Hanover Public Library is monitoring the outbreak of COVID-19.  There are ninety-one confirmed cases (cumulative total) in Grey or Bruce County and eighty-four of those have recovered as of May 26th. That is 0 new cases in the past 24 hours. (A few false positives have been removed from the cumulative total.)
Daily details are available here https://www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca/ – situation reports now including locations.

Our organization will follow recommendations and guidance from The Grey Bruce Public Health Unit, The Town of Hanover, The Province of Ontario, and the Government of Canada during this ongoing situation.

How we can help:

• Keep people informed by providing accurate, up to date and reliable information resources (below)
• Entertain and educate people who are staying at home with our online book, magazine, audio and video resources
• We can issue digital memberships to residents so they can use our online resources. Learn how to get a digital library membership: https://hanoverlibrary.ca/loan-policies/membership/
• We can provide references services. Library staff will call back if you leave a phone message and will respond to emails during regular hours. 
• Inform and encourage staff and the public to practice good hand washing and other ways to keep yourself safe

Library Response to COVID-19:

All in-person library services and programmes are cancelled. The library has been closed to the public as of March 13 due to The Town of Hanover’s decision to suspend all non-essential municipal services. 

See news release here: http://hanover.ca/news/town-of-hanover-suspends-recreational-services-and-closes-facilities-until-further-notice

Our online services are still available. You can explore our online books, movies, music and more through https://hanoverlibrary.ca/e-resources/ All you need is your library card number.

If your library card is expired we are extending memberships for you as a courtesy. Please contact us if you need assistance.

NEW! If you don’t have a membership, we can sign you up for a Digital Membership – online, by email or by phone. This gives access to our ebooks, streaming video, Great Courses and more. See how to get a Digital membership here https://hanoverlibrary.ca/loan-policies/membership/

We can still offer you references services. Library staff will call back if you leave a phone message and will respond to emails during regular hours. 

This page will be updated throughout this developing situation. 

Remember, do your part to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• Wash your hands often and well.
• Avoid touching your face, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces and equipment.
• Stay at home and away from others if you are feeling unwell.
• You must self-isolate for 14 days when you return from travelling.

Resources

The following are trusted resources to keep yourself informed and find supports for yourself, family and friends during COVID-19.

Local Businesses and Services

Businesses adapting to serve Hanover bit.ly/InThisTogetherHanover

Grey County businesses & services map
https://grey.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=e9e96e39335d48e69b08c9473498293f

Ontario – essential workplaces and business restrictions https://www.ontario.ca/page/list-essential-workplaces

Community Supports

Help for seniors and vulnerable people to get meals or essentials delivered https://www.ontariocommunitysupport.ca/

The Do connects people who need assistance with people wanting to volunteer http://www.thedo.ca/

Grey Bruce Public Health Unit

COVID-19 health line 1-800-263-3456 ext. 3000

Grey Bruce Public Health Unit Web page https://www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca/

Grey Bruce Public Health Unit COVID-19 Information Page https://www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca/COVID-19

Outbreaks in hospitals and seniors homes https://www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca/Your-Health/Infectious-Diseases/Outbreaks

Talking to Kids about COVID-19

News release March 26. Grey Bruce Medical Officer of Health orders international travellers to self-isolate and strongly recommends against non-essential travel to and from Grey and Bruce Counties https://www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca/About-Us/News-Releases/ArticleID/593/Grey-Bruce-Medical-Officer-of-Health-orders-international-travellers-to-self-isolate-and-strongly-recommends-against-non-essential-travel-to-and-from-Grey-and-Bruce-Counties

Province of Ontario

Ontario Telehealth Phone number 1-866-797-0000

Government of Ontario enacts a declaration of emergency to protect the public https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2020/3/ontario-enacts-declaration-of-emergency-to-protect-the-public.html

Status of cases in Ontario, affected areas, symptoms, testing and advice https://covid-19.ontario.ca/

News releases
https://news.ontario.ca/en/search/?keywords=covid-19

Coronavirus information in other languages
https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-stop-spread#section-5

Government of Canada

Current national outbreak updates, risk information and other resources
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html

World Health Organization

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Hand Hygiene tips

The best way to protect yourself and others, with video
https://www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca/Your-Health/Infectious-Diseases/Hand-Hygiene

Further research & reading

Know the risks of COVID and how to avoid them https://www.erinbromage.com/post/the-risks-know-them-avoid-them

Mental Health Resources

Wellness Together Canada: Mental Health and Substance Use Support https://ca.portal.gs/

Mental health and the COVID-19 pandemic http://www.camh.ca/covid19

How to get a digital library card

During COVID-19 closure period we can offer digital memberships:

These memberships are for people living in or visiting the Grey-Bruce area who would ordinarily qualify for a resident or non-resident membership.

Digital memberships are for digital resources only; no physical materials can be borrowed. We will register new members by phone, email or online self-registration.  No ID required, and as long as we are closed, no fees. Digital memberships are for 3 months. They may be extended if we are closed longer than that.

Go to our online Koha catalogue and look for the Login section. Below that, find “Don’t have an account? Register here.”   https://koha.hanoverlibrary.ca/cgi-bin/koha/opac-main.pl

If you register online, staff will contact you to confirm your new member number.

Our 2018 annual report is ready. Thank you for taking the time to read it.

Be the first to know about upcoming events, author visits, kids events and more!

Digital Magazines are now available with RBDigital

• library members can easily sign up for an RBDigital account by clicking https://www.hanoverlibrary.ca/e-resources/

RBDigital Magazines is the world’s largest digital library newsstand, offers full-colour, interactive digital magazines. Browse the library’s collection of popular titles with no holds, no checkout periods, and no limit to the number of magazines you can download.

• Current issues —  New issues appear automatically in the library’s collection once available and are ready for immediate checkout.
• Easy browsing — Browse your library’s collection of titles one at a time, by title, by language or by category.
• Read Instantly — Read within your library collection on a mobile device/tablet, or your computer (both PC and Mac.)
• Download to Apps — Download checked out magazines to apps to read offline for iPad®, iPhone®, Android™
• No limits — Check out as many issues as you want and keep them in your account indefinitely.

Visit the library to get signed up or go to www.hanoverlibrary.ca/e-resources/ to get started today!

Give your child a great head start in learning before they start kindergarten. Reading to your child helps them get a head start in life in so many ways.

The objectives of this program are:

• to promote reading to newborns, infants, and toddlers
• to encourage parent and child bonding through reading

How to get started: Register your child with the Hanover Public Library & track what is read. At every 100th book come in to the library to report on your progress and get a prize! Your child will earn a final prize at the 1000 book mark!

Find more information here:

http://1000booksbeforekindergarten.org/