Special Message for the Library Director
Dear patrons,
The Atlantic City Free Public Library has been proactive for weeks in First, I want to express my gratitude for your continued support and patience as we continue to evaluate and adjust our operations because of the COVID-19 outbreak. As health officials and scientists have noted, we likely had 1,100 active COVID-19 infections as of March 10 in our region. If we do not act, there could be more than 25,000 cases by early April. As you likely heard, yesterday, the State and County issued additional measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, including a prohibition of events with more than 250 people, and a prohibition on events with less than 250 people, if they don’t meet public health guidance on social distancing and hygiene. We have been working round-the-clock to assess what that guidance means for the Library. After much discussion, and in accordance with public health guidance, The Seattle Public Library has been called upon to support the City, County, and State’s efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. We all must do our part to keep our city and region healthy and combat the further spread of COVID-19. Effective at 6 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, March 13, The Seattle Public Library will close all Library locations, and these closures will remain in effect until at least April 13. We will be in continued contact with public health officials to evaluate our facilities beyond this timeline. This decision was made in partnership with Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and the Library Board of Trustees, and please know we did not take the decision lightly. It is clear that now is the time for strong and decisive action in order to protect the public we serve every day, as well as our staff and volunteers, who have been going above and beyond to continue providing service over the last several days as this public health crisis has taken hold.
The Atlantic City Free Public Library has been proactive for weeks in First, I want to express my gratitude for your continued support and patience as we continue to evaluate and adjust our operations because of the COVID-19 outbreak. As health officials and scientists have noted, we likely had 1,100 active COVID-19 infections as of March 10 in our region. If we do not act, there could be more than 25,000 cases by early April. As you likely heard, yesterday, the State and County issued additional measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, including a prohibition of events with more than 250 people, and a prohibition on events with less than 250 people, if they don’t meet public health guidance on social distancing and hygiene. We have been working round-the-clock to assess what that guidance means for the Library. After much discussion, and in accordance with public health guidance, The Seattle Public Library has been called upon to support the City, County, and State’s efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. We all must do our part to keep our city and region healthy and combat the further spread of COVID-19. Effective at 6 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, March 13, The Seattle Public Library will close all Library locations, and these closures will remain in effect until at least April 13. We will be in continued contact with public health officials to evaluate our facilities beyond this timeline. This decision was made in partnership with Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and the Library Board of Trustees, and please know we did not take the decision lightly. It is clear that now is the time for strong and decisive action in order to protect the public we serve every day, as well as our staff and volunteers, who have been going above and beyond to continue providing service over the last several days as this public health crisis has taken hold.