With global attention on coronavirus (COVID-19), the Library joins with local partners in taking necessary steps to develop plans and implement precautions.

by Claudine Perrault, Library Director

With global attention on coronavirus (COVID-19), the Library joins with local partners in taking necessary steps to develop plans and implement precautions.

Our goal is to take the path of reason, based on up-to-the-moment information: we seek to be pro-active yet not over-reactive. And the good news is: whatever precautions we take, and the more we educate ourselves about preventive care, the more we strengthen our safeguards against everyday colds and flu, which currently remain at higher risk levels than coronavirus.

Here at the Estes Valley Library, we’re focusing on these goals to assure our continuity of service to you:

Increased sanitizing: The safety and cleanliness of the Library is always a priority. This season, we’re implementing hourly wipe-downs of door handles, keyboards, mice, switches, counters, tabletops, telephones, and our public service desks. We’ll continue to keep hand sanitizer available at convenient places throughout the building.

Healthy hands: We’ll remain steadfast in frequent hand-washing with soap and water. In greetings, we may opt for the newly-favorable “elbow bump” in lieu of handshaking. We want you to stay healthy, and we want to stay healthy too so we can keep serving you.

Staff sick days: The Library staff is a dedicated bunch, but we’ll keep ourselves at home when sick. When possible, staff may opt to work from home if feeling well enough to be productive, but not well enough to be in public.

Collaboration with partners: As always, we work in unison with local, county and State partners in government, health, education and business. We will align our planning with community-level responses and needs.

Service priorities and closure plans: The Library is a vital public resource and a community rallying point. If circumstances require a re-prioritizing of services to meet immediate needs, we’ll put plans into action. And if it became necessary to close the facility, we would examine available options for remote services and services at alternate locations.

Communications to you: All updates on Library closures or service interruptions will be posted on our website, sent via email alerts, and shared on Facebook.

Continuity of operations: Staff members are familiarizing themselves with steps to assure that necessary services continue during a closure or quarantine. These include our ability to pay vendors and meet payroll.

A source for reliable information: Our goal during any community emergency is to be a clearinghouse for accurate information—assembling information from community partners and sharing that in-house and via our website.

Let’s continue to enjoy our community gathering spaces, the Library included, and in healthy fashion!