Calendar• Library Directory• NLC Catalog• Site Map• Ask A Librarian

Pandemic Resources for Libraries

Concerned about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in your library or wondering what to tell your patrons? We've put together some guidance and resources for libraries.

Reopening Your Library

Guidance on restoring library services as conditions change:

• ALA COVID-19 Recovery a curated, online repository of tools, guides and resources from the American Library Association
• REALM Project: REopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums Information Hub: A COVID-19 Research Project from OCLC, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and Battelle
• REALM Project Toolkit: decision-making checklists, test results in visial format, and other resources for libraries.
• Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility from the CDC
• OSHA Guidance including the Emergency Temporary Standard, effective 6/21/21.
• Nebraska Directed Health Measures (all have expired as of 5/24/21.)
• FREE Customizable COVID-19 Signage Templates from Demco
• The ADA and Face Mask Policies: issues that may come up due to mask requirements and reasonable ADA accomodations.

School Libraries

Looking for school library/media center-specific information?

• Pandemic Resources for School Librarians from the American Association of School Librarians
• How to Quarantine School Library Books - a guide from DEMCO.

Resources

Responses and Guidance from Local and National Library Organizations

• Libraries and Pandemic Preparedness Library-specific and more general resources on pandemic education, prevention, and preparedness from ALA.
• Pandemic Resources for Academic Libraries from the Association of College and Research Libraries.
• COVID-19 News & Resource Pages from the Association of Research Libraries.
• A Guide to COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) for Public Libraries from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM)
• Libraries and Pandemic Preparedness Addressing COVID-19 with facts and outreach, from American Libraries magazine.
• NLA COVID-19 Response Page
• #LookToLibraries in Times of Crisis free resources including tip sheets, articles, booklists, and more from ALA's Association for Library Service to Children.

Health education/facts:

• Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) from Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
• Local Health Department contacts for Nebraska residents.
• IMLS Webinar: Mitigating COVID-19 When Managing Paper-Based, Circulating, and Other Types of Collections - a recorded webinar from March 30, 2020.
• Coronavirus Disease 2019 information from the CDC
• EPA Guidance - on disinfectants and other areas of interest.
• Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases Track the spread of the virus with this map by Johns Hopkins CSSE

Continuing Operations/Disaster Planning

• In Case of Emergencies: Continuity of Operations (COOP) Planning for libraries.
• Library As Safe Haven: Disaster Planning, Response, and Recovery - a free ebook from ALA Neal-Schuman.

Providing online/remote services:

• Read Online - resources for free ebooks and virtual storytime permissions compiled by the Nebraska Library Commission.
• Library Workers' Coronavirus Tech Handbook - webinars and resources for libraries working remotely and providing virtual services.
• Resources on Copyright & Emergency Remote Teaching & Research
• School Libraries and Coronaviris - a list of resources from Nebraska librarian Cynthia Stogdill.
• Pretty Sweet Tech: Low-Tech Through the Mail- a blog post from NLC's Technology Innovation Libarian, Amanda Sweet
• COVID-19 and OCLC Services
• Connect users to free online resources during the COVID-19 crisis- a list from OCLC of available e-content from global content providers.
• Library Journal Offers Temporary Free Access to All Digital Content During COVID-19 Crisis
• Virtual Programming Best Practices - a slide share from Millersville Public Library in Millersville, TN.
• Protecting Privacy in a Pandemic: A Town Hall for Library and Information Workers

Recommended Reading - these books are available from the Nebraska Library Commission for Nebraska libraries and library science students to borrow. Please use the OPAC to request.

• Pivoting during the pandemic : ideas for serving your community anytime, anywhere, Synopsis here, by Kathleen M. Hughes and Jamie Santoro, Z678.93.S53 P58 2021
• Going virtual : programs and insights from a time of crisis, Synopsis here, by Sarah Ostman, Z678.93.S53 O85 2021

General Guidance

General guidance for patrons and staff, from the CDC:

• Practice preventative behaviors
  - Stay home when sick
  - Cover coughs and sneezes; wear masks/face coverings
  - Wash hands frequently with soap and water
• Disinfect surfaces
  - Wipe down doorknobs, light switches, table tops, keyboards/mice, phones, and other shared equipment.Guidance from the CDC on disinfecting.
  - Cleaning and Disinfecting Considerations - a guide from the REALM Project.
  - Books and other library materials cannot easily be disinfected; remind patrons and staff to wash their hands after handling.
  - How to Sanitize Collections in a Pandemic - article from American Libraries Magazine.
  - How to Quarantine School Library Books - a guide from DEMCO.
  - Temporarily remove toys, tech kits, games, and similar items that would need to be continually cleaned.
  - from the National Institute of Health, New Coronavirus Stable on Surfaces for Hours
  - from the REALM Project, Initial test results show that the SARS-CoV-2 virus's ability to survive on tested materials after varies between 1 and 6+ days, depending on material and storage conditions.
• Promote online collections
  - http://nlc.nebraska.gov/overdrive/
  - http://nebraskaccess.ne.gov/resources.asp
  - Free ebook sources
• Eliminate touch-points with patrons
  - Provide tissues, masks, and hand santizier if possible.
  - Have patrons scan their own cards.
  - Encourage use of outside drop-boxes if you are open; if you close, ask patrons to hold materials and extend due dates/wavie fines.
  - Consider curb-side service, closing meeting rooms, postponing or cancelling programming to limit traffic inside the building. Demco has this checklist for curbside services.
  - Increase your WIFI signal so it extends outside the building to allow patrons to access the internet on their own devices outside.