Route Closure and Delivery Cancelation Information

IHLS staff make every reasonable effort to ensure that all delivery routes operate every business day. Route cancellations occur only when necessary. For additional details on how route cancellation decisions are made, when you can expect your next delivery, when you should expect to receive these alerts, and how to sign up for them, please review the information below.

Reasons for Route Closure

Building Closure

In some cases, an IHLS facility may need to close, which can result in route cancellations. This may occur when building conditions are unsafe for staff, including emergencies, prolonged power outages, planned repairs, or other facility-related issues.

Inclement Weather

A route (or multiple routes) may be cancelled when weather conditions make it unsafe for staff to travel. These decisions are made in accordance with established weather closure guidelines. .

Weather Closure Guidelines

Purpose

The purpose of these guidelines is to ensure that IHLS operations staff have a set of standards to help determine if IHLS routes should be canceled and IHLS buildings closed. We are committed to a process that ensures decisions regarding the safety and well-being of our staff are made wisely and in a timely manner.

Guidelines

Several factors influence our decisions about closing routes and buildings in inclement weather, as well as the timing of our notifications to members.

We refer to the Getting Around Illinois website for road conditions and the National Weather Service website to monitor the weather, and follow these general guidelines in connection with winter weather:

• Temperature and Wind Chill
  If there is a forecasted sustained wind chill of -15° Fahrenheit or colder, or if the actual temperature is a sustained -10° Fahrenheit or colder, from the travel times of 5 a.m. – 3 p.m. for day routes or 3:30 p.m. – 2 a.m. for the evening ILDS route. IHLS Building(s) will be closed, and routes will be canceled.
• Precipitation
  When snow, ice, or other weather-related winter circumstances impact travel, we will monitor conditions from the travel times of 5 a.m. – 3 p.m. for day routes or 3:30 p.m. – 2 a.m. for the evening ILDS route. We'll weigh the following considerations:
  • The ability for the local and state municipalities to plow and make streets passable in the cities that drivers deliver to,
  • The ability of our member libraries to plow their parking lots and sidewalks for safe delivery,
  • The ability of our staff to safely operate vans, and
  • Discussions with staff to make the most appropriate decision with the facts known at that respective time. 

Communication

When routes are delayed or canceled due to weather guidelines, we will send a notification by 6:30 a.m. If we determine to close the night before—meaning the forecast undoubtedly warrants closure—we will attempt to notify you by 8 p.m.

We use email for all official weather-related communications via the member library's Library Directory & Learning Calendar (L2) profile. We'll send route-related messages to all staff marked as the system delivery contact in L2. If a library has not chosen a system delivery contact, then we'll send these messages to that library's librarian or director.

We also use a platform called RainedOut to send additional text alerts to our member library staff. All member libraries and staff who have signed up for the alert will receive texts. Additionally, we will update our website, social media accounts, and telephone lines (if all three hubs are closed) as soon as a decision has been made. For real-time, official information regarding office closures, like us on Facebook and visit our website.

As always, the safety and security of our members and staff remain a top priority for us.

See also the information about weather and deliveries in our Delivery Guidelines

Staffing Shortage

A route may be cancelled due to unexpected staffing shortages. This may occur when a staff member calls off, no backup staff is available, and the Operations Supervisor is unable to cover the route.

Supervisors make every effort to ensure backup coverage is available to avoid cancellations whenever possible.

Vehicle Issues

A route may be cancelled if a delivery vehicle is involved in an accident, experiences a mechanical failure, or is otherwise unable to operate safely, and there is no backup vehicle available to complete the route that day.

Unforeseen Circumstances

Occasionally, circumstances beyond our control may require a route to be cancelled. These situations are rare and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Timeline Questions

When Can I Expect My Next Delivery?

If a route is cancelled, your next delivery will occur on your next regularly scheduled delivery day. If you do not typically receive delivery every day, please contact the delivery help desk if you would like to request an additional pickup before your next delivery.

When Will I Receive My Cancellation Alerts?

In weather-related closures, we send text alerts by 6:30 a.m. whenever possible. In other unexpected situations, such as staffing shortages, alerts may not be sent as early. In all cases, we send notifications as soon as we have confirmed that there is no other option but to cancel the route.