Off the Shelf: Even More Research on COVID-19 Life Span on Library Materials and New Virtual Story Time
By Sharon Saye on September 09, 2020 from Off the Shelf
The Institute of Library and Museum Services commissioned a research company to test the existence of the Covid-19 virus on library materials. I have been reporting the results over this summer. As a result, the library has been quarantining returned library materials for 3-4 days before they are returned to the shelves.
A previous report indicated that DVD cases could retain the virus for longer if kept in a stacked form. Since most library materials are kept stacked together, the research company went back, and retested hardbacks and softback covers and found that they too retained the virus for longer periods if stacked.
We are now spreading out all our quarantined materials, and for all of you who order books, DVDs, and music CDs you might want to spread them out for a time after they arrive. (I know, waiting to unpack boxes of books and then having to spread them out even more is a major pain. This is looking at you Book of the Month Club box.)
Also, Sharon Ayscue, who was once our children’s librarian and then the school librarian at Johnson and RCB is providing a virtual story time every Monday morning at 10 a.m. on our Facebook page. You can watch at any time, but you do not want to miss Sharon and her friend, Elvira.
Our contactless pickup continues to grow. Just either call the library, and request up to five items at a time, or go online and request holds. We will gather up your requests and then call you. You can then pick them up in a brown kraft bag in the front foyer of the library. I want to remind you that you are not limited just to books, you can ask for DVDs, music CDs, puzzles, audiobooks, and magazines.
We are also providing copies of BookPage, the monthly handout about new books, in the foyer as well. If we do not have a book you want, just indicate that on the phone and we will see if we can get it. And don’t forget all our online services including the WVDELI.
