In the last several years, I've been slowly developing procedures related to the library serving as warming center and also cooling center. I'm happy to share what I've developed, but I'd love to see what you might have in place?Because there will hopefully be responses and/or discussion from multiple states, so that we have some idea for comparison, please include:
- When do you offer ice water or other cooling refreshment?
- When do you add programming and for who (kids only or multi-generational)?
- When do you extend hours?
- When do you open on regularly closed days?
- When do you okay overtime (if ever)?
- your official service population and/or number of staff, AND
- whether you are consider urban, suburban, rural, or super rural/tiny library.
Note: For those of you in very warm climates, please note that we are in Michigan, so our definition of "hot" and "very hot" is relative. Daily high temperatures in July are around 82°F, rarely falling below 73°F or exceeding 91°F. We also regularly have upwards of 70% humidity, even without rain that day, which makes it all so much worse.
We are NOT a warming/cooling designated center. We’ve never done anything particular for either type of threat, although we do tend to stay open until the weather gets pretty nasty. If there’s a disaster, such as another hurricane on the coast that drives many people inland, we would evaluate the idea of extra hours or staff time to help people in shelters, etc…
Our Central Library is 2 levels (a ground floor and a basement), making it an excellent shelter during tornado weather. We would remain open until a tornado warning ended if it began while we were open. Other than that, we don’t do anything.
_____________________
My smallish library (staff of 6, serving a low-income rural population of 20,000 over 600 sq. mi.) is always listed as a warming/cooling center. There are few places in the county where someone could go just to stay warm or cool--we're very rural. We aren't expected to provide anything extra or stay open late--I've asked and the emergency manager was surprised I would think we needed to.
Last winter we needed to close due to snowstorms during our very, very cold weather (wind chills of -45 degrees). I asked our emergency manager if we needed to post that one of her warming centers wasn't going to be available and was told "no" because we aren't an official station, just a place where people can go to get warm during regular hours. We didn't see any extra people during the weather, or else the snow kept them at home. There was an emergency shelter opened in town, but no one showed up.
Maybe it'll be different for the summer heat. We've had some patrons enjoying a sack lunch in our reading room with their shoes off.
efoley@adamscountylibrary.info
_____________________
Hi! New Mexico library here. We are designated as a "cooling" station primarily because we're open during the day, 6 days a week. However, we don't do anything for the public beyond our regular programs. We don't offer food or beverages (other than water fountains) or special programming, just chairs, books and computers. We've always sort of functioned this way, due to where we are (apparently on the surface of the sun), but it's only been this year that the City has designated us officially as a cooling center.
Direct: 575-528-4017, Main: 575-528-4000, mneill@las-cruces.org
_____________________
See my answers below (purple). We aren’t an “official” cooling or warming center but we do get mentioned on the news as being a place people can go in extreme temperatures.
When do you offer ice water or other cooling refreshment? No but some of our location offer vending or a café where people can purchase refreshments. All have water fountains and people are welcome to fill their own bottles.
When do you add programming and for who (kids only or multi-generational)? We do not add additional programming.
When do you extend hours? No. Most locations are open 7 days a week so this hasn’t been necessary.
When do you open on regularly closed days? We do not open locations that are normally closed on Sundays.
When do you okay overtime (if ever)? No
Because there will hopefully be responses and/or discussion from multiple states, so that we have some idea for comparison, please include:
Let me know if you have questions.
Susan Wray, Assistant Director & COO
Mid-Continent Public Library
15616 East US 24 Hwy
Independence, MO 64055
816.836.5200 | 816.521.7216
We don't do anything special, but are open 6 days a week (M-Th 9 AM until 8:30 PM, F 9AM to 5 PM, and S 11 AM to 4 PM) and keep our a/c at around 74. Cold isn't as much of an issue here in Nevada normally. We have lots of programs going on in the summer because of our SRP as it is and have water fountains, bathrooms, computers/wifi, board games, and books. Many people come in to get out of the heat. The building is slightly off the beaten path for the main part of the town, but we still get lots of visitors.
We also have a max temperature we will allow the library building to get before we shut down. Our AC has gone out twice in August in the 8 years I have been here.
Samantha Bigger Head of Information Services Boulder City Library 702-294-5991
_____________________
We are an official cooling center during the summer months and participate through Los Angeles County as a designated cooling center. We report statistics to the County when we have an official heat advisory. Because no additional funding is provided, we provide this service as a courtesy to our community and surrounding communities during regular operating hours. We are open 60 hours a week and have public drinking fountains.Please see below (purple):
_____________________