Contingency Planning
Spurred by library closures due to the Novel Coronavirus pandemic in 2020, WLS created planning resources to help libraries transition to a new normal. Primary concerns are:
- Understanding and meeting community needs and priorities
- Safety of staff and safety of patrons
- Reimagining library services for the future
- Building on successful virtual programming
- Blending the strengths of consortium activities and each library’s uniqueness
New and externally updated resource listings (6/30/2022)
Planning Resources
- WLS_Phased Planning Overview Guide
- Reopening and Reimagining: WLS Phased Planning Document – WORKING VERSION
- WLS Library Pandemic Policies and Plans
- Reopening and Reimagining OVERVIEW
- Reopening and Reimagining: Meeting Follow-up Questions
Sample Plans
- Albany Public Library Continuation of Service Plan (updated)
- Pennsylvania State Library COVID-19 Guidance and Resources
- QPL Path Forward – Queens Public Library
- Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
- RPL Re-Opening Plan May 28 Update
- UHLS Coordinated Reopening Committee Recommendations with appendix A-D 5-15-20
- UHLS Coordinated Reopening Appendix E – Summary of Levels – 5-15-20
- MHLS Phased Reopening Plan Template 2020.05.15
- OCPL Materials Quarantine Procedures
- North Country Library System Reopening Plan
- Massachusetts Library System – multiple plans
- RCLS Reopening Plan – 5.13.2020
- OCPL Reopening Plan Brief for Ryan McMann
- STLS Guidance and Considerations for Reopening Libraries
- 4CLS Phased ReOpening_2
- RAILS Guidelines for Libraries Considering Curbside Service and/or Phased Reopening
- Piedmont OK Sample Plan
- Albany Library’s Six stages to reopening
- New Mexico Staged Reopening Plan
- A Phased Reopening Plan for Libraries as COVID 19 Restrictions are Lifted
External Resources – Library-oriented
- Ask the Lawyer Recently Asked Questions includes mask, health screening, and vaccination information
- NYLA Requests Library Workers Be Treated As Essential Retail Workers For Vaccination
- NYS Public Employer Health Emergency Response Plan for Libraries Template
- NYLA Guidance About Chapter 186 Continuation of Operations Plans
- REALM Project Test 5 Results
- PLA Digest regarding Quarantine of Library Materials for 2020-09-25
- Ask the Lawyer RAQ: Public Restroom Availability
- REALM Project Test 4 Results Available
- REALM Project Test 3 Results Available
- ESLN The Saga Continues Slides 7/29/2020 Ask the Lawyer workshop slides including mask and reopening guidance
- REALM Project Test 2 Results
- ALA COVID-19 Recovery: Advocacy & Policy, Data & Research, Guidance Content & Protocols, Education, News
- Libraries Provide the Basics During COVID-19 from Library Journal
- Reopening Libraries: Designing For Health from Library Journal
- Security Experts on How To Reopen Safely from Library Journal
- REALM Project: Happening Now Webjunction page with recent updates
- Reopening Under COVID-19: A Space Planning Approach from Public Libraries magazine
- REALM Project Literature Review
- The Privacy Perils of Contact Tracing in Libraries
“The short of it is, don’t institute contact tracing unless you’re mandated to do so and if you have to make sure to follow these guidelines to ensure the information stays confidential!” -Erin Berman, ALA Privacy Subcommittee - NNYLN Legal Considerations For Libraries May292020 Slides
- Legal Considerations For Libraries With Stephanie ‘Cole’ Adams – Session recording
- NEDCC 3.5 Disinfecting Books and Other Collections
- Science-Based Reopening Plans in Everyday English
- COVID-19 ReOpening_Signs_May26
- Official guidelines for reopening of the Danish libraries
- Ask the Lawyer: Staff Return to Work Policies
- Sanitizing Staff and Patron Electronic Devices Wisconsin SCLS
- TX Health protocols for libraries
- Quarantined Item Procedures North Platt Public Library, NE
- ReOpening the Library: Guidelines to Consider
- Recovery Readiness: How to Guide 1.0_v2
- By the Cover: Insurance For Libraries COVID 19 Best Practices May 2020 Final
- NYLA Coronavirus Response
- Ask the Lawyer: Mask and PPE library policies
- Public Libraries After the Pandemic
- What do you think will be the most significant change to libraries… Learningcrowdsourced list
- Mid-Hudson Library System COVID-19 Resources
- Southeastern NY Library Resources Council Emergency Preparedness Resources for Libraries
- Mitigating COVID-19 When Managing… Collections Video
- Mitigating COVID-19 When Managing… Collections Video – Notes compiled by Doug Wray
External Resources – Library Public Outreach & Messaging
- Indianapolis Public Library In-Branch Services Reopening public website
- Free customizable hand washing poster templates
- Grant NE Curbside Checkout Press Release for Public
- COVID-19 Library Protocol, Restrictions, Tilden Public Library (NE)
- North Platte Public Library Services Amid COVID-19, Entrance Guidelines
- Public Information on COVID-19 Pikes Peak Public Library information for the public
External Resources – County, State, and Federal Government
- NYS Continuing Temporary Suspension and Modification of Laws… (includes remote/open meetings law extension)
- Westchester County COVID-19 Dashboard
- NYS Cluster Action Initiative – Find COVID-19 Hot Spot Zones by Address
- NYS-Public-Employer-Public-Health-Emergency-Plan-Template-and-Guidance1
- NYS cluster action initiative guidelines 2020-11-17
- Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility (CDC Guidelines)
- Disinfecting Building Facility-H (CDC Guidelines – pdf)
- Low-Risk Indoor Arts & Entertainment Guidelines for Employers and Employees
- Interim Guidance For Low-Risk Indoor Arts & Entertainment During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
- COVID-19 Mid-Hudson Regional Monitoring Dashboard
- Plastic Glazing for Sneeze Guards NYSED Office of Facilities Planning
- Business Opening Notices Filter for Westchester and search by NAICS code 519120 Libraries and Archives
- NYS Business Reopening Safety Plan Template
- COVID-19 Westchester Community Resources
- Regional Guidelines for Re-Opening New York
- Reopening Metrics in New York
- NY Forward Advisory Board
- New York Forward – Regional Monitoring Dashboard
- Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID 19 (OSHA, PDF)
External Resources – Curbside Pickup
(sample plans above may also include curbside pickup information)
- Curbside Pickup webpage – Ossining Library
- Curbside Pickup webpage – Bronxville Library
- Curbside Pickup webpage – Pound Ridge Library
- Curbside Pickup webpage – Chappaqua Library
- Contactless Pickup webpage – Warner Library
- Your Checklist For Library Curbside Services (Demco)
- OCPL Library TakeOut – press release
- NYS Curbside In-Store Pickup Retail Short Guidelines
- NYS Interim Guidance For Curbside and In-store Pickup
- Watertown, MA Curbside Pickup Information
- OCPL Curbside Pickup
- Why You Shouldn’t Do Curbside During COVID-19
External Resources – General
- Indoor vs. outdoor dining in the COVID era: What restaurant patrons say they’re comfortable with
- COVID-19 Event Risk Assessment Planning Tool
- School Disinfectant
- 5 Tips For Infection Control at Work
- AIHA Reopening Guidance for the Retail Industry Guidance Document
- AIHA Reopening Guidance for General Office Settings Guidance Document
- BOMA International Getting Back To Work Preparing Buildings for Re Entry
- Six Feet of Separation in Reopening Offices Won’t Stop Virus
- Digital Access During Covid-19
- The Risks – Know Them – Avoid Them
- COVID-19: The CIDRAP Viewpoint provides pandemic scenarios for planning
- 6 Feet Office Space
- Public Health Principles for a Phased Reopening During COVID-19: Guidance for Governors
Reopening and Restarting: Meetings For Planning
Libraries met with WLS online to share discussion and questions about reopening.