Libraries Announce Closures, Adjustments

The Coronavirus crisis has resulted in closures and programing postponements at both the Alleghany Highlands Regional Library and the Clifton?Forge Public Library.
The AHRL will close to the public today, and remain closed through March 29, in response to the COVID-19 crisis. 
“After talking with our Board of Trustees and some of our community partners, we decided this would be the best response we could have to the current health situation,” said AHRL Director Lisa Hicks. “It keeps the library in line with what is happening both locally and across the commonwealth.” 
The closure will not affect the availability of WiFi access from the parking lot of the library.
The library’s WiFi is now available 24 hours a day in response to the closure of schools by Gov. Ralph Northam. This will allow anyone, including students, who regularly makes use of the library’s internet services to have access while the library is closed.
Additionally, the library’s offerings of online services, databases, and e-books will remain available.
AHRL staff will be available Monday through Friday during the closing from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. via telephone to help patrons with reference questions, technology assistance, and to renew library items that are currently checked-out.  
Materials can still be returned to the book drop.  Fines on materials due during the closing will be suspended.  AHRL staff will not be available to assist patrons on Saturday, March 21, and Saturday, March 28.
While the library is closed to the public, a plan is being developed for a rigorous cleaning of the building, and staff members will work to complete some larger collection maintenance tasks, that cannot be done while the library is open.
While closure of the library is never ideal, Hicks said she and members of the board of trustees felt closing the doors was in the best interests of the community.
“We serve the entire Alleghany Highlands, and we recognize that many of our regular patrons fall into the demographic that is most at-risk for serious issues from COVID-19,” said Hicks. “The safety of our patrons and staff is always our highest priority, and we want to be certain we are a responsible member of the community during this time.”
The Clifton Forge Public Library, working within recommended precautionary procedures for the COVID-19 health concern, is cancelling all normally scheduled meetings and programs through the end of March.
Cancellations include local author Kenneth Conklin’s program on Norvel Lee which will be rescheduled at a later time; Pre-school Story Time; and the Brown Bag Book Club.
At this time, the Clifton Forge Public Library remains open to the public during its normal operating hours. Additional safety measures are being incorporated, including but not limited to, the removal of toys from the children’s area and daily cleaning of public computers.
The town continues to monitor the situation and will re-evaluate additional cancellations as necessary at the beginning of April.
Updates will also be posted to the library’s Facebook page.
For more information, and for updates, call the AHRL at 962-3321 or log onto www.ahrlib.org, or follow the library on Twitter (@ahrlib) and Instagram (@ahrlibrary).
For further information, on schedule changes at the Clifton Forge Public Library, call 863-2519.