One suggestion about gloves. If you decide to let patrons handle the maps, perhaps you could issue them the white cloth gloves that museum curators use. Those would not damage the paper. However, I'm sure they are expensive, and I'm with you that perhaps sheet maps could be unavailable for the time being. Good luck with the open air; I would be very concerned too. Louise Ratliff Retired UCLA Librarian and map cataloger On Sun, May 10, 2020 at 4:28 AM Krina Doekes <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Chrissy shalom, > > > > Thanks for asking! I had the same questions, and asked my boss to be > allowed not to serve patrons at the moment with physical maps. Our library > opened just yesterday. We have a small amount of scanned maps and there > would be no problem of course to send those to people’s emails or let them > study them in one of our computers. > > > > Our collection is partly cataloged in the online catalog, but we have a > closed shelf policy so patrons always need the staff to get the maps. > > > > My reason for asking my boss to keep our department closed for service, > was that typically handling paper maps by a number of people (me, my > student worker, the patron) would make the risk of contagion too great. > Books are put in quarantine but I did not see how that could happen with > maps. > > > > Just now when I was thinking about it I wondered if we could do something > with ordering maps in advance. In that way, the maps are somewhere for 3 > days waiting for the patron, and then the patron could put them back > somewhere where they would wait another 3 days before we handle them. It > might work, though I don’t know yet where the quarantine place would be… > The virus allegedly disappears after 3 days or so. > > > > I read somewhere that using latex gloves could be harmful for handling > maps, especially since our gloved hands would be less sensitive to the > maps, leading to tears etc. I told my student worker to not use gloves and > wash his hands instead. > > Moreover, I am trying to keep the maps my student worker handles separate > from the ones I handle. > > > > I don’t know if I should ask the patrons to wear gloves (since they > typically don’t move the maps, though in my latest idea they maybe would?)? > > > > Having a husband who is in a high risk category, I am not overly happy to > be back in the library with all kinds of patrons, and my department is set > up to be in the same air (partial walls that don’t reach the ceiling) as > the general reading room. > > > > I am very interested to hear what other people think! > > > > Krina > > > > > > > > > > *Krina Doekes Brandt | *Map Librarian, Librarian for Geography and Urban > Studies > > *Bloomfield Library for the Humanities and Social Sciences* > The Hebrew University of Jerusalem > T 97225880170+ | F +972.25322435 <+972%202-532-2435> > [log in to unmask] > > > > Our website: Map library > <http://www.mslib.huji.ac.il/one-study-area.html?id=71&format=html&lang=en> > > Follow the map library on facebook > <https://www.facebook.com/pages/%D7%A1%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%99%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%A4%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%A8-%D7%94%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%A4%D7%99%D7%9D-Map-Library-Mount-Scopus/519536454850104?ref=aymt_homepage_panel> > > > > > > > > *From:* Waml <[log in to unmask]> *On Behalf Of *Chrissy > M Klenke > *Sent:* Friday, 8 May 2020 21:56 > *To:* [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask] > *Subject:* [Waml] Map Libraries & Services - Post Covid-19 Discussion > > > > Hello my map people, > > > > (Apologies for cross-posting - trying to reach as many people for input) > > > > I have been tasked by my library director to come up with policies on how > to provide access to the maps and services in the map library, post > Covid-19. I have been reading a few things put out by our university but, > maps are different than technology and books. I would like to start a > discussion about how other map libraries are preparing for this change. > What will our services and maintenance look like post-pandemic? > > > > I would like to create a "Suggested Best Practices" document based on this > discussion and publish it to the July WAML IB. > > > > Here are some questions off the top of my head: (any other questions or > topics are welcome) > > - How will you quarantine/sanitize maps, atlases, and verticle files > that have been returned and taken out of their drawers/shelves? What kinds > of cleaning materials are safe for the map collections? > > > - How will you provide access to the physical map collection for > patrons? What will that look like? Schedule a consultation or reserve time > in the library? Paging system for the maps? Close the map library until > States release Phases 2,3 or 4? Directional flow like grocery stores? > > > - How will library staff provide reference services for map users? > What will this look like? Will your staff have PPE (Personal Protective > Equipment), masks, gloves, other materials? > > > - The majority of my map collection is not cataloged and diving into > the map drawers is the only way to find what patrons need. Patrons can't > just simply look in the catalog and request a specific map. As you all > know, many patrons don't know what they are looking for, so one-on-one > consultations to help guide users (side-by-side) has been our model, but > that will have to change. How will this work in this current environment of > staying 6 ft. apart? > > > - For computer labs inside map libraries; Will you purchase/provide > keyboard and mouse skins. How will you sanitize them? > - Computers are not six feet apart. Will you close down/remove every > other computer? Or will you move your computers around/apart? > > I am really interested in hearing what you all are thinking on this topic. > I am hoping we can collectively come up with suggested best practices for > services, access, and maintenance. Please respond to this email thread or > email me off the thread. > > > > Thank you in advance! > > > > Best, > > Chrissy Klenke > > WAML IB Editor > > ________________________________________ > > > > Per the Governor's directive, our staff is currently working remotely for > the safety of our community. During this time, we are conducting all > services via email, Zoom, and other digital technologies. The University > Libraries continues to provide support for research questions, instruction, > resources, online journals and more. I will respond as quickly as possible > to your email during normal business hours. Thank you for your patience. > > - Frequently Asked Questions related to the transition to online > course delivery > <https://www.unr.edu/tlt/instructional-preparedness/faq> > > > - Need virtual support? Visit the Libraries Virtual Support website > <https://library.unr.edu/virtual-support> for the help you need. > > > - Have general questions about the University’s alternate operations? > Visit the Updates on the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) website > <https://www.unr.edu/coronavirus>. > > > > [image: DeLaMare Science & Engineering Library] > > *Chrissy Klenke* > > Earth Sciences, GIS, and Maps Librarian > > DeLaMare Science & Engineering Library > > University of Nevada, Reno > > 1664 N. Virginia St. > > Reno, NV 89557 > > Mail stop: 0262 > > phone: 775.682.7371 > > email: [log in to unmask] > > > Schedule an Appointment > <https:[log in to unmask]> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________________ > > > > Per the Governor's directive, our staff is currently working remotely for > the safety of our community. During this time, we are conducting all > services via email, Zoom, and other digital technologies. The University > Libraries continues to provide support for research questions, instruction, > resources, online journals and more. I will respond as quickly as possible > to your email during normal business hours. Thank you for your patience. > > - Frequently Asked Questions related to the transition to online > course delivery > <https://www.unr.edu/tlt/instructional-preparedness/faq> > > > - Need virtual support? Visit the Libraries Virtual Support website > <https://library.unr.edu/virtual-support> for the help you need. > > > - Have general questions about the University’s alternate operations? > Visit the Updates on the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) website > <https://www.unr.edu/coronavirus>. > > > > [image: DeLaMare Science & Engineering Library] > > *Chrissy Klenke* > > Earth Sciences, GIS, and Maps Librarian > > DeLaMare Science & Engineering Library > > University of Nevada, Reno > > 1664 N. Virginia St. > > Reno, NV 89557 > > Mail stop: 0262 > > phone: 775.682.7371 > > email: [log in to unmask] > > > Schedule an Appointment > <https:[log in to unmask]> > > > _______________________________________________ > Waml mailing list > [log in to unmask] > http://mailman13.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/waml > -- Louise Ratliff Retired UCLA Librarian