Directors Zoom Recordings & Notes
August 26, 2020
Chat Box Comments
Summary
(1:03). Scott Leslie (BC libraries Coop) introduced the Connectivity Consultant who will be working with some of you, Stephen Forest. There’s an intake form on the Connectivity website if you are interested to work with the Consultant: https://digiprojects.libraries.coop/connectivity/connectivity-consultant/
(15:41). Mari Martin (Libraries Branch) shared a few updates.
(31:25). Recently released BCCDC guidance and how are libraries making sense of this relative to the REALM study that was also recently released?
The "consensus" (definitely not representing everyone) was to hold off on any major changes for now, wait for September to happen, wait for feedback from BCCDC once they look at the Realm Study, and then let's re-visit this conversation in October.
(1:06:48). Allowing longer periods for ILL items. Consensus yes, to be flexible with loan periods and allow longer periods of time.
(1:09:28). Face Masks, some libraries are getting pressure from their staff and boards to require masks upon entering the library. Consensus not to require masks until/when there is a provincial order to do so.
(1:16:50). Public exposure control document - Surinder (Surrey) is drafting one and will share with everyone. General interest to create something similar.
(1:20:06). Re: daily cleaning, what does “daily” mean? If you’re open a small amount of hours every day, does it mean a calendar day? Or is it a total of 8 hours spread over a few days? Andrea will ask Mari to clarify this with the BCCDC.
Contact Tracing: Email from Beverley Rintoul, Rossland:
“A few weeks ago, I received an email from the head of recreation at the City telling us we needed to start keeping information for contact tracing. When I queried this, she said that they were doing it in all city owned buildings and sent the provincial docs about contact tracing at events. I emailed our co-chairs, one of whom wrote the COVID docs for Teck Metals, Trail and has her finger on the pulse of things. Both of them said we’re not doing that until it is mandated by the province.
A couple of days later our board member, Mike, was meeting the CAO to finally rewrite our lease which is so old and vague it’s been giving everyone a headache. He talked to the CAO who used lots of words like “prudent”. It was when he used the word “liability” that Mike's antenna went up. It seems their insurance provider has told them that if cases can be traced back to a city owned building, they could be sued.
Mike came up with a plan where we kinda comply by putting a sign on the door asking people to register at the circ desk to enable contact tracing. We all know how well people read signs.
I’ve laid out all the reasons we shouldn’t do this - it goes against a core tenet of libraries, no one is in the building more than half an hour, the grocery store doesn’t have to and it’s way harder to keep out of people’s way there - to the board and have said until we see documents from City explaining what is being asked of them, I’m not even implementing the sign on the door measure. Mike is away and has said he’ll get docs from the CAO when he gets back in mid-September.”
August 12, 2020
Chat Box Comments
Summary
(00:42). Tami Setala from the BC Libraries Coop shared a few updates about the Licensing portion of the BC Digital Initiatives Project.
Re: Lynda - There will be some delay in launching Lynda due to patron privacy concerns. Currently Lynda only offers 2 methods of authentication SIP2 and patrons API (Only for Innovative/III ILS). Privacy concerns as it shares more data with the vendor than is necessary. While it is FIPPA compliant, they want to do better than that. The Coop is in a good position to negotiate with Lynda right now, they’re resistant to developing new options.
For Sitka libraries, the Coop lead developer is working on a patron API authentication to move all Sitka libraries away from their current form of authentication. Will likely be ready for testing in early October.
IF you are a Sirsi dynix library, you’ll be getting an email from Tami about authentication options for Lynda.
Innovative/III libraries can continue to use their current method (patronAPI)
Re: Tumble Books - more straightforward. One difference is that the license will not include K-12 libraries. Many BC school libraries already have subscriptions and they don’t want to lose that revenue. Tumble Books can be launched at anytime or can wait until Lynda is ready to go and launch everything all at once. Tami is open to input on which direction to take and will reach out to seek feedback.
Re: RB Digital. We allocated $100,000 towards this subscription which would have put some money back in library pockets. RB Digital has been subsumed by Overdrive, so it no longer makes sense to do this. They’re going to do more consultation to identify some alternatives.
We will be issuing pro-rated refunds for libraries that already subscribe to the above resources.
Related link: https://digiprojects.libraries.coop/licensing/
(8:37). Mari Martin from the Libraries Branch shared a few updates:
ILL - the Branch is getting ready for ILL and One Card to re-start. They’re aiming for a restoration date of next Tues Aug 18. If your library IS NOT ready to launch ILL next Tues, please let the Coop know immediately: office@bc.libraries.coop
(17:30). Restructuring of annual grants. A little background - their current strategic plan articulated that they would be looking at funding in the coming years. They’ve identified 2021 as the year to start looking at the way grants are internally structured, and the way they account for them in their reporting. Mari identified to her executive that this is a project the Libraries Branch would like to start this year. It’s well known within the Ministry know that the current funding structure is not sustainable. The next round of funding will be in June 2021 so this gives the Branch more time to think about how they might shift the way grants are described and the totals going out to libraries. Next steps - they are waiting for approval from the Ministry executive to move ahead on this project. If it is approved they will start the stakeholder consultation process on the project approach.
(22:43). Concern expressed about budgets being affected in 2021 if cuts to the annual grant. Mari will put options forward to government and include risks like the risk that libraries have already put forward their 2021 budgets.
Mari described the library budget as “discretionary.” Discretionary budgets can always shift, and this has been the same for 20 years. So her advice is to put forward the same budget estimate as last year.
Q: If there was still an account line in the Ministry budget for libraries, would it still be “discretionary?” A: Yes. Mari understands this term as an accounting term. “Discretionary” means it’s not in legislation. As an example, schools are in legislation.
(32:11). Comments/Questions coming out of Mari update.
Mari said last time the shift in grants would be related to “equity.” So wondering more about what this means. Elizabeth expressed that the ABCPLD executive will seek to understand what this means when in conversation with the Branch.
(37:19). Question: CUPE library staff cleaning washrooms mid-day?
Related link: guidance from Ministry of Health re: cleaning washrooms and shared computers.
Discussion around this guidance of cleaning twice a day. Libraries that are open limited hours like 3 hours, general feeling that it doesn’t make sense to clean twice during that 3 hour period.
(43:35). Question: Successes/challenges of in person group programming?
Creston, Sechelt, Salt Spring - doing some outdoor programming. Challenges re: weather and being outside.
Smithers looking at starting indoor group programming in September.
(49:49). Beverley received a request from the city that the library needs to be doing contact tracing.
Some libraries in Ontario are starting to request a library card when you enter the building. There isn’t currently a practice for this in BC and there would need to be some kind of clear order for this due to our privacy legislation.
(58:02). What are you thinking of purchasing/have already purchased with the technology grant funding from the Ministry of Education?
Elizabeth, Whistler - Laptop lending locker
Toby, Lillooet - Software platform for community engagement, perhaps “Othello”
Joe, Prince Rupert - Building a historical database to help staff answer reference questions
(1:04:36) Saara, Creston - putting together Tech Kits for kids
(1:02:30). How many days are you averaging being open, and are you open on Saturdays?
(1:06:05). Current thinking around masks? Feels like we’re getting close to being required to wear them…
Wendy, Smithers - Purchased re-usable masks and face shields for staff. (8 staff)
Hilary, Squamish - They’ll be strongly recommending the public wear a mask when in the library. They have disposable masks for the public if they ask for one. When they’re open, all staff will wear masks. All staff have a face shield as well but not required.
(1:12:42). Question about a staff person testing positive for COVID. Are any libraries using a “cohort model” for staff, ie dividing their staff into separate cohorts for their work shifts?
(1:19:45). Meeting room rentals. Are any libraries looking to do this anytime soon?