Special Notice to our Patrons in regards to COVID-19

Dear Patrons,

The safety of our patrons and employees is a priority to Chemung County Library District (CCLD). We are working to stay on top of this evolving COVID-19 situation by following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control, NYS Department of Health Services, and the Chemung County Health Department.

Our current plan is to:

1) prioritize the safety and health of our staff and patrons; 2) continue serving your library needs for the time being; 3) plan ahead for changing circumstances.

*   Centers for Disease Control & Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/

*   New York State Department of Health: www.health.ny.gov

*   Chemung County Health Department: www.chemungcountyhealth.org

What is COVID-19? COVID-19 is the disease caused by a virus strain that began spreading in people in December 2019. Health experts are concerned because little is known about this new respiratory virus, and it can cause severe illness and pneumonia in some people.

What can you do?  As the State of NY says:

Wash your hands. Cough into your elbow. Stay home if sick.

According to the most recent information from the CDC, for most people, the immediate risk of being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to be low. We encourage any concerned patrons, especially those in high-risk populations, to stay home if they are feeling ill or are simply concerned about potential exposure.

Please keep in mind, as a public space, the Library cannot guarantee a germ-free environment or germ-free physical materials. You need to consider if using library materials, or visiting the Library or other public spaces, is best for you and your family. As a reminder, the Library has many digital services available to you for free; check out our collections at https://ccld.lib.ny.us/.

What is the Chemung County Library District doing?

Library Services: We are developing staffing and service models should we need to reduce services.

Next Steps: We are monitoring this developing situation closely, staying up-to-date on info from federal agencies, health organizations, and other experts.

We will continue to communicate any further impacts to CCLD.

Thank you for working with us to keep CCLD a healthy environment.