[Publib] When customers are ill

[Louise Alcorn]

There was a recent thread on this in September.  Search the Public
archives for "Asking library users to leave if they have H1N1" as a
title and you'll get at least the bulk of the conversation.  Some good
ideas in there, including having bottles of hand cleaner available and
putting up signs about "if you are sick, please respect our staff and
other patrons and stay home.  We're happy to deliver to you at home..."
etc.  

http://lists.webjunction.org/publib/search.cgi

Louise E. Alcorn
Reference Technology Librarian
West Des Moines Public Library
4000 Mills Civic Pkwy
West Des Moines IA 50265
(515) 222-3573      louise.alcorn at wdm-ia.com
http://www.wdmlibrary.org   

 

-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Alison Moss
Sent: Monday, November 09, 2009 1:21 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] When customers are ill



In this time of increased vigilance about flu in its myriad forms, I
would be curious to know how (or if) other institutions have a procedure
for managing adult customers who appear to have communicable diseases:  
colds, flu, bronchitis, etc.  Are they asked to leave or modify their
behavior if they're coughing in staff or other customers' faces,
sneezing all over tabletops, or if they casually mention they're
suffering from pneumonia? This can be an awkward and sensitive issue to
address, so if anyone has tips to share...I have read a great deal on
how to manage and direct staff who become ill, but practically nothing
regarding direction of the public.  I have contacted the local health
department which has provided some suggestions for controlling the
spread of germs, but I would like to know how other libraries handle
this issue.


-- 


Alison R. Moss
Head Reference Librarian
Tippecanoe County Public Library
627 South Street
Lafayette, IN  47901
Telephone:  (765)429-0176
email:  amoss at tcpl.lib.in.us



The views expressed in this message are my own and do not necessarily
reflect TCPL policy.



_______________________________________________
Publib mailing list
Publib at webjunction.org
https://lists.webjunction.org/mailman/listinfo/publib