Ellicottville Memorial Library Temporary Safety Policy
The Ellicottville Memorial Library is committed to serving its community during hard times and good.
The year 2020 has brought unprecedented challenges to our nation, state, and area of service.
To continue serving our patrons during this difficult time, while placing the health and safety of our community at the forefront, the Library Board of Trustees has adopted the below Temporary Safety Practices Policy.
The safety measures in this policy have been confirmed with the Cattaraugus County Health Department.
The board’s authority to adopt these measures is found in our charter, bylaws, New York Education Law Sections 255, 260, 226, 8 NYCRR 90.2, and Article 2 of the Not-for-profit corporation law. We also consider it our duty to develop these measures to keep our services accessible at this time.
Staff at the Ellicottville Memorial Library have the authority to enforce these measures like any other of the Library’s Rules. Concerns about this policy should be directed to the Ellicottville Library Board of Trustees. Thank you for honoring these measures, which are designed to keep our community safe, while allowing access to the library.
Ellicottville Memorial Library Temporary Safety Practices
Scope of Temporary Safety Measures
The Ellicottville Memorial Library operates per relevant law and Executive Orders, including those pertaining to mandatory workforce reductions. Therefore, the temporary practices in this Policy may be further modified as needed to conform with relevant Orders.
Activities
Until the board votes to revoke this temporary policy, only the following routine activities may be performed on site at the library:
1 – Browsing shelves for library materials
2 – Computer use at dedicated computers set six feet apart
3 – Use of study rooms or designated tables for studying, tutoring or use of internet
4 – Adult programs can be held at 50% capacity of any given room while also continuing to social distance by remaining six feet apart and wearing masks. No children’s programs are taking place at this time
Safety Practices
Until the board votes to revoke this temporary policy, the library will require all people on the premises to abide by the following safety practices:
1 – Wearing of a face mask in all common areas which includes the entryway, the main area of the library and the Community Room. The only exceptions are the two small study rooms and the office where once inside and the door is closed, patrons can remove their mask, but only while in the room.
2 – Use of hand sanitizer prior to touching books and other library materials
ADA
In the event any safety requirement is not practicable on the basis of a disability, please contact the Director to explore a reasonable accommodation.
Communication
To aid the community in honoring these requirements, the Library will post this policy on our website and paper copies will be available at the circulation desk in order to transmit this message in a manner consistent with our mission and our identity as a welcoming and accessible resource to the community.
Code of Conduct
Adherence to these practices shall be enforced as a requirement of the Library’s Code of Conduct until such time as this temporary policy is revoked.
Revised and approved 4/7/21