Red Feather Mountain Library District
Emergency Closing Policy

Reviewed and approved February 22, 2022, by the Red Feather Mountain Library District
Board of Trustees

1-The Red Feather Lakes Community Library is a public service entity; therefore, patrons expect
the library to be open even in severe weather or when building functions are impaired.
2- The Library may close (or postpone opening) when weather conditions make it highly
improbable or dangerous for travel. The primary factor of any decision made will be the safety
of the staff, volunteers, and library patrons; however, maximum effort will be made to maintain
regular library operating hours.
3-The decision to close or postpone opening the Library is at the discretion of the Library
Director (or the staff person designated to be in charge when the Director is not available). The
Library Board President will be contacted and advised of the situation (or other Board Member
if the Library Board President is unavailable or otherwise cannot be reached). In deteriorating
weather conditions or other issues concerning the potential safe use of the facility or potentially
hazardous travel conditions, volunteers and/or non-essential staff may be sent home if deemed
prudent by the Library Director.
4-Every effort will be made to have public announcements of the unscheduled closure on the
Library’s website, telephone answering message, or by any other sources that may be available
to the Library Director. If possible, a note will be posted on the library door describing the
situation and stating when the Library is expected to reopen.
5-In the event of an emergency or other unscheduled closure on days that children’s programs
are normally scheduled and normally coordinated with the schools, every effort will be made to
inform the school, bus transportation and parents regarding library closure in reducing
unnecessary and potentially hazardous travel. This may be done by phone, email or social media — e.g., NextDoor.
6-This is intended as ‘best effort’ with available library resources.
7-In case of any emergency (e.g. power outage), closing is also at the discretion of the Library
Director with the same notification process as described above. Severe summer storms may
entail closure or reduced use of the facility by the public and staff until conditions have
sufficiently moderated.
Red Feather Mountain Library District Emergency Closing Policy February 22, 2022 Page 2
8-In the event of closure, scheduled employees will be compensated as if there were no loss of
service.
9-Procedures for this policy are available as Emergency Closing Procedures and NWS Lightning
Safety, 2012.

Reviewed and approved February 22, 2022, by the Red Feather Mountain Library District
Board of Trustees
Reviewed and revised March 28, 2018, by the Red Feather Mountain Library District Board of
Trustees.
Reviewed and approved (without modification) May 27, 2015.
Revised February 23, 2011.
Originally approved by the Red Feather Mountain Library District Board of Trustees on March
28, 2007