Hayward Public Library closure announced as COVID-19 public health measure

HAYWARD, Calif., March 15, 2020—The Hayward Public Library will remain closed until at least April 13 as a regrettable but necessary step to protect library users, employees and volunteers against exposure to coronavirus (COVID-19), Library Services Director Jayanti Addleman announced today.

The decision to close the downtown and Weekes Branch libraries is the latest in a series of operational changes and reductions of non-emergency services by the City of Hayward to help curb the spread of COVID-19 through person-to-person contact and minimize local transmission of the virus.

Loan periods on borrowed library materials are being extended during the emergency closure, and won’t become due until full library operations are restored.  Until then, library users are encouraged to visit the library’s online resources webpage to take advantage of the system’s substantial digital resources and materials.

The temporary closure of the library and other City steps to contain and slow the spread of the virus followed a declaration on Wednesday of a local emergency by City Manager Kelly McAdoo.  The declaration, which comes before the City Council for ratification on Tuesday, allows for greater flexibility in deployment of City employees and acquisition of necessary supplies, equipment and other resources.

Other steps being taken include the consolidation of in-person business transactions at City Hall to glass-partitioned windows in the building’s rotunda as well as the shifting of other non-essential services and interactions to a by-appointment and/or telephone-only basis. Non-essential, non-governmental City meetings and events are being cancelled on a 30-day rolling basis.

Additionally, the City Manager is encouraging non-essential, non-public safety municipal employees, whose duties allow, to begin making arrangements with supervisors to temporarily work from home, also over the next 30 days.

Public meetings of the City Council and City commissions, boards and other appointed bodies are continuing to be held—with new public health protocols to be introduced to protect members and attendees, and new tools to be offered to encourage remote and online engagement and participation.

For current information on City service reductions, operational changes and other local developments related to COVID-19, go online here.  For more detailed department-level information, go to Your Government at www.hayward-ca.gov and navigate online to the departments and divisions of your choice.