New COVID tab on SharePoint and updated expectations for staff on Patrons and Masks

 By Stephen Kight

We now have a separate COVID tab on SharePoint.  This is going to be a great one-stop-shop for all the information staff need about COVID, including the latest updates (no more searching through the staff blog).  There will be lots more information to be added (and we will let you know as we add important documents), but we wanted to go ahead and let you know that we have updated our expectations for staff about patrons and masks, which I am copying and pasting below.

Patrons and Masks

Effective September 3, 2020, FCPL began requiring the use of face masks by all patrons while in the library.  There are exceptions for patrons who have difficulty donning or removing a mask without assistance, patrons with religious objections, and patrons with medical reasons for not wearing a mask. All locations have seen an increase in the percentage of patrons wearing masks since we changed the wording from encouraged to required, and the increase has been significant at the Cumming and Hampton Park libraries.

The library is not asking patrons to explain why they are not wearing a mask or preventing patrons without masks from entering the libraries.  Therefore, in addition to patrons who have exceptions to the requirement as listed in the first paragraph, there may also be patrons who choose not to comply with the requirement.  While many staff would prefer that 100% of patrons wear masks, that is not a realistic expectation.  We need to recognize that for the duration of the pandemic there will probably always be a combination of people with masks and people without masks in the library. 

For several weeks after the requirement took effect staff were asked to take an active role by acting as greeters and verbally letting visitors know about the mask requirement.  Now that time has passed and most patrons seem to know the rules, we no longer have a need for greeters and are letting signage inform visitors about the requirement.

Staff may require unmasked patrons who want extended help (e.g., computer assistance, extended information questions) to wear a mask.  However, staff should not require a mask of unmasked patrons who need only a brief transaction (such as checking out a book).  It is permissible, and recommended, to ask unmasked patrons to stay behind the Plexiglas screens and to ensure that social distancing is followed.

In summary:

·         Greeters are no longer necessary

·         Staff should not approach unmasked patrons to remind them of the mask requirement

·         Staff may require unmasked patrons who want extended help (e.g., computer assistance, extended information questions) to wear a mask

·         Staff should not require a mask of unmasked patrons who require brief assistance

·         Staff may ask unmasked patrons to stay behind the Plexiglas screens and to ensure that social distancing is followed