MEDIA RELEASE

Madisonville, KY March 16, 2020 – The Hopkins County-Madisonville Public Library (HCMPL),
including the Dawson Springs Branch Library, will be closed effective Tuesday, March 17, in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. All scheduled programs are
cancelled until further notice. Once the Hopkins County-Madisonville Public Library Board of Trustees determines it is safe and responsible to reopen, we will do so.

All meeting room usage for the Madisonville library is cancelled until reopening. The Dawson
Springs Branch Library is not accepting any new meeting room reservations at this time, but they
will honor all existing paid reservations.  They encourage the public to follow state and national guidelines in determining whether to keep these reservations for the Katherine Barnett Meeting Room during the Library’s closure.

Materials that are currently checked out, and are not due until after March 16th will not not be due until after the library reopens. We ask that patrons keep all library materials until that time. Overdue fines will not accrue for
those materials during the closure.

Staff will no longer work in the building during the closure to process returns, answer phone calls, and
perform other critical tasks. During the closure patrons can receive reference service and support
for accessing digital resources by emailing circulation@publiclibrary.org or contacting the library’s
Facebook page at www.facebook.com/hcmplibrary

The Library has many digital services available for free, such as reading apps, Overdrive and Libby,
as well as databases, reference resources and other online resources, including EbscoHost,
AutoMate, Universal Class, and Hoopla, https://publiclibrary.org/online-resources/. These apps
are free and can be accessed with your library card number. These are great online options
particularly for students. HCMPL will continue to provide free wifi, 24/7, available in the
immediate area surrounding the outside of both libraries.

For additional information, please contact Joel Meador, Library Director, at
director@publiclibrary.org. Updates regarding Library services will be shared on our website
https://publiclibrary.org/ and on the Library’s social media pages.

Updated: 3/31/20