CLEVELAND, Ohio — A healthy partnership during the time of Covid-19 — the Cleveland Public Library and MetroHealth are joining forces to safely reopen the library.
“We really want to focus on making sure that the library can open and they have the tools and knowledge that they need to keep their patrons safe and their staff safe during this pandemic and we really wanna make sure they have the best information. Do they have the most up to date resources? And we know that right now, being informed and having that guidance is really important,” said Katie Davis, director of MetroHealth School Health Program.
Ahead of the August 24 public reopening date of the library and its 27 neighborhood branches, safety precautions have been implemented.
The library is requiring everyone to wear a mask while inside and asking people to please wipe down surfaces after using them while also maintaining a safe distance from others.
Other changes include plexiglass dividers on the lending desks, hand sanitizer dispensers throughout and returned materials placed under quarantine for 96 hours to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Davis said this reopening is exciting to many, but especially to those with limited access to modern technologies.
“It is a space for them to get information, to connect—not only on information on COVID-19, but on their special interest topics about things that add to their day. This is a stressful time,” said Davis. “And so they can get the books that add joy to their life. They can learn something new, can help them with the academic gains or help them with the employment process or registering to vote. And a lot of these different things that if they didn’t have internet access, they wouldn’t have been able to do so.”
The library’s chief equity, education and engagement officer, Dr. Sadie Winlock, said the library will monitor visitor capacity and limit visits to one hour to allow time for anyone who wants to visit the library to do so safely.
“People see the library as a safe space. When people come to the library, it doesn’t matter your economic status. It doesn’t matter your educational status. It doesn’t matter where you live, where you come from, what you look like once you walk into the library, everybody’s the same. And we treat everyone equally and equitably,” said Winlock.
Although your library experience may differ from the past, Winlock said the library continues to foster innovative programming to educate and enrich the lives of the community.
“We’re doing everything possible to make sure that people feel like the Cleveland Public Library is their library. You know, we’re called the people’s university, and we’re doing everything to make sure that we live up to that,” said Winlock.
“It’s a community effort. We are all really in this together and really (with) MetroHealth, our big goal is prevention is the best defense against COVID-19,” added Davis.
The healthy partnership is working for a better, healthier community.
