To combat the spread of novel coronavirus COVID-19 and protect library staff and the community, the Altadena Library District is closing both its Main Library and Bob Lucas Memorial Branch buildings to the public, effective Friday, March 13, 2020 at 6:00pm. The closure will remain in effect until at least Monday, May 18, 2020. All in-person library programs and outreach efforts are canceled through the end of May.
These precautionary measures go into effect following recent guidelines from public health officials to cancel non-essential gatherings of more than 250 people, limit gatherings of high risk populations to no more than 10 people, and practice social distancing, which is shown to be the most effective way to curb the exponential growth of a virus such as COVID-19.
“This decision was made after careful consideration with both our Board of Trustees and library staff, and we recognize the impact that could be felt in our community as a result of temporarily closing our doors,” said District Director Nikki Winslow. “Our top priority and commitment at this time must be to the health and safety of our staff members and our community at large.”
Through the closure, the Altadena Libraries will continue to be a source of credible information by sharing updates on the library website and social media platforms from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, California Department of Public Health, and Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Updates can be found at www.altadenalibrary.org/coronavirus.
Altadena Library cardholders can continue to access digital materials, including e-books, digital magazines, and audiobooks, on our available digital platforms including cloudLibrary, enki, Tumblebooks for children, and Flipster. Links to these services are listed at www.altadenalibrary.org/digitalreading. Community members without library cards can sign up for temporary card numbers to access our digital services by visiting catalog.altadenalibrary.org and clicking “Register Here.”
All Due Dates Extended – Please Don’t Return Your Items During Closure
Please do not return your items during the closure. The book drops at both libraries will be locked to avoid transmission of the coronavirus to staff through contaminated surfaces on any returned library materials. We have extended due dates for all materials until the libraries reopen, and our libraries do not charge late fees, so please wait to return your items until once the libraries are open again. Thank you for your cooperation!
Please check the following links for real-time updates about coronavirus/COVID-19: