Grafton Library director fears Covid may check out staff, asks for limited visits

There may be no danger of the Grafton Public Library running out of books, but Library Director Beth Gallaway is worried about losing a much more limited resource: library staff.

Gallaway issued a plea for residents to minimize staff exposure to COVID-19 by not going to the library if they have Covid symptoms and asked clients to consider the library “as an errand, not a destination” during the current Omicron variant wave.

Last month, Gallaway canceled in-person library programs to avoid exposing unvaccinated children to potential Covid exposure. Her full statement on the current precautions is below.

The Grafton Public Library will remain open for browsing so long as we can meet minimum staffing requirements. We are making every effort to minimize the spread of COVID-19, including distancing, masking, and sanitizing; eliminating in-person programming; and suspending meeting room use and children’s computer use.

Please help us preserve our ability to staff the building by treating our Library as an errand, not a destination, during this Omicron surge.

Please do not come to the Library if you have a single COVID symptom or if you are in isolation or quarantine.

When you do visit, please wear a mask that completely covers your mouth and nose, sanitize your hands, and respect staff time and space.

We ask that all visitors follow CDC guidelines for quarantining and isolating. The latest guidelines are available at www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1227-isolation-quarantine-guidance.html.

We are happy to make the following reasonable accommodations for anyone who needs to stay away from public places. These options are available to anyone for any reason at any time, for a temporary or long-term basis. Upon request, we can:

Extend pickup deadlines for materials until the end of your quarantine or isolation period.

 Put your checked-out holds or a curated collection of items in a brown paper bag outside for no-contact pickup.

Provide no-contact home delivery of holds or assortment of materials.

Use our Library Select Book Concierge form to request an assortment of materials at bit.ly/GPLSelect, or call 508-839-4649, or email graftonlibrary.ma@gmail.com

As a reminder, the Library has 24/7 access to many digital resources for reading, viewing, listening and streaming at www.graftonlibrary.org/digital.  Don’t have a card yet? We can issue one remotely! Details are online at www.graftonlibrary.org/home/get-a-library-card/. 

Thank you for your care and consideration for our staff and each other, and for your cooperation. With your help, we will see case numbers reduce and be able to offer all the amenities of our new building soon.

 For more information, please contact Beth Gallaway, gallawayb@graftonlibrary.org or 508-839-4649 x 1836.

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