Beginning tomorrow (August 3) if you're going into the Airdrie Public Library you will need to wear a mask.  

Even though Airdrie City Council voted last Tuesday to prepare a mandatory mask bylaw for the city that may be implemented down the road, low mask usage in the sometimes crowded confines of the library since re-opening on July 6th prompted the library board to hold a special meeting on Friday to discuss the possible implementation of mandatory face coverings in the facility.  The eight members of the library board who were able to attend the meeting agreed unanimously to the following motion, effective Monday, August 3rd:

"The Airdrie Public Library implement a policy for staff and patrons such that all individuals over the age of five (5) be required to wear a face-covering (medical or non-medical-grade) while in the Library building until further notice. Medical exemptions may be granted for staff or patrons by the Director or her delegated authority."

Up until this time the library has recommended the use of masks in its facility in compliance with Alberta's Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw's recommendation that masks be used when physical distancing can't be adhered to.  Library Director Pamela Medland says, unfortunately, many people haven't been following the library's, or Dr. Hinshaw's advice.

"We've found in the library a fairly low compliance with face-coverings, we've just recommended them, we haven't mandated them to date.  I don't think its even 50 percent of people that are coming in with a mask."

Medland says most members of the public are having no problem complying with hand sanitizing and physical distancing requirements that the library has in place.  However, for the second of those requirements, the layout and size of the facility makes that virtually impossible.

"To be honest," explains Medland, "it's next to impossible to be able to use the library and maintain proper social-distancing.  One person could be standing on one side of the bookshelf and another person standing on the other side and they don't have the prerequisite distance between them."

Medland realizes there is much debate over the use of masks but hopes that anyone coming to the library will comply with the mandate.  "We certainly hope that people won't come in and take it out on the poor individual staff members."  She says, up until now they have heard nothing but "thank yous" from people admiring the safety protocols they have in place.

Public libraries have recently been designated mask-distribution locations by the Province of Alberta and Medland says they've received a large shipment of procedural masks which she says will be available for anyone without a mask as soon as they enter the facility. 

"In most cases, people are just forgetting their masks, or they might have left them in the car.  We think that it will help having the masks here.  It will certainly be more convenient for someone who has simply forgotten to bring one with them."  

Medland hopes that library patrons will understand that the goal is to keep everyone safe and healthy.  "It might not be their first choice, to wear a mask, but we hope that they will comply with that requirement when they come to the library."

Mandatory mask use is for everyone over the age of five.  Exceptions will be made for people who are not medically able to wear a mask.  

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