Dear community members,
Please know that we are taking the health of our community and staff very seriously. While there are no known cases locally, we are taking an abundance of caution.
We are actively monitoring the outbreak of COVID-19 to respond with actions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and City of Appleton public health officials.
We are currently taking precautionary health measures to mitigate the risk of the virus and its impact. These measures include:
- Canceling all events and meetings in the library until further notice.
- Suspending some library services (e.g. study rooms, home-bound deliveries, children’s interactive games and toys) until further notice.
- Sharing sources for credible information – please see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) websites.
- Elevated cleaning measures in all library spaces.
- Reminding staff and the community of proper hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette:
- Covering coughs and sneezes with something other than your hand.
- Washing hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
- Routine wiping and disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces.
- Encouraging staff to stay home if they are ill or have a fever.
- Suspending volunteer work.
As some patrons have asked, we do not currently disinfect borrowed materials when they are checked in or as they are browsed or used in-house. Please do not feel pressured to return materials if it is a health risk to you or others. Give us a call and we'll gladly work with you - 832-6177.
Right now, we are not limiting the library’s hours, but we recognize the situation may quickly change and require different responses. Please check our website or social media channels for the latest update before coming to the library.
Libraries are shared public spaces. For the health and safety of others, please do not come to the library if you are exhibiting any COVID-19 symptoms.
As a reminder, we have many digital services available to you for free with your library card. Those services include downloadable eBooks and eAudiobooks; streaming TV, movie and music services; digital subscriptions to newspapers and magazines; and more. Visit our eLibrary page for more information. You can also email us at askus@apl.org or call 832-6173 with any reference questions you may have.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Sincerely,
Colleen Rortvedt
Director, Appleton Public Library
3/13/20