Kline Library in Harrisburg closing for week as precaution after staffer tests positive for COVID-19

Harrisburg, PA — The Kline Library in Harrisburg will close Tuesday, December 15 and reopen at 10 a.m. the following Tuesday, December 22, as a precaution after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19.

While all six of the location’s staff are quarantining, health guidelines indicate spread to those working or visiting Kline is unlikely because of precautions in place. Safety measures at Kline and all locations include masks and face shields worn by employees, continuous cleaning, masks worn by visitors, plexiglass shielding and social distancing.

“In addition to the safety precautions we take at all our libraries, interactions between the public and staff are almost always less than 15 minutes,’’ said Karen Cullings, The Library’s Executive Director. “Because public interactions are brief, and we adhere to strict protection and social distancing guidelines, we believe the chance that our staff member spread the virus to either co-workers or the public is slight.’’

Despite the low risk of spread, Cullings said keeping the public and staff as safe as possible is the number one priority, which is why Kline is closing for a week.

Cullings said the staff member who tested positive for COVID-19 said their exposure did not happen at work.

Due to the statewide coronavirus spike, last month The Library suspended the use of its meeting rooms. However, locations remain open for other services, including accessing public computers and browsing for materials.

• To avoid having too many people in a building at one time, the public is asked to limit their visits to all libraries to no more than an hour, including for computer use or to use Curbside Pickup for contactless service.

Additionally, The Library is also no longer waiving its indoor mask-wearing requirements for medical reasons. Members who cannot wear masks can either order materials online or call ahead and arrange “curbside pickup” of their books and other items. All locations will have masks available for those who need them.

“Many in our community rely on us for internet and computer access and other services,” Cullings said. “We are committed to meeting the public’s needs in a safe way that follows all state and federal guidelines.”

For more information about The Library, including location hours, Curbside Pickup, ordering materials, accessing the vast array of online programming and other information, please visit www.dcls.org.