The pandemic has caused unprecedented disruption to public libraries and the critical access they provide to their communities, forcing many to close for extended periods. It is critical that any reopening plan be firmly backed by science. With this partnership, CML has the opportunity to play a critical role in research with far-reaching implications, guiding the safe reopenings of public libraries, museums and archives around the state, country and even the world.

CML provided expertise and nearly two dozen varieties of common library materials to Battelle earlier this spring, including hardback books, magazines, DVDs, newspapers and more. Throughout the course of the past several months, Battelle’s researchers have published their studies, the results of which have guided our reopening plans — and the reopening plans of libraries, museums and archives near and far.

While the initial results reaffirmed CML’s three-day quarantine period for returned materials, the second batch of results, released earlier this summer, indicated that some specific types of materials might require an extra day to ensure the absence of the virus. As a result, CML increased its mandatory quarantine time from 72 to 96 hours. Libraries across the country have months of experience with quarantining materials for three-four days with no known occurrences of transmittal through touching returned library materials.