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Covid guidelines for libraries: NILIS calls for Health Ministry input

21 Jan 2021

By Hiranyada Dewasiri   The National Institute of Library and Information Sciences (NILIS) of the University of Colombo has requested government intervention in the preparation of Covid-19-related guidelines for the functioning and operation of libraries. The request has been made for libraries as crucial institutions for education that involve the physical exchange of print material, and spaces that are shared by users, The Morning learnt. Speaking to The Morning yesterday (20), NILIS Acting Director Dr. Ruwan Gamage said that Health Ministry input is needed in the preparation of guidelines, as it is the relevant body with authority in this regard.  “The library sector was not included when sector-wise guidelines were issued by the Ministry of Health earlier. We have written to the Government requesting to collaborate with us to prepare an exit strategy, as health authority endorsement would prove helpful.” Dr. Gamage further mentioned that health guidelines for libraries have been prepared by local government bodies for the approximately 1,200 public libraries that are governed under them. However, these governing bodies have not received special health authority instructions in preparing guidelines for libraries. Though infrared thermal disinfection is a strategy used in the health sector for disinfection, this strategy cannot be adopted when it comes to books, said Dr. Gamage, elaborating on the specificities in the library sector. He said that the use of disinfectants poses a risk to rare and special collections and that libraries therefore promote hand-washing and drying instead of the use of hand sanitiser. Some libraries use a disinfecting machine to disinfect books before placing them on shelves, Dr. Gamage added. Most libraries in the country are now open for referencing, said Dr. Gamage. “Various libraries opened for references at different stages. They began to open after the first wave of Covid-19 but closed again following the second wave. They have started to open again since January.” As universities have moved in the direction of using online methods, online library facilities have been improved for them, Dr. Gamage added. The compulsory reference material for courses have been digitised and uploaded in a way that copyright breaches would not occur, and texts have been made available on a one-to-one basis, where if a specific student is in need of a text, the library would make a copy and make it available to that student. As the Covid-19 pandemic took an unexpected turn with the emergence of a second lockdown period, the five-phased Covid-19 exit strategy to gradually open libraries to the public that was prepared by the NILIS with other stakeholders in April 2020, requires revision, Dr. Gamage said. “A review of the existing strategy will have to take place within the coming three months. As schools are starting and exams will be conducted soon, we will have to move to take the next step in opening libraries.” There are around 10,000 libraries in Sri Lanka which have a mass membership. The National Library of Sri Lanka has issued advisories for the general public, libraries, and librarians to follow when using libraries.  


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