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Alaska State Libraries, Archives & Museums Alaska State Library

Libraries and COVID-19

A place for Alaska library staff and their communities to find resources and support

Introduction

In September/October 2020, we surveyed Alaska libraries on the services they are providing after the COVID-19 pandemic passed it's six month mark. As of 10/12/2020 we received 48 responses. The results on services can be found on the Services Alaska Libraries are Offering Now page of this guide. 

We also asked libraries about their current status, hours open, policies and procedures on masking, quarantines on materials, and sanitization processes. We also asked respondents to reflect on library life before and after COVID-19. 

By the Numbers

Libraries by Open Status (48 responses as of 10/12/2020)
Response Number
We are completely closed. No services of any kind to the public.

0
Our building is closed to the public, but we are offering services to the public. 11
Our building is open to the public, but with limitations on capacity and/or hours. 27
Our building is open to the public at full capacity, but we are not holding indoor events. 5
Our building is open to the public and we are holding indoor events with precautions. 1
Other 4

Examples of Other:

  • Our building is open to the public at full capacity four days a week, and walk-up window services are offered on the other three days. We are not holding indoor events.
  • We are offering loans by mail (and this is what we do most of the time in ordinary circumstances). We are in a building with other offices, and the building is open. The library occasionally does do brief pick ups and drop offs in person (with masks and appropriate distance).
  • We are not open to the general public, but are open with limited capacity and hours to University of Alaska and Alaska Pacific University students, staff, and faculty. We are not offering indoor events.
  • Open to UA affiliated students, staff and faculty Mon-Thurs 9am-7pm, Sun 1pm-7pm.  Curbside pickup available to community members Mon-Thurs 9am-5pm.
Number of libraries open during particular hours (42 responses as of 10/12/2020)
Time Range Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Morning (Before Noon) 24 27 30 29 29 18 3
Afternoon (Between Noon and 5pm) 27 33 34 35 33 27 10
Evening (After 5:01pm) 20 21 23 23 22 12 4

 

Has your library resumed full pre-pandemic activities? (48 responses as of 10/12/2020)
Response Number
Yes 8
No 48

 

Library Masking Policies (48 responses as of 10/12/2020)
Response Number
Staff and patrons are required to wear masks in the building 31
Only staff are required to wear masks in the building 5
No one is required to wear a mask in the building 1
Other 11

Examples of Other:

  • Staff are required to wear masks and disinfect themselves.  No patrons are allowed in the building at this time.
  • The only area open to the public is the Public Computer - mask are required by both Staff and users.  Staff does wear mask in the building when other staff are present.
  • Staff are only required to wear masks when working with the public/in patron areas. Patrons are not required to wear masks in the building.
  • The only area open to the public is the Public Computer - mask are required by both Staff and users.  Staff does wear mask in the building when other staff are present.
     
Materials quarantine times reported by libraries (48 responses as of 10/12/2020)
Response Number
We are not quarantining library materials. 4
1 day 4
2 days 0
3 days 14
4 days 8
5 days 4
6 days 3
1 week 11
Longer than 1 week 0

 

Narrative Results