As a preventative measure to limit exposure to the coronavirus and to follow the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendations for social distancing, all Tulsa City-County Library (TCCL) locations will close to the public beginning today, March 13, 2020, at 6 p.m., and remain closed for at least two weeks. The library will also temporarily discontinue all outreach services including its bookmobile and reading roadshow services during this time.
With an average of 7,000 thousand visitors who enter our libraries every day throughout Tulsa County, out of the abundance of caution, we want to limit the potential for exposure for both our public and staff. TCCL takes the health and wellbeing of our customers and staff seriously. Closing the library is an extraordinarily difficult decision that we have made only because of these extraordinary circumstances. However, this does not mean a complete shutdown of Library services. We will continue to provide the many digital services, such as e-books and e-audiobooks; streaming movies, TV and music services; free access to magazines and newspapers; and more. Our Ask Us telephone service will still be actively taking calls and providing information for our customers including enhanced support for accessing our digital services.
For those of you who have borrowed Library materials in your possession, do not fear the due date – we are extending loan periods during this time. We will also stop charging overdue fines and waive all existing overdue fines.
During this time, the Starbucks at our Central Library will remain open and will be operating as a quick service, to-go space. Customers will be encouraged to order normally and then take their items to go.
We are at an unprecedented moment in our city, state, and country. At this time of uncertainty, TCCL is continuing to keep all those impacted by the virus in our thoughts.
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