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| Patty Braden |
Braden said that she and the leadership team are working together on a comprehensive reopening plan to keep visitors safe and healthy when services resume. “This will mean changes to how we offer library services and access to the building. Our plan is to take it one step at a time using a controlled, phased-in approach to reopening. We will ease restrictions as we are able, following state and local guidelines, recommendations from public safety officials, and advice from our colleagues at other libraries across the state,” Braden said in a recent email to city residents.
Safety of library patrons and staff is our top priority, she said.
“To that end, we are working to acquire a sufficient supply of hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, masks, gloves, and other protective supplies. Before the closure, a disinfecting wipes dispenser was purchased. More recently, plexiglass safety barriers were put in place at the circulation desk. Library materials returned in the drop box are being quarantined for at least 24 hours and this will continue after we reopen. The building has been deep cleaned. Frequent and thorough cleaning will be the norm after reopening,” she assured library users.
She said that throughout the phased reopening, library staff will continue to monitor staffing levels, the availability of protective equipment and supplies, the capacity of the library to manage each phase safely and successfully, and any local/state/federal restrictions on physical distancing, sanitizing, and maximum building occupancy ratios.
“We miss you and look forward to seeing you all again soon,” Braden said. She also reminded residents of the number of online services currently available at the library including: Virtual Story Time with Miss Jessica (Youth tab, click on YouTube Playlist); Capstone e-books (Youth tab, click on Capstone); Great Start Food Banks (Services tab, click on Food Banks); Virtual Music Programs (Services Tab, click on Virtual Programs); Tumble Books (Digital Library Tab, click on Tumble Books); Hoopla Bonus Borrows Collection (Digital Library tab, click Hoopla Bonus); RBDigital magazines (Digital Library Tab, click RB Digital); Overdrive e-books (Digital Library Tab, click Overdrive and Ancestry.com (Resource Tab, click on Ancestry).
Braden said she also wanted to thank library partners: Tumble Books, RB Digital, Overdrive, Hoopla, Great Start, Ancestry, Pebble Go by Capstone, University Musical Society, Chamber Music Society of Detroit, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and U of M School of Music Theater and Dance.
