Zoom Meetup Recording & Notes
Sept 22, 2021
NewtoBC Presentation with Guests
NewToBC has received funding from IRCC to expand the virtual Library Champions Project beyond InterLINK’s service area. Aiming to deliver this service online in regions of BC where they haven’t before. They will have funding to deliver this program through the end of 2025.
Between now and Spring 2025, they have funding to deliver 24 cycles of the project outside of Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley. (This is on top of the 15 that they already deliver.) Each cycle if 3 months long
Starting with libraries in 3 communities that have considerable newcomer immigrant populations and the existing settlement infrastructure to support it. Moving forward, they plan to identify communities with needs. Looking for communities with considerable and growing populations of newcomer immigrants. Goal to deliver cycles in regions, across multiple library systems.
Library Champions is delivered by NewtoBC on behalf of Public Library Interlink . Encourage host libraries to help as much they can, but they try to make the work burden a minimal one.
Website: https://newtobc.ca/
You can download information about BC libraries, translated into 26 different languages
They update every week with news from libraries and news/events about immigrants in BC
Often have commonly asked immigrant questions + answers, Could be helpful when providing service to new immigrants in our communities.
For more info: https://newtobc.ca/ or email ben: ben.hart@newtobc.ca
Contact us if you're interested to host these sessions and you have a lot of newcomers in your community.'
Mari Martin, Director of the Public Libraries Branch
(32:22)
October is Library Month and Mari will be sharing this proclamation document via email very soon.
Typical Week Survey. They’ll be sending out information and instructions about this shortly. This is an opportunity to collect data that you can’t collect annually. Recommending a 7 day period somewhere between middle October to middle November but you can choose any week you want to.
Question: How is it going helping your community access the BC Vaccine Card?
(37:00)
15:10:31 From Heather Buzzell - Penticton Public Library : easy peasy
15:10:38 From Stacey Boden - Rossland : It's been going really well here!
15:10:57 From Brian - Hazelton : very easy … everyone leaves happy!
15:10:57 From Kim/Castlegar : No problems here in Castlegar
15:10:59 From Wendy Wright, Smithers Library : Very well. The app is easy and people come in because they've heard that we can help them.
15:11:00 From Rebecca Burbank -Powell River Library : very manageable, patrons have been happy to print cards here.
15:11:01 From Jennifer Streckmann (Bowen Island) she/her : Going well on Bowen, we’re printing them for free
15:11:02 From Wendy Cinnamon - Valemount : going smoothly
15:11:15 From Matt Rankin - Fort St. John : Easy in FSJ
15:11:28 From Carmen@Pender Island LIbrary : Going well and much appreciated by patrons on Pender Island
15:11:31 From Monika Willner Burns Lake : Going well in Burns Lake
15:11:34 From Amber Norton - HHPL : mostly just printing and laminating, no requests for assistance to gain access
15:11:35 From Cari - Grand Forks : great - we have done about 75 free vaccine cards for folks
15:11:36 From GDPL- Heather Evans-Cullen : It's going well- we are trying to find private space (my office or our workshop room) to assist people as they are sharing such personal info. Easy process- going smoothly
15:11:37 From Alex Faucher - Elkford : We have wallet sized laminator sheets which people love
15:11:38 From Karli / Fort St. James Public Library : Going well at Fort St James, helped five people so far
15:11:44 From Anne/Invermere PL : It's going really well here in Invermere. People are so grateful. We are printing and laminating for free.
15:11:50 From Ursula Brigl - Cranbrook : Things have been going well in Cranbrook. Staff have been helping people on a daily basis. There is a high demand for printed copies.
15:12:00 From Salt Spring Island Library : Going well here: free colour printing!
15:12:04 From Saara Itkonen - Creston Valley Public Library : Lots of requests for assistance in Creston.
15:12:06 From GDPL- Heather Evans-Cullen : I've personally helped 42 people in the last week
15:12:13 From Toby-Lillooet : It is easy for people who have their information, but we have had a few people who didn't know their health number, which gets a bit more challenging. I have reminded staff to run Deep Freeze after each ID session.
15:12:17 From Deb Hutchison Koep (she/they) : We are helping about 15 people a day. Lots of people coming in to print for multiple family members, neighbours, etc. We are providing plastic sleeves instead of laminators.
15:12:44 From Taylor Caron : Helping 3-5 people each day the first week. Still lots coming in reg
15:13:48 From Sasha Tauzer / Midway : Mostly laminating of cards in midway good to have all the info for when it comes up
Question: Our current staff are all vaccinated but we need to post a couple of positions externally and will invite our volunteers back in Stage 4. We want to create a policy stating that volunteers and new hires must show proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Is this legal? If so, does anyone have a sample policy they could share?
(40:00)
15:15:11 From Deb Hutchison Koep (she/they) : Our policy provides for staff to voluntarily disclose their vaccination status to our mgr of admin services for "operational planning and OH&S purposes". We have been asking all incoming staff accordingly. No strict policy at this time, but I know the convo is happening among munis.
15:15:43 From Don Nettleton : not in BC
15:16:27 From Deb Hutchison Koep (she/they) : I've heard a rumour that we may hear from a bc muni - but that was awhile ago and I haven't heard anything further. It may depend on how the numbers go...
Carmen from Pender Island - they decided to ask volunteers to disclose their vaccination status.
15:17:44 From Ursula Brigl - Cranbrook : We welcomed volunteers back in January when the vaccine was not yet available. We require them to wear masks and observe all the other protocols as the rest of the staff. I have not asked for vaccination status. Mind you, we only have 2 volunteers that do not interact with the public.
Wendy from Smithers - this was my question. If I get more information, I’ll share it with the group.
Question: We’re wondering if we can require masks after the mandate for patrons without vaccinations; we don’t ask their status but some of the anti vaxxers are very eager to tell us that they’re not vaccinated.
15:18:33 From Wendy Cinnamon - Valemount : when we were not mandated we had signage asking to use masks if not fully vaccinated
15:18:41 From Cari - Grand Forks : I would think that realistically, the unvaccinated would also be the ones unlikely to wear masks voluntarily, and there’s no way you could know if they were vaccinated in the first place
15:20:00 From Toby-Lillooet : Yes, that is what is driving our staff crazy, it's the un-vac (people who are "out") who keep coming into the Library with their masks hanging off their chins... We're keeping the windows open.
Don from Okanagan - I don’t see how you could enforce this. When the province mandates it, we’re good but otherwise it’s hard to enforce this. We just have to recommend it.
Heather from Gibsons - that’s our understanding too that we couldn’t enforce. But in our communicable disease plan, staff have every right to refuse unsafe work. So they can maintain distance from those individuals, stay behind plexiglass and wear masks.
Andrea also shared her news that she will not be renewing her contract with ABCPLD after it expires in early November.
Next call is Wed Oct 13 from 3-4 pm. Please send your questions for this call at any point between now and Oct 13th!