August 11 Meeting follow up and more info

Recording of August 11, 2020 Zoom is available
The Video recording and chat have been posted to the MSL Coronavirus page in the right column under archived.  https://www.maine.gov/msl/libs/services/Coronavirus.htm
Link to recording for your convenience - https://www.maine.gov/msl/libs/services/zoom_8112020.mp4

Quarantine discussion:

  *   Guidance is to quarantine for a minimum of 72 hours. There is disparity among libraries of when quarantine begins for an ILL book.
  *   Does the sending library ensure that the book has been quarantined (72 hours) and is safe when removed from their shelves to pass along via ILL and is ready for a receiving library to provide to a patron?
  *   Does the receiving library quarantine all ILL materials for 72 hours prior to providing to a patron?
  *   MSL will initiate a small study of ILL practices and test the process.

New results from REALM - Test 3 are now available.
https://www.webjunction.org/news/webjunction/test3-results.html<https://www.webjunction.org/news/webjunction/test3-results.html?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=REALM+Project+Test+3+results+announced&utm_campaign=&utm_term=REALM%20Project%20Email%20Updates>
Results PDF: https://www.webjunction.org/content/dam/WebJunction/Documents/webJunction/realm/test3-report.pdf
Items tested.

  1.  Talking Book USB cassette
  2.  DVD - Polycarbonate
  3.  Storage bag (flexible plastic, such as library kits, other storage)
  4.  Storage container (rigid plastic, ILL Tote)
  5.  Plexiglass (partitions, displays)

Summary of results:
Virus undetectable after 5 days.
Results show that after five days of quarantine in an unstacked configuration, the SARS-CoV-2 virus was not detected on the storage bag (flexible plastic) or the DVD. The storage container (rigid plastic), plexiglass, and the USB cassette all showed detectable virus at five days. Day five was the final timepoint tested.
Compared to the results of Test 1 and 2, this data suggests that a slightly longer quarantine time for these types of plastic-based materials may be required to render SARS-CoV-2 undetectable through natural attenuation alone. Alternatively, based on the materials' nonporous nature, suitable liquid disinfection methods may promote a more rapid decontamination than the quarantine method.*
*The CDC and EPA provide general cleaning and disinfecting guidance<https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/reopen-guidance.html>. Some cleaning agents and disinfection solutions may damage surfaces and materials; see, for example, exhibit and collection cleaning guidance from the National Park Service<https://www.nps.gov/subjects/hfc/covid-19-exhibitry-cleaning-guidance.htm>

MSL is working on recommendations based on this just released information.

Stay well everyone.
Janet




Janet McKenney
Director, Library Development
Maine State Library
SHS 64
230 State Street
Augusta, ME 04333

207-287-5603
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@janetmckenney (Twitter)