REALM Project
REopening
Archives, Libraries,
and Museums
News
News > Public Libraries Preparing to Reopen: Examples from the Field
The REALM project’s primary aim is to create and distribute science-based, authoritative information to inform decisions designed to reduce risk of transmission of COVID-19 to staff and visitors who are engaging in the delivery or use of archival, library, and museum services. This information includes literature reviews of published scientific research and the results of lab testing on a variety of commonly used materials.
The project is collecting, curating and sharing information and resources produced by other organizations that support plans to resume operations and reopen archives, libraries, and museums. A collection of examples are listed below, and organized under topics commonly addressed in reopening plans. While the documents may reflect specific, local guidance, they may still provide important considerations for organization in other locations. Inclusion in this list does not represent an endorsement by the REALM project.
If you have a reopening resource or plan to share, please email it to Kem Lang, [email protected].
Click to jump to the covered sections: Staff and patrons | Facilities and space considerations | Programs and service adaptations | Materials handling and procedures
Staff and patrons
Health and safety
- Employee symptom assessment
- Ohio Library Council, Reopening Best Practices (Phase 2 Protocols)
- Toledo Lucas County Public Library, Safe Work Playbook (Daily Health Screening Protocol)
- Employee PPE
- Colorado Library Consortium, Returning to Service (Protect your employees and volunteers)
- Ohio Library Council, Reopening Best Practices (Phase 1 Steps)
- Patron PPE
- Maine State Library, Public Library Guidance (Patrons)
Staff policies
- West Virginia Library Commission, Reopening the Library (Stage 1)
- Missouri State Library, Reopening Guidelines (Phase 3)
Social distancing guidelines
- Toledo Lucas County Public Library, Safe Work Playbook (Social Distancing Protocol)
- Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Reopening Libraries Resource Guide (Determine the Level of Reopening)
Facilities and space considerations
Capacity
- Limited number of people
- West Virginia Library Commission, Reopening the Library (Stage 2)
Access to facility, spaces, and equipment
- Reduced hours
- West Virginia Library Commission, Reopening the Library (Stage 2)
- Adjustments to public, interactive spaces, including children’s area
- Public Library Directors of Washington, Letter to the Governor (Reorganizing Programs of Service)
- Ohio Library Council, Reopening Best Practices (Phase 3 Best Practices)
Adjusted computer access
- Nebraska Library Commission, Phased Plan for Reopening (Phase 3)
- West Virginia Library Commission, Reopening the Library (Computer Use)
Layout modifications
- Installation of physical barriers-separate patrons from library workers
- Ohio Library Council, Reopening Best Practices (Phase 2 Protocols)
- Rearranged furniture
- Nebraska Library Commission, Phased Plan for Reopening (Phase 3)
- Ohio Library Council, Reopening Best Practices (Phase 3 Best Practices)
- Social distancing using floor markings
- Utah State Library, Plan for Moving Towards Full Service (Stage 3)
- Ohio Library Council, Reopening Best Practices (Phase 3 Best Practices)
- Increased number of checkouts
- Nebraska Library Commission, Phased Plan for Reopening (Phase 1)
Cleaning protocols
- Increased cleaning
- Colorado Library Consortium, Returning to Service (Deep Clean Your Library)
- Ohio Library Council, Reopening Best Practices (Phase 3 Protocols)
Programs and services adaptations
Restructure library programs
- Oak Park Public Library, COVID-19 Response Plan (Services and Programs, listed below each “Service Level”)
- Wisconsin Public Libraries, Reopening Guide (Remote programming/In-person programming)
- California State Library, Restoring In-Person Services (Appendix A)