Update, March 16: The Niles District Library and Buchanan District have also announced total temporary closures. 

Update, March 13: The Cass District Library and Dowagiac District Libraries have announced that they will temporarily close their doors. In a press release, Cass District Library announced it would remain closed until April 5, while the Dowagiac District Library Board announced it would be meeting Tuesday to determine when to continue regular hours of operation. 

 

SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN — With the news of schools closing across the state to prevent a COVID-19 outbreak, local libraries are developing plans to adapt to the Center for Disease Control’s recommendations to “flatten the curve” and stop the spread of the disease.

Niles, Cass and Buchanan libraries are taking similar approaches in the coming days, each canceling all programming and meetings, but remaining open for the time being.

Cass District Library director Barbara Gordon said as of now, the plan was for all branches to remain open.

“We are going to encourage patrons to decide for themselves whether or not to visit the library,” Gordon said. “To a certain extent, we do have hand sanitizing and cleaning products at all locations.”

Meeting rooms in the library’s main branch in Cassopolis will be closed, and programs at all branches, including Cass, Howard, Edwardsburg, Mason/Union and Local History, have been suspended until April 5.

Cass District Library plans may change, pending an emergency meeting of the Cass County commissioners scheduled for Friday afternoon. Visit leaderpub.com for up-to-date information.

Stevyn Compoe, director of the Niles District Library, said Niles will take a similar approach.

“In response to CDC and state recommendations, Niles District Library has made the very difficult decision to cease all programming until April 6,” Compoe said in a press release. “This includes: meetings, classes, book clubs, etc., both in-house and outside organizations.”

Like in Cass, the Niles District Library will close all meeting and study rooms. Patrons will still be able to check out materials.

“All toys, games and activities for children have been removed to be sanitized and put in storage,” the release stated.

Niles library seating has also been rearranged to encourage maintaining a safe distance from other people. Common touch points, such as doorknobs and surfaces, are being disinfected twice daily.

The Dowagiac District Library has also suspended programming until further notice.

“We have a board meeting coming up on Tuesday to discuss other options,” said Dowagiac Library Director Matt Weston.

Buchanan District Library Director Meg Paulette announced via the library’s Facebook page that the library is taking similar measures.

“In light of the closing of Michigan schools and based on recommendations from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Buchanan District Library will suspend all programming until further notice,” the statement read. “As of now, the library will continue to be open during our regularly scheduled hours. However, we urge our patrons to use good judgment when deciding to visit the library. If you are sick, if your immune system is compromised, or you are a member of a high-risk group, you should consider avoiding public locations such as the library.”

The Buchanan Library asks that those returning materials use the drop box outside or call the library to arrange curbside pickup. This library will extend due dates on all overdue materials, and, as Buchanan is a fine-free library, patrons will not incur fines.

“The health and safety of our patrons are of great importance to us,” the statement read. “While we always want to serve our community by providing access to books, technology, and a place for the public to gather, we recognize that at this time it may be best for all of us to limit our interactions with others.”