Kentucky’s ‘Healthy at Work’ timeline gives libraries across the state approval to open on June 8, with safety regulations in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Two of the four branches of the Warren County Public Library are opening on that first reopening day. The Bob Kirby branch in Bowling Green and the Smith’s Grove branch will both be open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
To comply with state guidelines allowing only 33 percent occupancy to allow social distancing, Library Director Lisa Rice said each branch will limit the number of people inside the building.
“Forty people will be allowed in the Bob Kirby branch, we’ve taken out the space for our staff already, so 40 additional people in the Bob Kirby branch at one time, and 15 at the Smith’s Grove branch,” said Rice.
Community residents will find employees wearing masks and library patrons are asked, but not required, to wear masks. The library will have some masks available for patrons who don't have their own.
Other health precautions include the library staff having their temperature taken and working in "squads," so they are within a defined group to limit possible exposure to the virus.
Staff will be using gloves to handle returned materials and those materials will be quarantined for four days.
To help ease the stress of the current pandemic and isolation, the library is offering amnesty - all previous fines and fees are being erased, even if they occurred years ago.
The Main Library on State Street in Bowling Green is closed for a construction project. However, curbside service will continue at the Main Library and the Bob Kirby branch, at specified times.
Rice said the Graham Drive branch is too small to operate under state guidelines for 33 percent occupancy, but a partnership is in place with the Boys and Girls Club.
Other libraries in the region opening on June 8 include the Daviess County Public Library, which will have health precautions such as plastic barriers, a limited numbers of patrons in the buildling, and a 30 minute limit on computers, with deep cleaning of computer stations between each user.
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