Due to the National Weather Service’s forecast and wind chill watch—in effect from Tuesday evening through Thursday morning—all library buildings will close at 6 pm Tuesday and will remain closed all day Wednesday, January 30.
The library expects to open for regular hours on Thursday, January 31. For updates, check oppl.org, and the library’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
According to the National Weather Service Wind Chill Chart, it could take less than 5 minutes for frostbite to set in if the temperatures on Tuesday night reach the predicted 55 degrees below zero with the wind chill. Everyone is strongly recommended to avoid spending extended time outside if possible. For the safety of all library visitors and staff, we have decided it is best to close the buildings.
As part of our decision-making process, we have been in communication with Housing Forward, and library staff have been connecting personally with patrons at the library, providing a list of warming centers.
Housing Forward has opened daytime warming centers with area congregations during the anticipated dangerous and life-threatening temperatures expected this week. Questions? Contact Housing Forward directly at 708.338.1724 or contactus@housingforward.org.
For a wider warming center search (including Chicago) by ZIP code, visit keepwarm.il.gov.
