advertisement

Poplar Creek Public Library remains open; some programming canceled

The Poplar Creek Public Library District remains open to the public and has taken various response measures to preventing COVID-19. The library will close if mandated by the CDC or Governor of Illinois. As of today, March 13, 2020, the library has enacted the following changes:

• A Pandemic Response Policy will be presented to the board of trustees at the March 19, 2020 Board Meeting.

• Senior programs for the coming two weeks are canceled. Our College Fair has also been canceled. We will continue to evaluate the situation and cancel programs as it is deemed necessary. Please watch our website for updates.

• Safety gloves are made available to staff members for use while handling materials. All materials are being wiped down as they are returned.

• The Poplar Creek Public Library District is also going fine free through May 31. Any materials returned between now and May 31 will not have any fines charged, no matter how late. We understand some cannot get out to the library, and some are financially affected by this situation.

• The computing areas and Studio 1405 have computers available at every other station to maintain distance between patrons.

Signs have been placed throughout the building encouraging best health practices such as washing hands thoroughly, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue, the importance of cleaning and disinfecting objects and surfaces, avoiding touching the face and avoiding contact with people who are sick.

• Staff members have increased their surface cleanings to multiple times a day, especially with door handles and railings. They're also wiping down counters, work stations and computer stations.

• Some toys and games have been pulled from circulation as have all items in our Extraordinary Things Collection.

Once again, these changes go into effect through March 31, but the Poplar Creek Public Library District will keep the public notified of any changes via news releases, signage, social media postings or the website.

The changes have been put into place to practice social distancing (reducing contact from person to person or among groups), which is a method that has been recommended by a variety of health experts on trying to control the spread of COVID-19.

The public has been advised by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to stay home if sick. The Poplar Creek Public Library District serves a community of all age groups, so it is also advisable for those who are sick to stay out of the library in order to not spread illnesses to other visitors.

In the event that COVID-19 is present in the Poplar Creek Public Library District, Library Director Debra Stombres will contact the Cook County Health Department, DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) and the CDC. Actions will be taken from there and the public will be notified.

It is also important to keep in mind that patrons don't have to leave their homes in order to take advantage of library offerings. There are plenty of downloadable services that allow patrons read eBooks, listen to eAudiobooks, take computing classes and more. Check the Poplar Creek Public Library District's website for a full list of resources.

For more information on COVID-19, these resources are available: DuPage County Health Department: www.dupagehealth.org

Cook County Health Department: www.cookcountypublichealth.org, Illinois Department of Public Health: www.dph.illinois.gov

Center for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov

World Health Organization: www.who.int

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.