03/14/2020 BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES Minutes

Home Browse Search

BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES MEETING SATURDAY,MARCH 14, 2020, 12:00 P.M. MASHPEE PUBLIC LIBRARY CONFERENCE ROOM Present: Ann Macdonald, Joan Lyons, Mary LeClair, Amanda Hall, Virginia Scharfenberg Absent: Sandra Horsman, Matt Auger Also Present: Kathy Mahoney- Library Director Joan Lyons, Co-Chair, called the meeting to order at 12:05 p.m. Public Comment None Discussion of Impact of COVID-19 On Friday, March 13, The Mashpee Public Schools announced the closure of all schools in response to the COVID-19 virus and its potential for transmission. In addition other local area schools also announced plans to close to in person learning, and no return to school date has been announced. The Falmouth Public Library also voted to close to the public in support of the Falmouth Schools decision to close to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The Library Director met with Town Manager, Rodney C. Collins on Friday, March 13, to explain the developing situation and its potential impact on Library operations if it remained open to the public while other area schools and libraries remained closed. The Town Manager understood the potential for risk and transmission of the COVID-19 virus, and pending a vote of the Library Board of Trustees, supported the closure of the building. Library staff will continue to report to work in the closed Library building until further notice. The Library Board of Trustees discussed the facts, and concluded the most prudent course of action is to close the Library to public access at the close of business on Saturday, March 14, and to further not announce the closure until the building was officially closed to avoid a surge of patrons on Saturday afternoon who might be unknowingly carrying the COVID-19 virus. Town Manager Collins joined the meeting via telephone to add his support to the Trustees decision.