Sacramento libraries to remain shut at least through Wednesday

All 28 Sacramento-area libraries will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday as library director Rivkah Sass asks the library board to approve shutting down the branches through the end of March to help mitigate the spread of the new coronavirus.

Sass said a special meeting of the library board was scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday during which she will ask for permission to shut the branches at least through the end of the month, “with the flexibility to reassess as more information becomes available.”

The meeting will be conducted virtually through the Zoom cloud video conferencing service, although interested library patrons will be able to watch it inside the Belle Cooledge branch at 5600 S. Land Park Dr.

Sass’ request to close the branches comes as coronavirus cases continue to spread, and follows her decision Saturday afternoon to close down the Martin Luther King Jr. branch and send workers home because the spouse of one employee had tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19.

All branches were closed Monday as part of the regular schedule, and the library sent emails to patrons Monday night notifying them of the Tuesday and Wednesday shutdowns.

“During this time all book drops will also be closed,” the email said, adding that cue dates for all checked-out items have been extended by four extra weeks.

Patrons should check their online accounts to obtain their new due dates, the library said.

Sass, who returned over the weekend from a trip to work with Syrian refugees at a camp in Jordan, is self-quarantining at home on doctor’s advice.