Perrot Library resumes book pickups after deep cleaning
GREENWICH — After a weekend deep cleaning following an announcement that a staff member had COVID-19, the Perrot Memorial Library in Old Greenwich resumed its book service pickup on Monday.
The library announced Thursday that it was temporarily suspending services after a staff member was diagnosed with the coronavirus. It had been offering no-contact pickup of materials and allowing patrons to make reservations to use its computers. The library has not reopened to allow patrons to come in and browse the collections since the pandemic hit in mid-March.
Library Director Kevin McCarthy said his goal was met to resume services Monday after the deep cleaning.
“We hired a professional cleaning services company to come in, and they wiped down with commercial grade disinfectant every surface, especially common contact points like doorknobs, handrails, dispensers in the restrooms and everything except books,” McCarthy said.
“The books have already gone through quarantine and been wiped down before they go back to circulation,” he said. Guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the town’s Health Department say that COVID does not live on surfaces beyond 24 hours, McCarthy said.
Patrons can once again visit www.perrotlibrary.org and reserve a book, set a pickup time and get it from the curbside outside the building.
But computer services will not resume until at least the start of 2021, McCarthy said.
“People who need computer use or photocopying or other services will find it available at Greenwich Library and its branches,” he said. “The demand for that service here was very, very light. It will be lighter as we get into the holiday season. ... Out of an abundance of caution we’re suspending the service.”
The library will not resume offering its children’s book bundles, either, McCarthy said.
“That particular service is labor intensive,” he said. “And we are short staffed at the moment with the staff getting tested. … Until we’re fully staffed again, we’re suspending that service.”
McCarthy said the staff member who tested positive is doing well and quarantining but gave no further details. He said there have been no other positive cases connected to the employee but said other staff members are getting tests and taking part in precautionary quarantining.
Staff members will not be allowed back to work until they have tested negative, McCarthy said.
With the number of cases in Greenwich and the state growing rapidly, he said the library may have to close again as it did in spring when the pandemic began.
“Anytime that happens, we will follow our protocols and procedures,” McCarthy said.
The Perrot Memorial
Library is not a branch of Greenwich Library and operates independently. But Greenwich Library Director Barbara Ormerod-Glynn said Monday that she shares the same concern.
Like Perrot, Greenwich Library has not reopened its doors to the public at any of its branches. It is offering no-contact pickup of materials and reservations to use the computers and other services, including the main library’s new innovation lab. Construction work is also continuing on a renovation of the main library.
“We’re taking every precaution to keep patrons, staff and tradesmen. for the project, safe so that library service can continue,” Ormerod-Glynn said. “Starting Tuesday, we will limit computer, Flinn Gallery and Innovation Lab appointments to 30 minutes. We continue to monitor the situation and are following all protocols set forth by the town of Greenwich and state of Connecticut.”