Library Board Details COVID-19 Exposure, Response
The Roosevelt County Library Board held their regular meeting Sept. 26. Because of COVID-19, September’s meeting was held via Zoom and was hosted by Suzanne Reymer. The meeting began at 10 a.m. Beth Hekkel, library chairperson, attended, as did vice-chair Gloria Mason, trustees Sue Snitker and Helen Welte and Janet Livingston, library director.
The minutes for the June 27 meeting were reviewed and approved. The statement of accounts was reviewed for May. No large purchases were made.
The main library in Wolf Point was closed down for two weeks from Sept. 15-26 due to COVID-19 exposure. There was some discussion on how to reopen safely. The following account of staff exposure was recorded in the minutes: Sept. 9, a staff member left at 2 p.m. as they had a sick child to pick up from school. The next day, Sept. 10, at 6:15 p.m., Janet sent another staff member home as they were not feeling well. The first staff person tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, Sept. 14. We received this information the afternoon of Sept. 14. The health department informed us that we needed to quarantine for two weeks because of exposure. Janet then let the commissioners know via conference call and they agreed with the health department. All staff members went into quarantine starting Monday, Sept. 14. Sept. 15, the library was closed for sanitizing surfaces and the carpet. [....] We had two testing positive and two test negative.
Mobile hotspots have not been put into use yet, reported Livingston, because updates to the internet safety policy need to be approved. Jenny Stapp, state librarian, contacted Nemont. The changes were tabled until October to give board members time to read the policy changes carefully.
The preliminary budget was perused, but no motions were proposed.
The Page-turners book club is starting up again in Froid. They will sit in a big circle to maintain 6 feet distancing and wear face masks.
Culbertson librarian Leona Colvin reported she hired Sabrina Shell for the assistant librarian position.
Anita Sheetz with the James E. Shanley Tribal Library reports that Fort Peck Community College and library have been closed down for at least two weeks because of COVID-19 exposure.
Book club at the main has started back up with social distancing in place. Staff have discussed extending the club remotely via Zoom. Playtime Pals was slated to start in September with social distancing and masks, but, because of the high number of active cases, the program has been postponed.
The newspapers and magazines were put back out at the main. Magazines are being quarantined for three days after they have been read.
Livingston has created a schedule for cleaning and sanitizing on a daily and weekly basis and all staff participate in the mornings before opening and at the end of the day.
The next meeting is tentatively set for Oct. 24 at 10 a.m. via Zoom.
