Concerned patrons of the New Orleans Public Library are calling for the Library to close all branches until the COVID-19 virus threat in New Orleans has sufficiently passed. In making this call we are joining with the patrons of libraries in Seattle, New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Portland OR, Columbus, Cincinnati, and many others who have shut down their libraries in order to protect their patrons, their staff, and their communities at large. 

The most effective form of prevention for spread of the coronavirus is social distancing. Libraries are not currently equipped to ensure this distance is maintained between patrons, staff, and volunteers. They are unequipped to properly sanitize the surfaces patrons interact with on a regular basis. In the case of patron or staff member testing positive for COVID-19, they have no way of contacting any patrons who may have come into contact with them while visiting the library. For these reasons, we demand that in order to prevent the further spread of COVID-19, the New Orleans Public Library immediately close all Library branches. 

This petition is in solidarity with an internal petition by staff workers at the New Orleans Public Libraries. To see their letter and list of demands, please visit http://tiny.cc/ts69kz