A big thank you to all the staff who hustled this week to help patrons check out 4,454 items since Monday (so far)!
While we’re closed and staff are continuing to report to work, our phone lines will be open 9-5 Monday-Saturday and 1-5 Sundays; our phone system’s hours are being modified accordingly.
As I mentioned in a previous post today, department heads will be meeting tomorrow to discuss ideas for how to offer some new services and some of our in-library services in new ways while we’re closed. We’ll be discussing projects staff can work on. Please add your ideas here. We’ll also be discussing how all of this could change at any time. Plans for online programs, curbside pick-up, digital cards, etc. could evaporate on short notice if we get orders that all staff should cease work. Because of this, be careful to temper expectations when talking to patrons about the services we’ll provide while we’re closed (“We’ll continue this service while we can” etc.).
If you have flu-like symptoms or know you’ve been exposed to someone with the virus don’t come to work and don’t worry about missed wages (more to come on that soon).
Lastly, there is a possibility that the library should cease all operations at some point and that staff are told not to report to work. Should this happen, the city is prepared with a plan to compensate employees for missed hours.
Thanks again for everyone’s hard work so far this week. Getting through this is going to take the same kind of grit and flexibility that got us to Wednesday. (Yep, we’re only three days in.)