Fuller Public Library

Hillsborough, New Hampshire

Fuller Public Library Pandemic Policy

Fuller Public Library Pandemic Policy

I. Purpose:

To establish the protocol to be used in the event of a pandemic. If there is a serious infectious disease outbreak, the library may be required to operate on limited staffing or take unique measures to slow the spread of the illness, including service restrictions, limited hours of operation, or possible closure. Recovery from a pandemic may be slow, as compared to a natural disaster or other physical crises. It is important to ensure that core business activities of the library can be maintained for several weeks or more with limited staff and reduced hours due to a pandemic.

II. Definitions:

Pandemic Plan: A pandemic plan differs from a general emergency preparedness. With an emergency preparedness policy, there is an assumption that staff will return to the building or begin rebuilding, almost immediately after the event or crisis (such as after a fire or storm, or if there is a utility shortage). If there is a serious infectious disease outbreak, recovery may be slow and limited staff, services, and hours may be necessary for an extended period of time.

Pandemic: A pandemic is the worldwide spread of a new disease. (World Health Organization https://www.who.int)

Appropriate Staffing Level: For the purposes of this policy, Appropriate Staffing Level refers to the minimum number of qualified staff necessary to provide service safely and efficiently, as determined by the Library Director or Library Trustees.

III: Library Closure

When considering a closure the following will be considered:

  1. The safety of the library staff and library patrons;
  2. Recommendations, guidelines, and emergency orders issued by the NH Governor;
  3. Recommendations and guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and NH Department of Health and Human Services;
  4. The status of and mode of delivery of services being offered by the Town Offices; and
  5. The mode of operation of the Hillsboro-Deering School District.

Public Health Mandate

The Fuller Public Library will close due to pandemic in the event of a mandate order, or recommendation for closure issued by public health or government officials on the local, county, or state level.

Discretionary Service Level Changes

At the discretion of the Library Director or Library Trustees, the Library may close, reduce its operating hours, or limit services in the event that there is not sufficient staff to maintain appropriate staffing levels or if unable to maintain adequate social distancing for health and safety.

In the event of closure or reduction in operating hours, the Library Director or Library Trustees will maintain communication with staff, Library Board of Trustees, and the Town Administrator. 

IV: School Closure Due to Pandemic

In the event that the Hillsboro-Deering School District is closed due to pandemic illness, the Fuller Public Library will remain open, but with reduced hours and services, unless one of the aforementioned requirements for closing is also met.  All library programs, special events, and meeting room reservations will be canceled.  Hours will be reduced and services will be restricted on any day in which Hillsboro-Deering schools are closed due to pandemic-related illness. 

V: Staffing

In providing service safely and efficiently, the following actions may be taken at the discretion of the Library Director or designee.

  • Increased health/safety measures for staff (e.g., wearing of gloves, wiping down work areas, etc.);
  • Restricted access to areas in the library (e.g., closing floors or unmonitored areas for safety);
  • Social distancing practices in public areas;
  • Reduction of open hours;
  • Cancellation of all programs, special events, and meeting room reservations;
  • Reallocation of employee responsibilities and shift/schedule changes to provide coverage during open hours;
  • Closure of the library.

If the Library is open, employees are expected to report to work as scheduled, excluding any excused absences following the established Staff Policy. In the event of closure, employees shall be compensated for their regularly scheduled hours for no more than 2 weeks. After 2 weeks staff may be furloughed.

If the Library is closed or hours reduced, healthy employees may be assigned work-at-home tasks to be completed in their compensated hours.  When appropriate, work tools (e.g., laptops, supplies, etc.) will be checked out to employees by the Library Director or Library Trustees for work-at-home assignments.

If a staff member or family member tests positive for Covid-19 or any other highly contagious illness they must contact the Library Director, and will need to quarantine for 14 days or follow the guidelines from the CDC, the Governor’s Universal Order, or the Town of Hillsborough for returning back to work. If caring for a sick family member an employee will need to obtain a written note stating that their test results were negative, for returning back to work.

While under quarantine, if able, staff can work from home, utilize the emergency paid leave as applicable or accrued sick pay. 

The Library may close, at the discretion of the Director, for cleaning or for however long it takes for test results of possibly infected staff members to come back clearing them to work. Staff will contact those that were in the library when the employee was working if test results come back as positive.  

VI: Cleaning

Masks, gloves, and other cleaning supplies will be readily available to all staff. Railings, door knobs, elevator buttons, telephones, computers, counters and work stations should be wiped down daily. Bathrooms and trash are taken care of by a cleaning person twice weekly.

VI: Communication

In the event of closure necessitated by pandemic, effective communication about any reduction in services or open hours must be announced in a timely manner.  Library staff should follow the normal procedure used for any unexpected closure/program cancellation, which includes posting on wmur.com, local newspapers, Facebook, and the library website.

VII: Prioritization of Services

Priority will be given to the following essential services:

  • Information services for the public, both in-person and online;
  • Payroll;
  • Accounts Payable;
  • Facility Maintenance.

In the case of reduced staffing or reduced hours of operation, the Library Director or Library Trustees will prioritize service-related tasks and assign the daily work plan to staff.

VIII: Phases of Service

Factors to be considered when moving from one phase of service to another include but are not limited to:

  1. The health and safety of the library staff, library patrons and the community;
  2. Changes to Emergency Orders issued by the NH Governor, regarding Stay-At-Home or Shelter-in-Place, restrictions on gatherings and status of operation of public schools;
  3. Changes in rates of illness in New Hampshire, Hillsborough or Hillsborough County;
  4. Availability of testing for Covid-19;
  5. Availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and other supplies needed to comply with recommended guidelines;
  6. Health status of the Library staff; and
  7. Availability of federal and state funds to pay for additional expenses related to compliance with Covid-19 guidelines issued by the NH Governor, the CDC, or the NHHHS.

Approved October 5, 2020