UNISON understands that the Government intends that libraries should re-open for public browsing during Step 2 of the Government’s roadmap on 12 April. This is the earliest
possible date for libraries to re-open and must be in accordance with social distancing measures and take place following a thorough review of current risk assessments that are in place.
Current government guidance sets out the restrictions that libraries in England are required to follow:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-businesses-and-premises-toclose/closing-certain-businesses-and-venues-in-england
UNISON continues to lobby Libraries Connected and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to ensure staff safety is of paramount importance and we expect further guidance to be published.
If there are any moves by library services to expand the services they currently offer before 12 April please contact the branch and let us know about any concerns.
Members are reminded that the government is deliberately not opening up other parts of the economy apart from schools prior to 12 April, so as to monitor the impact of school reopening on the infection rate. UNISON believes that any other part of the economy opening before then could increase the R rate and pollute the data when the government comes to review school re-opening.
