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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Please excuse multiple postings…<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">We are closely monitoring information and recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Office of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, and the Ohio
Department of Health. In support of the directive by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine that each State department consider allowing employees to work remotely if possible,
<b>the State Library will be closed to the public for at least three weeks beginning Tuesday, March 17<sup>th</sup>.
</b>During this time, State Library staff are being directed to telework from home. Some staff will be assigned on a rotating schedule to report to the State Library facility to take care of in-office required tasks.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">During the State Library’s closure, library consultative services remain available to libraries. Those services include, but aren’t limited to, strategic planning, digitization,
continuing education, and public library statistics. In addition, support of the Ohio Digital Library ebook consortium and LSTA grants will be maintained. All these services and support will be delivered remotely, due to the State’s travel restriction.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">If you participate in Statewide Delivery via the State Library—we will continue to accept deliveries and monitor the customer service forms. Please email Jamie Pardee
at <a href="mailto:jpardee@library.ohio.gov">pardee@library.ohio.gov</a>or call 614-644-6879 if you wish to cease statewide delivery to one or more of your locations due to your own closure.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">While the State Library will be closed to the public, all online resources including the Ohio Digital Library will remain available. During this time, loan periods will
be extended for physical items currently checked-out and we ask that patrons refrain from returning these items to the library. The option for requesting items for new check-outs will be deactivated.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">The health and safety of our patrons and staff was paramount in the decision of State Librarian Beverly Cain to close the library. As of yesterday, Thursday, 3/12/2020
at 2 p.m.—Ohio has 5 confirmed cases, 52 persons with test results pending, and 333 under health supervision. On March 6<sup>th</sup>, Governor DeWine signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Ohio to protect Ohioans from the dangerous effects
of COVID-19. This allows State departments and agencies to better coordinate their response, free up resources to protect Ohioans, and quickly purchase additional needed resources and supplies. President Trump has declared a national emergency. According to
the CDC, “The virus that causes COVID-19 is infecting people and spreading easily from person-to-person. Cases have been detected in most countries worldwide and community spread is being detected in a growing number of countries. On March 11, the COVID-19
outbreak was <a href="https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020" target="_blank" title="Link to External Web Site">
characterized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO)</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">The plan to reopen the library on April 6<sup>th</sup> will be evaluated by the end of March.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">###<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img border="0" width="96" height="101" style="width:1.0in;height:1.05in" id="Picture_x0020_11" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D5F94E.1EA91360"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#002060"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#002E62">Marsha McDevitt-Stredney, Ph.D.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#002E62">Public Information Officer<br>
Director, Marketing & Communications<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#002E62">274 E. 1<sup>st</sup> Avenue<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#002E62">Columbus, OH 43201<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#002E62">Tel: 614-644-6875<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><a href="http://library.ohio.gov/"><span style="color:blue">library.ohio.gov</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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