How Chicago-area libraries coped with COVID-19 last week
In the midst of a global pandemic, news breaks fast, and things can change quickly. Case and point - back on Thursday, I filed an article for the Chronicle Media newspapers about how libraries throughout the six-county Chicagoland region responded to COVID-19. At the time, most of the libraries already closed, with some doing a few extra things to help patrons. But some still remained open, even as hours and services were cut back.
The day after I filed it, the very next day, Illinois governor J.B. Prtizker issued a stay-at-home order. As part of it, the libraries that were still open were shut down effective March 21, rendering a significant portion of the article out of date. I offered to rewrite those parts, but my editor said he’ll take care of it.
I have no idea what the article would look like once it sees publication. But, after thinking about it, I decided to post the original version here. Just to give a little snapshot of time in the ever-changing reality.
How Chicago Area Libraries Responded to the Coronavirus
For Chronicle Media
As the number of coronavirus cases roses throughout Illinois and Gov. J.B. Prtizker announced closure of schools on March 13, a significant number of libraries throughout the suburbs announced that they would be shutting down that Friday. Even the ones that didn't announce the shutdowns canceled all activities and events.
By Monday, March 16, the remaining suburban libraries closed as well. The Chicago Public Library system originally planned to keep all the branches open after a weekend deep clean, but it since decided to close all but 19 branches. And while those libraries are currently scheduled to reopen in either the end of March or the beginning of April, there is a widespread acknowledgment that the time table may be pushed back depending on the situation.
But, in the meantime, it isn't as the libraries are leaving their patrons out to dry. They are encouraging patrons to use online resources and waiving fees and fines. Some have even taken steps to make it easier for patrons to use online resources and allow patrons to take register for library cards online, to ensure that they can get access to those resources without leaving home.
Suburban Libraries
Illinois Library Association represents 3,000 public, academic and school libraries throughout a state.
In a statement originally posted on March 16 and updated on March 18, it recommended that all libraries that haven't closed by that point should close “for a period of time,” arguing that the protecting public health outweighs whatever benefits it can bring as a community resource. The recommendations extends to areas that haven't had any coronavirus cases.
“While normally public libraries may invite children to come to the library in the event of an emergency school closing, this is not the best course of action when trying to curb a contagious disease,” it stated. “ Libraries are a gathering place in the community and on campus, frequently bringing together significant numbers of people. In order to minimize opportunities for transmission, and to protect both community members' health and library employees, the best service we can offer is protecting our community with social distancing, canceling programs, extra cleanings, and closing, regardless of whether there are known cases in your library's service area or on your campus.”
According to the database complied by the Reading Across Illinois Library System, an inter-library cooperative that includes all libraries throughout northern and west central Illinois except the Chicago Public Library system, only nine libraries within its service area remained open as of March 19 - and five of them reduced their hours and/or suspended their programs. Two of them is in the Chicago area.
Grande Prairie Library, which serves south suburban Hazel Crest and Country Club Hills, canceled all of its activities and events until March 31 and reduced its hours to Mondays and Fridays only until April 3. It is currently scheduled to only be open between 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m on March 27 and March 20, and between 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on April 1. In a statement on Facebook, the library noted that it may change depending on the situation the ground.
“Our response to the coronavirus will undoubtedly continue to evolve and we will keep you informed,” it stated. “Take care of yourself, your families and each other. “
University Park Public Library, of south suburban University Park, took a similar approach, canceling all activities and events until at least April 2 and only staying open on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is currently scheduled to be open on between 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. on March 24 and March 31, and between 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m on April 2.
As for the libraries that have closed, different libraries have taken different approaches.
Niles Maine District Library serves the Village of Niles, most of unincorporated Maine Township and a small portion of Northfield Township. It closed on March 15 to at least March 31. Patrons were able to pick up their holds on March 16, and while all late fees were waved, patrons could return materials. The library expanded some online resources, expanding the number of downloads patrons could get through computers and apps, providing access to ancestry database and Kanopy Kids online streaming service for kids' movies and TV shows.
Woodstock Public Library, which serves the eponymous city in the McHenry County, took a slightly different approach. While the library is closed to visitors, patrons can check out books via “curbside pick-up.” Patrons can call to ask librarians for materians, and librarians will bring them out and hand them off when they drive up to the entrance. Patrons are encouraged not to return materials, and, if they do, to drop them off at the outside drop box.
Gail Borden Library District, which serves outh Elgin and portions of Hoffman Estates, Streamwood and Bartlett, joined other libraries in emphasizing online resources. But while events and programs were canceled, the staff has been using Facebook Live to stream kids storytimes, lectures and regular daily updates from Denise Raleigh, head of the library district's public relations and communications division.
Chicago Public Library
The Chicago Public Library system is made up of one central library - the Harold Washington Library, three regional libraries - Sulzer Regional Library, Woodson Regional Library and the currently under renovation Legler Regional Library, and 77 neighborhood branch libraries. The main and regional libraries are meant to provide longer hours and a wider range of services than neighborhood branches.
Originally, the intent was to keep all of the branches open, even as schools, restaurants, bars were closed and most of Chicago Park District facilities were significantly scaled back. The Chicago Public Library employees spent the weekend of March 14-15 deep-cleaning and reopened on March 16. But Galewood-Montclare branch library, which, as a single room at Rutherford Sayre Park fieldhouse, is the smallest branch library in the system, was closed by March 17. And as library workers complained about the risk of infections, the system announced on March 18 that it would close down most branches, leaving only the Harold Washington Library, the two regional library and 17 branch open with reduced hours. The branch libraries are currently scheduled to be open between 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. on Mondays - Thursdays and 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Fridays. The larger libraries' weekday hours would be the same as the branch libraries, while they will be open on Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., and Sundays at 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The change will take effect on March 21.
While Chicago Public Library continued to circulate materials before then - that is, let the patrons reserve, check out and return materials - the patrons now not only can't check out materials, but they can't return the materials they already have out. Patrons will be able to use library computers, but the branches will space computers further apart and remove some of them to ensure there's more space between patrons, and patrons wouldn't be able to use library printers. The computers will be cleaned regularly. And there will only be so many patrons that will be able to use the common spaces at any given time.
The Chronicle visited the Edgewater branch library, one of the neighborhood branch libraries slated to stay open, on March 19. Only a handful of patrons were seen using computers and working on their laptops, with a few wandering the stacks. For the most part, they observed social distancing, with one patron seating per table and patrons sitting at least one computer apart at public computer. The designated teen space had a sign on warning that only five people at the time could use it.
Department of Public Health Commissioner Alison Arwady described the arrangement as a compromise between providing Internet connections and other service for those who don't have Internet at home and preserving public health.
“"Keeping a limited number of libraries open during limited hours will ensure that we provide for those who have no other place to go for basic access to the internet or other resources,” she stated. We are confident that CPL can provide these services in a way that is safe and sanitary for library employees and patrons alike, Still, we continue to urge Chicagoans to stay home unless they absolutely must go out so that we can continue to work to limit the spread of COVID-19.”
“Libraries play a crucial role as a safety net in communities and provide trusted and reliable information, particularly in times of crisis," said CPL Commissioner Andrea Telli. "To ensure Chicagoans in dire need are still able to rely on libraries for basic services, we will continue to provide limited library services in strategic locations spread across the city."
Chicago Public Library already provided a range of online resources and downloadable apps its patrons could use. That includes access to e-books, streaming movies, audiobooks and music, access to databases and even access to software that teaches languages and facilitates homework help. For Chicagoans who don't have a library card, the system emphasized that they could apply for an e”e-card” online, which would allow them to get an account and access the resources without leaving the house.