[OPLINTECH] Simple, cheap idea that might be adapted for some libraries

Fri Apr 17 14:51:05 EDT 2020

And credit to John B. at Miami U. for the closest visual so far on what I
saw. It's not the 360-degree version that would be appropriate for an
island-type situation, but it's the same concept and is quite appropriate
for a Circ or Ref desk that is adjacent to a wall or staff area:
https://wtvbam.com/news/articles/2020/apr/13/with-plastic-sheets-japans-convenience-stores-target-social-distancing/1005918/

John's find is a Japanese version of the 360 Wuhan Province grocer clerk
picture I saw. It's a very simple barrier solution. The Wuhan grocery had a
higher ceiling and was a full 360 degree circle around the clerk. But it's
the same simple concept.

One way to improve on the 360-degree concept might be if you can manage to
encapsulate an HVAC output somewhere within the 360 circle of plastic.
Depending on the situation, this could create a positive air pressure
within the circle, bringing clean air into the protected area from the top
and forcing it out the bottom. This, of course, depends on how well you
maintain your HVAC filters, and/or how much fresh outside air is injected
into your HVAC system. If you have poor/no filters and you're just 100%
recirculating your indoor air, then...

(But what do I know? I'm no HVAC/plastic/virologist guru. I'm just some
random guy that happens to think logical and engineering-like and knows how
to make a computer go "bleep" and "bloop". So your mileage may vary and
y'all can do whatever you want. LOL!)

______________________________
*Chad Neeper*
Senior Systems Engineer

*Level 9 Networks*
740-548-8070 (voice)
866-214-6607 (fax)

*Full IT/Computer consulting services -- Specialized in public libraries*

On Fri, Apr 17, 2020 at 1:38 PM Chad Neeper <cneeper at level9networks.com>
wrote:

> Just a quick follow-up:
> The creative juices are already starting to flow. A director just
> responded off-list with a great variation:  a shower curtain.
> It might be tricky to find a clear one, if that's your need/desire. But
> I'd say that's a pretty great variation...sturdy plastic, pre-made holes
> with grommets, usually weighted, reinforced bottoms...
>
> ______________________________
> *Chad Neeper*
> Senior Systems Engineer
>
> *Level 9 Networks*
> 740-548-8070 (voice)
> 866-214-6607 (fax)
>
> *Full IT/Computer consulting services -- Specialized in public libraries*
>
>
> On Fri, Apr 17, 2020 at 11:48 AM Chad Neeper <cneeper at level9networks.com>
> wrote:
>
>> For the past several years, I've been moderately interested in
>> English-speaking vlogs and news from other countries. I find it useful to
>> see how non-Americans solve their every-day problems and to see the
>> technologies that they are using to do so. There is a lot of
>> head-slap-that's-so-obvious brilliance out there, some of which I've found
>> adaptable, adoptable, and useful in my own life and work. Back when most of
>> us were blissfully ignorant about SARS-CoV-2 and people here were maybe
>> just starting to hear about some new virus outbreak in China...shortly
>> thereafter, I remember seeing a picture of a grocery store checkout clerk
>> ostensibly in Wuhan province. I can't remember exactly where I saw this
>> picture and I haven't seen a similar picture since, although I've been
>> watching for one. So, unfortunately, I can't link to it..."a picture is
>> worth 1000 words", after all! But it stuck in my head and when the grocery
>> stores here in the States started putting up their "sneeze guards" for
>> cashiers, it just disappointed me that nobody here seemed to have employed
>> this cheap, simple, and effective idea.
>>
>> The concept is easy:  Rather than mounting a limited clear plexiglass
>> panel between the customer and the clerk, this grocer simply hung clear
>> plastic from the ceiling in a 360 degree circle around the clerk, the
>> register and part of the counter. It was a full 360 barrier that looked to
>> be maybe around 6 feet in diameter and that hung from the ceiling to just a
>> couple inches above the counter...perhaps a little over waist high on the
>> clerk. The ceiling *was* rather high...maybe three or four times the
>> height of the clerk, but a high ceiling doesn't really matter all that much
>> in this case and it made for a meaningful scene. That's far better
>> protection for both the clerk and the customer than a single maybe 4'x4'
>> plexiglass sheet. It probably took less effort to mount, probably was
>> easier to source, and was quite possibly cheaper to purchase and install.
>> Presumably, either  1) the split/seam/overlap was positioned on the side
>> furthest from the customer and in a way that the clerk could separate and
>> walk in,  or 2) the clerk simply lifted the bottom of the plastic and
>> ducked under.
>>
>> Some people might understandably argue that, while it may perhaps be an
>> effective protective barrier, it's too ugly. The counter argument to that
>> might be to simply understand that the situation we find ourselves in is
>> *temporary* until we have herd immunity and that this is simply a
>> temporary means to help address a temporary problem. It also doesn't do any
>> permanent damage to your desks by way of screw-holes for plexiglass, etc!
>> It's certainly not going to be a good solution in every library, but I
>> could see how it could serve as an easy and easily-replacable barrier
>> between patrons and staff at perhaps a circ or reference desk. Perhaps the
>> idea might help some library as you try to figure out how to start opening
>> back up to the public.
>>
>> If you do find the idea interesting, you might consider using a thin
>> transparent plastic from (pick your favorite: Home Depot, Lowes, Menards,
>> etc.) If it were me, I'd probably choose something like the .3 mil clear
>> painters plastic that I happen to have sitting here next to me. It's easily
>> light enough to hang from the ceiling with tape, tacks, string,
>> what-have-you. Being .3 mil, it's also super flimsy and you can easily
>> maneuver under it and bump/lift it out of the way with no effort, yet it's
>> strong to resist tearing. It comes in large rolls, so you can easily adapt
>> for various situations. If you have a problem with it flowing and moving
>> around too much with air currents, you could pretty easily I think tape
>> small weights to the bottom end to encourage it to stay in place...perhaps
>> roll a light dowel or yardstick into the bottom of the plastic. Or even
>> bring it all the way down to the desk, leaving just select areas open for
>> passing materials
>>
>> Final thought:  Some libraries have makerspaces. How better to advertise
>> your makerspace than to...MAKE SOMETHING useful and practical! You could
>> even put up a sign saying something like "We made this in our makerspace.
>> Come see what *you* can make!"
>>
>>
>> Take it or leave it. Good or not. It's now in your capable hands.
>> (But if someone does implement it, I'd love to see a picture or two
>> posted back to the list for all to see how you implemented it!)
>> ______________________________
>> *Chad Neeper*
>> Senior Systems Engineer
>>
>> *Level 9 Networks*
>> 740-548-8070 (voice)
>> 866-214-6607 (fax)
>>
>> *Full IT/Computer consulting services -- Specialized in public libraries*
>>
>
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