Public Libraries: COVID-Related Pauses and Service Adjustments
As we learn of pauses, adjustments to services due to COVID-19 we will share them here. This is not a comprehensive list.
January 19, 2022
- California: Santa Clara Public Library Hours and Services Temporarily Impacted by COVID-19 Increase Starting Jan. 24 (via CSC)
- Massachusetts: Amherst Branch Libraries Cut Capacity in Half (via Daily Hampshire Gazette)
- Michigan: Grand Rapids PublicLibrary Reduces Hours Due to Staffing Shortage Amid COVID-19 Spike (via MLive)
January 18, 2022
January 17, 2022
January 14, 2022
January 13, 2022
- Virginia: Fairfax Library System to Trim Hours Due to COVID Cases, Staffing Impact (via InsideNOVA)
- Virginia: Cherrydale, Glencarlyn Branches of Arlington Public Library Currently Closed Due to Staffing Shortages; Other Services Under Review (via APL)
January 12, 2022
- Michigan: Peter White Public Library Moves to Temporary Operating Hours (via WLUC)
- Georgia: Washington Memorial Library Temporarily Shifting to Curbside Pickup (via WMGT)
- Virginia: Staunton Public Library Reverts to Curbside-Only Services (via WHSV)
- Texas: Austin Public Library Limits Capacity to 25%, Wraparound Services Impacted (via CBS Austin)
January 11, 2022
January 10, 2022
January 8, 2022
January 7, 2022
- Michigan: Plymouth District Library Caters to Book Lovers via Curbside Starting Jan. 10 (via WXYZ)
- Michigan: Saginaw Libraries Cancel In-Person Children’s Events for January, February Amid Omicron Surge (via MLive)
January 6, 2022
- California: Mission Viejo Library Requiring Appointments As COVID Cases Surge (via CBSLA)
- Illinois: Kankakee Public Library Returns to Curbside Pick-Up Only (via Daily-Journal.com)
- Indiana: Kokomo-Howard County Public Library Cancels In-Person Events (via Kokomo Tribune)
- Ohio Jefferson County’s public library closes building but offers curbside service for patrons (via WTRF)
January 5, 2022
- California: Los Angeles Public Library Reducing Hours (via LAPL)
- Illinois (Chicago): Austin Public Library Branch Closes Due to High COVID Rate Among Staff (via Sun-Times)
- Ohio: Columbus Metropolitan Library Extends Sunday Closures Due to Staffing Shortage (via Columbus Dispatch)
- Ohio: Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County Going to Curbside Service (via WTOV)
- Ontario: London Public Library Moves to Pickup Only During COVID-19 Restrictions (via CBC)
January 4, 2022
- Michigan: All Kalamazoo Public Library Locations Closed Tuesday In Preparation Of Return To Curbside-Only Service (via MLive)
- Michigan: East Lansing Public Library to Limit Capacity Due to Rise in COVID-19 Cases (via WLNS)
- Ohio: Cincinnati Public Libraries Reducing Hours Because of Staffing Shortages (via WCPO)
- Ontario: Toronto Public Library to Temporarily Close 44 Branches as of Monday, January 10 due to Staffing Shortages (via TPL)
- South Carolina: Charleston County Library to Pause Indoor Programs (via WCSC)
January 3, 2022
- New Jersey: Haddon Township Library Services Go Curbside Amid COVID Spike (via Patch)
- New York: 3 LI Public Libraries Closed Temporarily Due to COVID-Related Staff Shortages (via Newsday)
- Ontario: Innisfil ideaLAB & Library Limits Services as COVID-19 Cases Soar in Simcoe County (via CTV)
December 29, 2021
December 28, 2021
- Colorado: Pitkin County Library Closed ‘Until Further Notice’ (via Aspen Times)
- Maryland: Baltimore County Library Events Canceled (via Avenue News)
December 27, 2021
- Maryland: Pratt Library [Baltimore] to Reduce Hours in January to Curb COVID Spread (via Pratt)
- Ohio: Cuyahoga County Public Library Resumes Curbside, Drive-Thru Services Because of Covid-19 (via WOIO)
December 21, 2021
Filed under: Journal Articles, Libraries, News, Patrons and Users, Public Libraries

About Gary Price
Gary Price (gprice@gmail.com) is a librarian, writer, consultant, and frequent conference speaker based in the Washington D.C. metro area. He earned his MLIS degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. Price has won several awards including the SLA Innovations in Technology Award and Alumnus of the Year from the Wayne St. University Library and Information Science Program. From 2006-2009 he was Director of Online Information Services at Ask.com.