San Benito County Free Library Face Covering Requirement
San Benito County – August 20, 2021: On the morning of August 20, 2021, numerous unmasked protestors entered the San Benito County Free Library. Once contacted the group was asked to put on face coverings, and the group refused to put on face coverings or leave the premises.
As a result, the San Benito County Free Library is now closed. The library will tentatively re-open on Wednesday, August 25th, 2021. The library will continue to provide telephone and online services.
Library customers will be asked to search for their items online via the library catalog (available at https://catalog.sbcfl.org/) and place a hold on the materials they wish to request. Customers who do not have internet access can place items on hold by calling the library at (831) 636-4107. Library staff will then pull the requested Library materials and call customers back to let them know that their materials are ready for pick-up. When customers arrive at the library to pick up their materials, they will send a text message to the library at (831) 613-8010 to alert the Library staff that they have arrived and a Library staff member will place the requested items on the Requested Materials Table outside the front entrance of the Library.
Community members who do not already have a Library card can sign up for one at http://sbcfl.org/my-account/get-a-library-card/. A Library staff member will contact you within 24 hours of registration with your Library card (barcode) number so that you have immediate access to our many online resources. Your physical Library card will be mailed to you.
Although the Library may be physically closed, Library staff members are still here to serve you. We continue answering phone calls, emails, and chat inquiries; for Library account information, help with accessing online resources, research questions, or help with any other Library services, please call us at (831) 636-4107, email us at [email protected], or chat with us http:/sbcfl.org/ask-a-librarian/ Monday through Friday from 10 am to 6 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm.
Reminder - As is required per California State law, unvaccinated guests aged two-years-old and older must wear a mask or face shield covering the nose and mouth at all times while inside the San Benito County Free Library.
“Not everyone can be vaccinated, either because of age or personal health. As a result, the County requests that all library patrons wear a mask unless they are fully vaccinated. Although some individuals may be exempt from the State mask requirement, the County has established a more restrictive local rule to protect our residents' public health. If an unvaccinated individual is not able to wear a mask because of health conditions, religious beliefs, or otherwise personal choice, that individual may not enter the library. However, the Library continually works to provide library services to all individuals not able to enter the library, including but not limited to, curbside, telephone, and online services”. - San Benito County
The library has a behavior policy that indicates that any behavior that “endangers the safety or health of others” will not be tolerated.
Additionally, in its regulations and “Per California State law, all unvaccinated guests aged two-years-old and older must wear a mask or face shield covering the nose and mouth at all times while inside the San Benito County Free Library. Guests who are unwilling or unable to comply with this law will be asked to leave the library building and utilize our Curbside Service. The library staff reserves the right to ask a patron to leave the library for any of the reasons listed above”.
As recommended by the County’s adherence to a policy of requiring masks for unvaccinated individuals is an effort to help control the spread of COVID-19 and keep our employees and patrons as healthy as possible. We thank you for your cooperation.
