State
Library of Kansas – Health Emergency Response Plan
Status
and Communication:
·
This plan will be updated as needed using
local guidance and recommendations. All employees will be notified by email of
changes to this plan.
·
The state librarian will continuously
monitor the situation and seek guidance from State of Kansas resources.
·
Call-in and communication procedures will
remain the same.
·
Statewide staff will update the website
and social media per the state librarian’s instructions.
Cleaning
procedures:
·
Personal work areas should be routinely
cleaned by employees.
·
The east and west side public work areas have
adopted individual cleaning schedules to be conducted periodically during open
hours.
Materials
handling:
·
Gloves are available and may be used for
returned items at employees’ discretion.
·
Processing of interlibrary loan items and
incoming mail will be completed according to department guidelines.
·
All items returned by patrons will be
cleaned according to current protocol and CDC guidelines. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/home/cleaning-disinfection.html
·
Example of current Talking Books
guidelines:
o
All books and videos will be checked in or
processed using gloves.
o
Incoming materials will then be set aside
and marked with the date and will be quarantined (not put into circulation or
any activities) for 8 days.
o
Machines will be disinfected and also
dated and set aside for a period of 8 days before going back in to circulation.
o
Interlibrary loan reusable bags will be
set aside in the same manner as above.
o
Padded mailers will not be reused.
o
Doors, knobs, tables and all surfaces in
the library will be disinfected 3 times a day.
Social
Distancing:
·
Do not offer to shake hands with employees
or the public. If a hand is offered to you, offer your elbow or politely
decline the handshake.
·
Try and refrain from handling coworkers’
property including desk items, pens, etc. Don’t offer your personal devices to
others to touch. It is okay to decline offers as well.
·
Do not go into the work area of a
co-worker without permission. If you must do so, notify the employee that you
have done so.
·
If you would like to temporarily suspend
your “subscriptions” to inter-office magazines, please let the front desk know
your wishes.
·
Respect the “personal bubble” of your
co-workers and our patrons. You might not be uncomfortable but you could make
others feel uneasy.
Employee
illness:
·
Prevention:
Employees should wash hands regularly and use alcohol based sanitizer. Avoid
close contact with people who are sick. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and
mouth with unwashed hands.
·
Spread:
The virus is thought to be spread mainly from person to person (within about 3
to 6 feet). It is also possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface
or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth or nose.
·
Symptoms:
fever, cough and shortness of breath
http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about
/symptoms.html.
·
Actions: Employees with symptoms are required to stay
home. If an employee comes to work with symptoms, they will be sent home. Any employees
with sick household members should notify their supervisor. Employees will be
notified of the possibility of exposure if a co-worker is confirmed to have
COVID-19. Additionally, if an employee has a confirmed case the agency will
close until a thorough cleaning is completed according to local health guidelines.
Closing:
·
We will maintain services to the public
using a responsible approach that includes the latest public health guidance
available.
·
Our agency will only close upon orders from
the governors’ office or at such time when the state librarian deems it
necessary.
·
If a closure is necessary, you will be
notified in person (during work hours) or by use of the calling tree (after
work hours).