The Princeton Public Library will be closed until further notice after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19, Executive Director Jennifer Podolsky announced on Jan. 25.
“The safety of the public and our staff have been foremost in our thinking during the pandemic,” Podolsky said in a prepared statement. “When we received notification that an employee tested positive, we followed protocols approved by our Board of Trustees in consultation with the municipal Health Department and closed the building to facilitate staff isolation, contact tracing and deep cleaning. Our thoughts are with our colleague and their loved ones at this uncertain time.”
The library has been offering in-person services during reduced hours six days a week since reopening the Sands Library Building last summer.
During this closure, which is expected to last at least through Jan. 31, book drops will be sealed and contactless hold pickup will be suspended. Due dates of materials already in circulation, and those placed on hold and awaiting pickup at the library, will be extended two weeks, according to the statement. Extended-use fees will be waived during the closure.
All virtual services will continue through the closure, including access to the digital collection and databases, the virtual information desk and virtual programming.
“As we proved after closing in March, the library is a lot more than just a building,” Podolsky said in the statement. “We were pleased to have offered in-person service these past five months and had planned well for the unfortunate situation we’re now facing. We will open again as soon as it is safe to do so.”