COVID-19 & Libraries: Your Questions Answered

[Demco Ideas & Inspiration]
"With all the uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s no wonder you have questions about how to reopen your library and expand your services safely.

To help you plan, we asked pediatrician and librarian Dr. Dipesh Navsaria to address your biggest concerns, including how to quarantine books, what protective measures are effective, how to serve vulnerable populations, and more.

Read his responses to your questions below to learn what you need to think about to keep staff, students, and patrons safe, and watch his full presentation on-demand at “COVID-19: Safety Tips for Reopening Your Library.”

Schools and Libraries

Q: How long does the virus live on materials (paperbacks, books with Mylar covers, DVD cases, etc.)? There are conflicting sources on the matter.

A: We don’t know for sure since there is really a very limited number of studies on this. However, we have more information about respiratory viruses in general. Here’s a really good discussion (that also links to the one key study on this particular virus) on the subject that I think will provide important context. I talk about this in the webinar at 29:29.

Q: Should books be quarantined when they come back from homes? If so, what is the best way to quarantine books that come back from patrons’ or students’ homes? 

A: See above. You could quarantine for a long period of time (“long” meaning 7–14 days) if that’s feasible, but a better idea might be to do a combination of brief quarantine (72 hours, perhaps?) with a wipe-down of the covers. Until we have better data on longevity of the virus, the quarantine will reduce the risk that a contaminated book will pose a threat to staff or other patrons..."
COVID-19 and libraries