Pandemic Plan  
This policy represents the Putnam County District Library’s (PCDL) guidelines regarding the 
potential outbreak of pandemic influenza in our community. 

Introduction 
The World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and 
the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) actively engage in monitoring conditions that could lead to 
pandemic influenza, a worldwide outbreak of disease for which there is no immunity.  If pandemic 
influenza occurs, it is estimated that it would move around the world in waves, each wave lasting 
anywhere from six (6) to eight (8) weeks. The entire pandemic could last twelve (12) to eighteen 
(18) months. Should a flu pandemic affect our community, the Library will comply with requests 
from the Putnam County Health Department to assist in checking the spread of the virus. 

Response Plan 
The following will be implemented in response to a pandemic influenza outbreak in Ohio: 

A. Hygiene 

1. All staff will be encouraged to wash hands regularly.
2. Hand sanitizers shall be provided at all public service desks.
3. Frequent disinfection of high contact surfaces and common areas, such as door 
   handles, hand rails, telephones, countertops, toys, puzzles, games etc. shall be a 
   priority. Cleaning of all study rooms, tables, terminal keyboards, copiers and 
   microfilm readers will occur after each patron usage. The cleaning of restroom 
   facilities will occur at least 3 times per day. The library may close to the public in the 
   middle of the day to conduct cleaning.  Staff will be provided with disinfecting wipes 
   or spray and disposable gloves to assist in keeping work areas sanitized.
4. All materials returned to the library will be held for 72 hours in quarantine, then 
   wiped down with antibacterial wipes before being returned to the shelves.
5. Masks may be provided for staff usage and patrons may be required to wear a mask 
   upon entering the building.
6. The installation of acrylic barriers between staff and patrons may be instituted if 
   recommended.
7. Health assessments may be conducted for all staff upon entry into the building. This 
   may include the taking of temperatures or answering questions as directed by public 
   health authorities. Staff at locations other than Ottawa, may need to report their 
   temperature and answer health assessment questions via telephone or other method 
   to the Director or her designee.

B. Communication
 

1. Up-to-date information regarding the pandemic shall be provided to all staff,  including those not scheduled for work, and made available to the public, to raise awareness about symptoms, how the disease is spred, how to recognize that someone has the disease, and how to care for someone who becomes ill.
2. A link to Centers for Disease Control and The Ohio Department of Health will be 
   placed on the library web page and next to each computer in all library locations so 
   patrons have access to information about the disease. 

In addition to adhering to sections A and B above, the following will be implemented in response 
to a pandemic influenza outbreak in Putnam County: 
 

C. Staffing and Services

1. Changes in service hours necessitated by the pandemic shall be publicized in print 
   and electronic sources.  
2. Every effort will be made to provide library services. Curbside service may be 
   implemented.
3. Appointment times may be required for computer and microfilm reader usage.
4. All locations will following any capacity reductions as recommended by local health 
   authorities. Signs outside the building will reflect these reductions.  
5. Meeting room use, programs, public use of equipment and access to the book drop 
   may be eliminated.
6. All drinking fountains may be turned off and are unavailable.
7. Social distancing according to CDC and public health authority guidelines will be 
   instituted to reduce the spread of the disease.  Fewer staff may be assigned to the 
   same work area at the same time, and patrons may be limited to one at a time at 
   each public service point. Signage indicating social distancing may be put in place at the circulation desk and as reminders throughout the library. Furniture may be removed from the patron area to encourage social distancing. The number of people 
   in the aisles throughout the library stacks may be restricted and directional signage 
   could be put in place.
8. Donations of materials to the library will not be accepted.
9. Special hours for at risk populations (e.g. elderly) may be instituted.
10. If staff members find it necessary to stay home because they are ill, are needed to 
    care for dependents, or are quarantined because of illness in the household, they 
    will be required to use accumulated sick leave, vacation or personal leave unless 
    otherwise indicated by law.
11. Flexible work schedules shall be considered for non-essential non-public work tasks 
    and employees.  
12. Essential employees required to be on site in the event of an extended closure shall 
    be identified. Essential employees include the Director and Fiscal Officer. Staff 
    member(s) who have access to update library social media will also be considered 
    essential however, they may work from home.  

D.  Closing of the Library
 

1. Closure of the library locations will follow CDC and public health authority guidance.  
   The Director has the discretion to close the library upon consultation with the Board 
   President.
2. If it is determined that the library should be closed, overdue fees for borrowed library 
   materials will be waived for the duration of the closing.
3. Staff may be paid for the time they would normally have worked.  This will be 
   determined by the Board for each occurrence.  
4. Every effort will be made to update the library social media to keep patrons and staff 
   informed.
5. Staff should be aware that it may not be possible to distribute pay checks by mail, 
   and even if the mailing of pay checks is an option, mail service may be disrupted. 
   Although the most reliable method of paying staff will be direct deposit to 
   individuals’ bank accounts, it may be impossible for the Fiscal Officer to come to 
   work. 
    

E. PCDL Staff Pandemic Flu Outbreak

If a staff member becomes contagious with the pandemic flu the following steps will be 
taken: 

1. The PCDL location where the staff member works will be closed.
2. The Director or her designee will notify public health authorities.
3. All staff members who would have come in contact with the contagious employee will 
   be notified via telephone or in person, depending on the situation. Staff members will 
   be placed in quarantine for 14 days or other length of time as determined by public 
   health authorities.
4. All attempts will be made to discover patrons and vendors who may have come in contact 
   with the employee and the findings will be reported to public health authorities. 

F. PCDL Patron or Vendor Pandemic Flu Outbreak 

If a patron or vendor becomes contagious with the pandemic flu the following steps will be 
taken: 

1. The PCDL  location where the vendor or patron visited will be closed.  
2. If necessary, the Director or her designee will notify public health authorities.
3. All staff members who would have come in contact with the contagious individual will 
   be notified via telephone or in person, depending on the situation. Staff members will 
   be placed in quarantine for 14 days or other length of time as determined by public 
   health authorities.
4. All attempts will be made to discover all staff, patrons, and vendors who may have come 
   in contact with the contagious individual and the findings reported to public health 
   authorities. 
    

G. Recovery

The following section will be implemented in response to the recovery from a pandemic flu 
outbreak: 
 

1. Infrastructure, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, security, communications, 
   physical building shall be inspected and evaluated. Necessary cleaning and repairs 
   shall be conducted prior to the opening of each library location. Public health 
   authorities’ guidelines with regard to cleaning will be implemented.  
2. Staffing needs shall be evaluated, with return to full staffing contingent on 
   infrastructure condition and the return of services necessary to the operation of the 
   library.

3. Full library service shall be restored as conditions permit; programming and meetings 
   shall resume when recommended by public health authorities. 

   4/30/2020