HFM BOCES School Library System and Instructional Resource Center plan for safely handling circulated materials

REALM (REopening Archives, Libraries and Museums) is a research partnership between OCLC (a nonprofit library technology and research organization), the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and Battelle (not-for-profit global scientific research and development organization) to create and distribute science-based information and recommended practices designed to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 through circulated materials. Based on their testing the following are in place:

• IRC items will go through a 96-hour period of quarantine before being loaned to another school.
• Books are not considered a high transmission route (source); however, the IRC will be following the recommendation to leave books untouched once returned for 96 hours before returning to the shelf or being loaned out again.
• Plastic items and kits will be wiped down with 70% alcohol solution for disinfecting.
• Electronic devices will be wiped down with a solution that is at least 70% alcohol and approved for electronic devices.