The statewide stay home order has been lifted effective Monday, May 4, but limitations for public libraries remain in place for social distancing and limiting gatherings of 10 or more people. (See Ad Astra: A Plan for Reopening Kansas: https://covid.ks.gov/ad-astra-a-plan-to-reopen-kansas/ Following the announcement Thursday evening, April 30, the State Library of Kansas posted to KANLIB-L: “This is not a mandate to open.”
Does the new Plan for Reopening Kansans mean your local public library should immediately and fully reopen to the public? No, only public libraries which meet certain conditions may reopen. Ultimately, the authority to determine whether to reopen your library and the best ways to provide library services is a local one. Kansas Statute Annotated 12-1225 reserves the authority to local public libraries “to make and adopt rules and regulations for the administration of the library”.
We know coronavirus is a contagious, deadly illness that is spread through contact with an infected person and transmitted on surfaces and in the air. No vaccine or immunity to stop coronavirus is currently available. Given these realities, librarians and library board members affirm our responsibility “to approach this process slowly, gradually and cautiously.” No public library should reopen with the expectation that “everything is back to normal.”
Beginning May 5th and until May 18, the Clearwater Public Library will do a limited reopening using the following factors:
Whether you or any of your library staff are high-risk individuals who have underlying
medical conditions including chronic lung, asthma, heart conditions, severe obesity,
chronic kidney or liver disease or have an impaired immune system; Those employee
‘s may choose to remain at home. They will not be paid but their jobs will be retained until such a time that it would be considered safe for them to return to work.
State, county or local social distancing requirements to ensure library users and library
staff stay at least six feet apart and to prevent 10 or more people from gathering in
areas of the library such as entries, checkout, computer, and other service
areas. Therefore, a “soft opening” means that:
* Open Tuesday – Friday from 10Am – 5Pm
* All activities are canceled for the month of May
- Public Computers are banned but Wi Fi is available
- From May 7th through May 18th, Patrons may contact the Library by phone (620) 584-6474, by email cpldirector@sktc.net or by Facebook message with requests. The staff will gather the material and contact the patron back to make arrangements to pick the item up. No browsing at the library but can access the catalog on line.
Checkouts and Holds
- If you have materials checked out, we have extended those due dates, this includes inter library loans.
- If you’ve placed holds on materials, Library staff will get those requests put together for you. We won’t send out notifications until libraries have reopened for public access. At that time, you will have two weeks after we reopen to pick up your items before they are sent to the next customer on the holds list. New requests are not being accepted during the closure.
- Inter library loan services are suspended during the closure.
- After hours materials returns will be open, but the extended due dates mean there’s no need to rush to the Library for fear of incurring overdue fees.
We are extending library card expiration dates so you can continue using our digital services.
Get a Clearwater Public Library Card or Kansas Library eCard
If you don’t have a library card, call (620) 586-6474 between 10 am.-5 pm. Tuesday – Friday — we can issue Clearwater Public Library cards over the phone so customers can access our digital resources while our buildings are closed to the public. A card will give you access to e-books, e-audio books and online databases. We’re also able to issue Kansas Library eCards over the phone, giving you access to e-books and e-audio books through the State Library of Kansas.
Digital Services
The Library has several digital services cardholders are able to use to stay informed and entertained during the closures:
We understand how important, empowering and impactful a trip is to your local library. Rest assured, we are working to find ways to keep you informed and entertained during the closure and will continue to communicate information to you. Thank you for your support of the Wichita Public Library. We’ll see you soon.
Call or email us with any other questions.