have the option of working their regularly scheduled amount of hours. If staff are unable or unwilling to report for work during the library’s operations at one of the three stages, they will be required to use sick or vacation leave.
If the library is directed to cease all operations by the MONTANA County Department of Health or by proclamation and to not allow staff to report to work, then staff will receive pay for regularly scheduled hours without being required to use sick or vacation leave.
When not serving the public via curbside pick-up or phone questions, staff will work on various projects such as updating procedural documents, participating in continuing education activities online, conducting item inventory and conditioning, cleaning the building, and other tasks to make sure the library is ready to open to the public when it is safe to do so.
Effective March 17, 2020 the library reduced its hours to 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, until further notice. This was done at the discretion of the director in response to the limited services provided and the changes to the staffing model since volunteers were directed not to report to work to promote social distancing, which meant staff would be working alone in the evening hours.
As appropriate and based on community feedback, the library will aim to expand those hours to provide opportunities for evening curbside pick-up of items and/or curbside pick-up on Saturday. Any expansion of hours will ensure that two staff are working at all times, including evening hours and on Saturdays.
The MONTANA Public Library will postpone hiring of the MONTANA Librarian indefinitely due to the constraints on the duties of the position created by the limited operations of the library during its response to the COVID-19 health crisis.