YOUNGSTOWN - The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County has announced that it is canceling library programming and events beginning Friday, March 13, through Friday, April 3.

According to a statement from the library, officials will continue to monitor the situation and will make decisions on resuming programming at that time. Currently, all libraries in the PLYMC system remain open.

A March 19 event, scheduled for 11 a.m. at the main library, to preview the main library's renovation and construction plans, will still take place and will be open, but the event will also be live-streamed for those who would like to access the information remotely. Additionally, the information will be posted on the library's website, LibraryVisit.org.

To continue to provide programming to the community, the library is looking at ways to do this via social media and other electronic methods that people can access from any Internet-enabled device. 

The "Plant the Seed to Read" Children's Book Festival, which was scheduled to take place Saturday, April 4, at Mill Creek Park's Fellows Riverside Gardens, has also been canceled. The library is a partner in this annual event.

For the health and safety of others, library patrons are asked to avoid coming to the library if they are ill or have a fever to help stop the spread of germs and diseases.