Deschutes Public Library discusses plans to reopen in June

No date set, and changes being made, like most public spaces

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Deschutes Public Library checks out more than 2.5 million items a year, according to the library’s director, Todd Dunkelberg. But that's in a normal year -- and the library system's 100th year has turned out to be anything but normal.

Dunkelberg spoke with NewsChannel 21 Tuesday about how they plan to sanitize all of the borrowed items and keep patrons and staff safe after reopening from a closure that interrupted many activities in the library system's centennial year.

Dunkelberg said the returned items will then be placed in an isolated room for at least 72 hours, to let any traces of coronavirus die out.

“We’re actually going beyond what the CDC recommendations are,” Dunkelberg said. “Instead of 24 hours, we’re making it 72, just for security for our staff and for the public.”

Dunkelberg said the library will follow the governor’s guidelines for enforcing social distancing and limit the number of people inside the building.

He said he expects the summer reading programs to continue as planned, and expects to enter Phase 1 of the governor’s reopening plan in June. He said all branches of the Deschutes Public Library will reopen at once, rather than individually.

“It’ll look different when you come in, just like you’ve seen when you’ve gone to the grocery store and other stores,” Dunkelberg said.

He said following guidance from Gov. Kate Brown’s reopening plan, the first phase for the libraries would include taking back borrowed items and letting staff back inside the buildings.

Dunkelberg said since the library has been closed, more people have been making use of their digital collection. He said in the first two weeks of their closure, about 50 people signed up for library cards to check out items online.

For more information about the library’s COVID-19 resources, visit the Deschutes Public Library’s website.