Cheryl Bush,
Marketing & Public Relations Manager
pr@wtcpl.org
330.399.8807 ext. 208

Library News

(03/14/20)

An Announcement from Warren-Trumbull County Public Library Director Jim Wilkins:
All Locations to Temporarily Close Beginning March 17, 2020

Dear Library Patron,

We at the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library are very much concerned with the health and safety of our customers and staff. During this National Emergency, now classified as a pandemic, we have been in close communication with state and local health officials as well as other Ohio libraries.

With great thought and input from our Board of Trustees, staff, and community leadership, I have made the difficult decision to close all W-TCPL locations and Mobile Services to the public beginning at close of business Monday, March 16, 2020 and remaining closed through Sunday, April 5, 2020, or as long as the state of emergency continues. This includes: Brookfield Library; Cortland Library; Howland Library; Liberty Library; Lordstown Library; Warren Library; the Bookmobile; and Outreach and Homebound Library Service.

We will continually reassess the closure and use current information from health officials and library leadership to determine the safest date to reopen. Please continue to monitor library social media, local media, and the library website at www.wtcpl.org for updates.

We want to assure you that we will extend the due dates of all materials that are checked out, and no fines or late fees will be charged for this time period. If you have a hold on any materials, these requests will be maintained and will resume when we reopen.

During this time, our online services will remain available for our cardholders, including our collection of digital materials such as eBooks, eMagazines, downloadable audiobooks, and streaming movies, music, and television shows. We also have online databases and learning tools accessible from home. All these digital resources are available free 24/7 at www.wtcpl.org.

Why we have made this decision:

• In response to directives and strong indications from Governor DeWine and the Ohio Director of Health, Amy Acton, MD, that aggressive early social distancing can stop COVID-19 from exponentially spreading.
• The scientific community agrees that minimizing new cases is essential to containing the virus’s spread.
• It is consistent with the governor’s call for all schools to begin a three-week break on Monday, March 16.

I have come to the conclusion that this closing is inevitable, and the longer I delay closing, the less benefit we get from this difficult decision.

The CDC offers the following preventative actions to help prevent the spread of illnesses:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.
• Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects daily.

Thank you to our Board of Trustees and staff for their dedication and hard work, and to our customers who have expressed their concern and understanding during this uncertain time.

Jim Wilkins,
Director

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