Tony Ferguson
President
Hong Kong Library Association
 

I regularly write a column for Against the Grain, a library periodical devoted to collection development and acquisitions concerns (http://www.against-the-grain.com/).  For a recent issue I wrote about our experience with SARS.  Here is a summary of what took place at my own library and a list of the questions that need to be addressed in a policy to govern what we should do if SARS or another epidemic disease strikes again:

When word of the disease first hit the news, the word quickly spread that wearing face masks was a good idea.  However, when we went in search of face masks we found that the pharmacy shelves were already bare.  With a staff of nearly 250 to care for, we quickly placed an order for a total of 10,000 masks since, we were told, to be effective masks needed to be changed every two hours.

Face masks were required almost immediately required in computer labs and some students began demanding that we patrol the library to force compliance as well.

Some libraries in the city refused to give reference help unless the patron had a mask.  We initially decided to "request" that patrons use masks when they spoke with library staff or sat in close range of others – later we had to require them to comply if they wanted service.  We also sold masks to those who lacked them.

All surfaces in the library had to be wiped down 3 times a day with a Clorox and water solution.  Our library has its own cleaners and so were able to keep up.

Even though we no longer shook hands, it seemed we washed our hands hourly – it takes lots of extra liquid soap and hand towels to be prepared.

While we assumed that the disease spread through direct physical contact with droplets generated by a cough or sneeze, because the disease seemed to be moving faster than what could be explained by that theory, we did all sorts of extra things just in case, e.g., toilets had pictures of the correct way to flush a toilet (seat down) to avoid the splashing of fluids.  We also regularly poured Clorox solutions down sinks and toilets as well.

Meetings were cancelled right and left or they were held electronically (do all clouds have a silver lining?).  For example, we convened a conference call meeting of the Hong Kong Library Association's Executive Committee meeting because of fears of giving or receiving the disease.

A library director from another part of China who was supposed to go to an international meeting was politely invited to not attend for fears that his presence would panic other attendees, or worse, might spread the disease itself.  In my case I decided to delay a Canadian meeting and not attend two other conferences in Europe.

Employees started staying home as soon as they felt the least bit sick until the University said that a doctor's note would be required.

1. How will you continue to get your administrative work done when meetings become more of a danger to good health than usual?  Battling an epidemic, in addition to all the regular work of a library, needs leadership.  Meetings will have to be held, but how?
2. Will face masks be required, recommended?  For staff, for patrons?
3. If face masks are required, how many should be purchased now and where can you buy more?
4. What are the liability issues for libraries if a patron claims they contracted the disease while using a public terminal?
5. Does your library have a travel policy that gives guidance about what kinds of trips should or should not be taken after the epidemic hits?  You will find that just because your library is experiencing the epidemic, others won't see it necessary to cancel meetings – although they may uninvite you personally.
6. Are there sufficient hand towel and liquid hand soap supplies on hand once hundreds of patrons want to wash and dry their hands multiple times a day?
7. Do you have sufficient staff to wipe down all surfaces touched by patrons with a disinfectant every 3 or so hours daily?  Do you have sufficient supplies of disposable wiping cloths and disinfectant on hand?
8. Are your staff policies concerning what constitutes an approved illness/reason not to go to work clear and known?
9. Does your university have an emergency response team with medical staff on it?  Does the team have access to a web master who can provide easy to find and understand information about what the university is doing to combat the disease?
10. Does your library, computer center, IT and learning group all have a web page that details the resources available to teachers who will find that they need alternative ways of contacting their students, conducting discussions, administering tests/exams, etc., linked to the emergency response team's web page?  Is there a link from this page to the library's electronic resources
11. Does every teacher have a current list of student email addresses?
12. Do students realize that teachers will use/have a right to use this means to contact them in an emergency?

Hopefully we won't have to face SARS again – but just in case, we need to be better prepared than we were this time.