May 2020
Updated May 29, 2020
Updated July 28, 2020
Updated October, 2020
Updated November, 2020

These guidelines are an outline on phasing in the reopening of the library.  They have been designed in accordance with the Franklin Public Library Pandemic Reopening Policy.  They are not intended to answer all questions but are meant to guide staff and to be a fluid working document as the situation continues to develop. 

Library service, workflows and hours will change as we decide how to meet the needs of the public while keeping our staff and patrons safe.

PHASE I

Once we are able to return to the building (stay at home order has been lifted, and under the guidance of the Oakland County health department) staff will return to the building one person per day only, to catch up on the backlog before we will be able to open for any services. 

Regular cleaning services will begin again and will be increased to 3 days (if available) a week with sanitization.

Staff will work from 11-2 or 3, Monday through Friday, manning the phones for those who are having problems accessing our on-line materials or who need library cards.  Library cards can be issued over the phone and a hard copy mailed to the patron.  MelCat will not be available at this time nor will patrons be able to place holds. 

Staff can begin ordering books, DVDs and audio books. 

Returned items accumulating since March 13 have been quarantined so they can be discharged and placed on the shelves. New dropbox items will be set aside for a minimum of 72 hours  before they are processed and reshelved. 

Personal protection and additional cleaning materials are being acquired and will be necessary for Phase II opening:  including masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, plexiglass shield for the circulation desk and either wipes or a bleach and water spray and paper towels.

PHASE II:OPEN FOR CURBSIDE SERVICE ONLY

Hours for curbside service: 

Monday 11-4
Tuesday 2-7
Wednesday 12-4
Thursday 2-7
Friday 11-4
Saturday 11-4

Staff will receive a Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Workplace Health Screening.  This is a list of questions they must ask themselves every day before they come to work.  If they answer “yes” to a certain number of questions they are asked not to come to work.  Because we are such a small staff this may mean the library will be closed for the day. 

There will continue to be only one person in the library at a time and the bookkeeper will be encouraged to continue working remotely with the Director dropping off the bills and other items necessary to the bookkeeper.

Newspapers will be unavailable except on-line

During curbside service the back door will remain locked. The front door will have a do not enter sign and we will use our A-frame sign to remind people to stay in their cars and call us for their pickup.   The front door and the front drive are the only locations for curbside service.  Patrons can call us ahead of time to request items.  Once they arrive in the circular drive they will call us from their car and we will put the items in their vehicle, preferably in the trunk or back seat.  Gloves and masks will be available for the staff for this service.

Patrons will still need to continue to put their returned items in the drop boxes and not to hand them to the person delivering to their car. 

All returned items, either from the drop box or the TLN delivery bins, will need to be quarantined for a minimum of 96 hours and bins will need to be wiped down with either wipes or a bleach and water solution. 

PHASE III: REOPENING TO THE PUBLIC

No set date at this time.

Mon  11-5
Tues   12-7
Wed 11-5
Thurs 12-7
Fri   11-5
Sat 11-4

Staff will receive a Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Workplace Health Screening.  This is a list of questions they must ask themselves every day before they come to work.  If they answer “yes” to a certain number of questions they are asked not to come to work.  Because we are such a small staff this may mean the library will be closed for the day. 

Reopening policy and guidelines will be posted on the website and in the library.

Patrons and staff will be required to wear masks.  If patrons do not want to wear masks they can be helped curbside.  This requirement will be monitored until we have returned to normal and based on State guidelines.

Those who are exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed to enter the library but they can be helped curbside.

Additional staff will be hired to monitor patrons.  Make sure they are wearing masks and using hand sanitizer before browsing.  Check computer users in for appointments, clean computer stations after use and monitor the length of time for broswers.  

Again masks, gloves, shields and hand sanitizer will be supplied to the staff.  A sneeze guard will be placed on the circulation desk.   

There will be a limit on how many patrons can be in the building at one time and how long they can stay.  30 minutes maximum for browsing.  Maximum 3 patrons total in the library at one time.  People will be encouraged not to linger.  The study room will be off limits as will the tables and fireplace chairs.  Patrons will be encouraged to choose their items, check out and leave the building “Grab and Go.”

No in-library programming, virtual only.

Quarantining of materials for 96 hours will continue. 

Continue with additional cleaning and sanitizing of the building

High touch surfaces will have to be cleaned regularly by staff these include:  door knobs, computer keyboards, mice, screen, desks and tops of chairs, light switches, bathroom faucets and flushers, printer, fridge, circulation desk counter, sink counter and counters in the office and computer area. 

Cleaning supplies currently include:  disinfectant wipes, bleach water solution, disinfectant spray. 

Only one computer will be available for public use and patrons must make an appointment to use the computer. The computer and the surrounding area will be wiped down between uses.   In order to keep track of patrons and computers and cleaning.  Patrons will enter through the front door only.  The back door and the French doors will be locked so people can only enter in one location.    Those who need to use the back handicapped entrance can call us for assistance. 

Curbside service will continue. 

One restroom will be limited to staff only. Because we are a public building one restroom must remain open to the public and will need to be wiped down between uses.

The water cooler will not be available for use.  Just one more area for germs to spread and staff to clean.   It will be covered with a garbage bag

Children’s toys will remain put away.

PHASE IV: FULL REOPENING OF THE LIBRARY

This may well be a gradual process.  Allowing more than one computer user at a time, One person per table and one person in the fireside chairs.  Some outside programming may be possible.

Curbside may still be offered.  Masks may still be required and anyone, either staff or patrons who are sick will be asked to remain at home.

We will begin shifting our virtual efforts from the stay at home activities on the website to more virtual programming.

At any time through any of these phases if any staff member feels unwell or symptomatic or diagnosed with COVID-19 they will be instructed to STAY HOME.  If someone can be found to replace them fine, otherwise the library will be closed for the day.             

STAFF MEMBER IS ILL OR TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19:

Cleaning and Disinfecting If Someone Is Symptomatic

1. If an employee has developed symptoms of COVID-19 in the workplace, or if the library learns that an infected patron has used the library, the library must be properly cleaned and disinfected prior to being used again.
2. Open outside doors and windows to increase air circulation in the area. Wait 24 hours before you clean or disinfect. If 24 hours is not feasible, wait as long as possible. This may require the rescheduling of non-symptomatic employees.
3. Clean and disinfect all areas used by the person who is sick, such as offices, bathrooms, common areas, shared electronic equipment like keyboards, phones, etc.
4. If more than 7 days since the person who is sick visited or used the facility, additional cleaning and disinfection is not necessary. Continue routine cleaning and disinfection.

An employee with a COVID-19 diagnosis or who displays symptoms consistent with COVID-19 must be immediately removed from the worksite. In response to a confirmed diagnosis or display of COVID-19 symptoms, Franklin Public Library:

• Informs all employees with and near whom the diagnosed/symptomatic employee worked of a potential exposure;
• Contacts the Health department of the diagnosis.
• Keeps confidential the identity of the diagnosed/symptomatic employee; and
• Conducts deep cleaning of the library building. All employees who worked in sustained, close proximity to the diagnosed/symptomatic employee are also removed from the worksite for at least 14 days; however, should these exposed employees later develop COVID-19 symptoms and/or receive a confirmed diagnosis, they may not report onsite until all return-to-work requirements are met, defined below.

Return-to-Work Requirements

Employees who were themselves diagnosed with COVID-19 may only return to work after 14 days or upon confirmation of the cessation of symptoms and contagiousness, proof of which may be acquired via the test-based strategy or the non-test-based strategy.

The test-based strategy is preferred but relies upon the availability of testing supplies and laboratory capacity. Under this strategy, employees may discontinue isolation and return to work upon achieving the following conditions:

• Resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications;
• Improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); and
• Negative results of an FDA Emergency Use Authorized molecular assay for COVID-19 from two consecutive nasopharyngeal swab specimens collected at least 24 hours apart.

Under the non-test-based strategy, employees may discontinue isolation and return to work upon achieving the following conditions:

• At least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications;
• Improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); and
• At least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.

Employees who came into close contact with, or live with, an individual with a confirmed diagnosis or symptoms may return to work after either 14 days have passed since the last close contact with the diagnosed/symptomatic individual, or the diagnosed/symptomatic individual receives a negative COVID-19 test. Employees are typically required to submit a release to return to work from a healthcare provider; given the current stressors on the healthcare system, Company may accept written statements from employees confirming all the factors supporting their release.