How to Sanitize Collections in a Pandemic

The magazine American Libraries recently published an article on How to Sanitize Collections in a Pandemic:

Keeping libraries safe is important for both workers and guests. But during the current COVID-19 pandemic, questions about how to do that—particularly when it comes to materials and surfaces—have complicated answers (...)

"Fletcher Durant, director of conservation and preservation at the University of Florida’s George A. Smathers Libraries in Gainesville, suggests that all libraries follow the March 17 ALA [American Library Association] recommendation to close to the public. 'Isolation for a minimum of 24 hours, and preferably 14 days, is the best disinfectant,' he says. 'It is simply the best and safest thing that we as librarians can do at this time.' Durant says it’s about protecting libraries as well as the public. 'Libraries could provide a risk vector for the spread of the disease, which, beyond the direct health impacts, could reduce the public trust in libraries,' he says."

At my place of work, we quarantine any returned materials for 7 days.