Fairfax, Loudoun Shut Down Libraries In Response To Coronavirus

NORTHERN VIRGINIA — The Fairfax County Public Library system decided Sunday afternoon to close its libraries for two weeks due to the novel coronavirus threat facing the state, becoming the first library system in Northern Virginia to close its libraries.

The library shutdown takes effect starting Monday as will the closure of the county's parks and community facilities, the county said. Earlier Sunday, Fairfax County closed all senior center and adult day health care facilities.

"Some of these facilities will be used as meal distribution centers to serve the community as needed," the county said. "As the coronavirus situation continues to unfold the status of these facilities will be continuosly re-evaluated."

Later Sunday, Loudoun County also announced plans to close its libraries starting Monday "to help reduce the spread of the new coronavirus." The county said it plans to implement curbside pickup service at all 10 county library branches later in the week.

Any patron who needs to pick up and drop off materials at their local branch "will be able to do so in a way that adheres to social distancing," Chang Liu, director of Loudoun County Public Library, said Sunday in a statement. The county plans to provide details on Tuesday about how library patrons can use curbside service.

Loudoun County's decision to close its libraries came one day after Phyliss Randall, chair of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, dismissed calls from people who wanted the county to close its libraries to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. At a press briefing Saturday, Randall cited the need for the public to have access to the Internet, a service provided by libraries, as a reason for keeping the libraries open.

Because of the coronavirus, the Loudoun County library system is giving new customers who sign up online six months to pick up their permanent library cards. Previously, patrons had to visit a branch within 30 days of registering online. New patrons can register for a library card at library.loudoun.gov.

Fairfax and Loudoun counties made their decision to close libraries on the same day that Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced a statewide ban on all public events of more than 100 people in response to the coronavirus. The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Virginia jumped to 45 Sunday, with the state reporting its first death, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

The Prince William County Public Library system has not changed its library hours. But on Saturday the county library system canceled all programs and closed all study, tutor and community rooms in library branches until further notice.

Arlington County Library is keeping its Central and Columbia Pike branches open but is closing the other six branches in the county. All events and programs at the Central and Columbia Pike branches are canceled and their meetings rooms are closed, the library system said.

Other major library systems across the country also are shutting down their libraries. New York Public Library, which operates branches in Manhattan, Staten Island and the Bronx and on Friday shut down its system through the end of March as a measure to prevent the further spread of cornavirus. The Los Angeles County Library closed all of its 86 locations beginning Sunday and continuing through the end of the month.

In the D.C. area, Montgomery County, Prince George's County and the District of Columbia have closed all of their library branches until further notice.

In a statement Saturday, the American Library Association said decisions about whether to remain open are best made locally and "should include consideration of the well-being of staff and library users."

If libraries stay open, ALA said they should follow CDC recommendations for environmental cleaning and disinfection. Libraries also should encourage their staff and users to take basic steps to avoid spreading germs, including:

• Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.
• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
• Staying home when you are sick.
• Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throwing the tissue in the trash.

Prior to Loudoun County announcing its libraries would close, staff at the Sterling branch of the Loudoun library system made a sign that they hoped would protect them and the public from spread of the coronavirus. "Please maintain 6 FT. distance to help slow the spread of disease," the sign read.