Indianapolis Public Library to close over coronavirus concerns

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The Indianapolis Public Library will close all of its locations and bookmobile services as of 5 p.m. Saturday, the organization has announced.

The closure also includes cancellation of all library programs inside and outside of library buildings.

“We are closing to protect the health of our staff, our city, and our patrons, for which we care deeply,” Library CEO Jackie Nytes said in a blog post on the library’s website. “Closing sooner will offer greater benefit to the social distancing effort to limit the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Marion County.”

Nytes said the library plans to resume normal operating hours on April 6, but it will “continue to assess the situation to determine if a longer closure is warranted.”

Due dates will be extended until the library reopens for all physical materials that patrons have currently checked out, and items placed on hold will also be available when the library reopens.

In the meantime, patrons can continue to download and stream the library’s collection of digital books, movies, shows, research tools and other items via indypl.org.

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3 thoughts on “Indianapolis Public Library to close over coronavirus concerns

  1. I am sorry to see this because the library is a resource that families are going to have an even greater need for during this same time frame. I can see cancelling events and programs, but this is a terrible time to restrict access to literature.

    1. I totally agree. And there wasn’t much notice either. I would have checked out more books if I would have known. And my closest library, the Lawrence Branch, has been closed since Jan 3 and won’t reopen until July for “remodeling”. If you use library materials frequently like I do, it’s been (and will be) a tough year.

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