The Tulsa Zoo is closed indefinitely and all Tulsa-City County Library locations are closed to the public for at least two weeks as a preventative measure to limit exposure to the coronavirus.
Zoo officials said they based their decision on a directive from Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum to cancel gatherings of 50 or more people. The zoo announced the closure Sunday. It will remain closed until given clearance from the city to resume normal operations.
The library closure took effect Friday at 6 p.m. The library has also temporarily discontinued all outreach services, including its bookmobile and reading roadshow services during this time.
"With an average of 7,000 thousand visitors who enter our libraries every day throughout Tulsa County, out of the abundance of caution, we want to limit the potential for exposure for both our public and staff. TCCL takes the health and wellbeing of our customers and staff seriously. Closing the library is an extraordinarily difficult decision that we have made only because of these extraordinary circumstances," officials said in a news release.
The library will continue to provide the many digital services, such as e-books and e-audiobooks, streaming movies, TV and music services, and free access to magazines and newspapers.
The Ask Us telephone service will still be actively taking calls and providing information, including support for accessing digital services.
Loan periods are being extended during the closure for patrons with materials. The library will also stop charging overdue fines and waive all existing overdue fines.
Starbucks at Central Library will remain open and will be operating as a quick service, to-go space. Customers will be encouraged to order normally and then take their items to go.
