Index
- Baraboo Library re-opening: One library’s experience
- Compassionate Accountability: Resources to help library staff
- Sanitizing staff and patron electronic devices
- Unemployment insurance updates and short how-to videos for patrons
- Milwaukee Public Library awarded ALA’s first Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant
- Census 2020 activities resume
- ALA partners with Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission to donate 6,000 book sets to libraries
- AASL partners with StoryCorps to launch StoryCorps Connect and bring individuals together
- ALA Editions releases free PDF of coloring pages, writing prompts, and uplifting quotes
- Continuing Education Calendar
Baraboo Library re-opening: One library’s experience
A couple people have asked how re-opening has gone at Baraboo Public Library, so thought I would share our experience. Obviously I am not recommending our methods to everyone, but this is what is working here, so far. I was happy to hear from a City meeting this morning that we currently have ZERO known active cases of COVID19 in Baraboo. However, there is going to be a free drive thru testing event Friday, so that will likely turn up some cases.
Today is day two of Baraboo being open.
It has gone pretty well! We had a little rush of people at opening time on day one, but otherwise it has been very quiet and calm. We are limiting visitors to 10 at a time, and have a "greeter" outside tracking this. Patrons have only had to wait to enter a few times so far. We have a greeter from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. We are open until 8 p.m., but it usually really slow after 6 p.m., and we don't have enough staff to cover any more hours of greeter. Greeter is sitting outside under a tent by the front door, and is also facilitating curbside pickup while they are outside. The rear doors to the library are locked.
We ordered face shields from Demco, but staff have the option to wear a face shield or cloth face covering. I'm not sure if they are listed as single use or not, but we are reusing them. We got enough for everyone to have one, and they are marking them and keeping them to reuse, but not sharing them. We also have plexiglass barriers around our desks.
All areas are open to the public, but we removed most of our tables and chairs to encourage social distancing as well as discouraging people from staying too long. We also packed up and put away all of our toys, games, puzzles, videogames, etc. in the children’s and teen areas.
We have only three public computers available upstairs and one downstairs because that was as many as we could have and have the people using them be socially distanced. We are limiting computer use to one hour, and there have been times when patrons have had to wait for a computer.
We have hand sanitizer everywhere, and we are sanitizing high-touch surfaces every two hours if possible.
I think that is pretty much it…but if you have any other questions I'm happy to try to answer!
--Jessica Bergin, Library Director, on May 27, 2020
Compassionate Accountability: Resources to help library staff
As libraries are working on their re-opening plans, one of the questions that has come up is how staff can best de-escalate challenging situations that may arise. Dealing with challenging behavior or situations isn't new in libraries. Our new reality, though, is bringing new worries into the mix. While I don't have all the answers for you, I wanted to share some resources for you and your staff.
First, SCLS is hosting a webinar on June 11 from 10 - 11:30 a.m. called Compassionate Accountability: Dealing with Problem Behaviors in the Library. In this webinar, Emily Rogers and Karla Giraldez from Brown County Library, will explore ways that library staff can explain changes to library services and enforce existing and new guidelines. Register here! if you're not able to attend live, the webinar will be recorded.
Next, all Wisconsin library staff - including SCLS - have access to Ryan Dowd's Librarian's Guide to Homelessness online training. The Core Training is especially helpful in working with all patrons, not only those who are experiencing homelessness. In addition to the Core Training, there are 8 additional one hour webinars on a variety of topics. If you have any trouble accessing the training, please contact Jean.
There are several recorded webinars that are about security, safety, and service in the library:
- Dealing with Challenging Patrons: Safety and Security in our Libraries (Wild Wisconsin 2017) -- slides, recording
- Teaching Patrons to be Successful in the Library (Wild Wisconsin 2017) - slides, recording
- Hospitality in the Library (Wild Wisconsin 2016) -- recording
- Defusing Tense Situations and Setting Effective Limits (WLA 2019 recorded presentation) -- recording
And, finally, Reb Kilde with the IFLS Library System recently wrote a post called The Big Mask Ask: Can you really make anybody wear a mask? In addition to great information about using empathy to encourage compliance with library guidelines, she's created a couple of great posters to use in the library and includes instructions on how to make them yourself. Thanks Reb!
If you have other resources to share, please contact me.
--for CE--Know More blog, by Jean Anderson
Sanitizing staff and patron electronic devices
SCLS recommends these general guidelines regarding sanitizing electronic devices in between staff and patron use:
- Work with local public health officials and follow their guidelines, especially to establish frequency of cleaning, etc.
- Follow manufacturer’s instruction for cleaning and disinfecting (see section below).
SCLS Tips (incorporates guidelines from CDC)
- Wash or sanitize hands before sanitizing equipment.
- Unplug the devices (mice, keyboard, touch screen monitors, etc.) from the PC. It is not necessary to unplug the power or turn off the PC.
- If no guidance from manufacturer, use alcohol-based wipes or sprays containing at least 70% isopropyl alcohol.
- Do not spray directly onto the device. Always spray onto a cloth. Do not use paper towels. Microfiber or white/light cotton cloths (including old dish towels or t-shirts) are preferred.
- Make sure wipes are damp, but not dripping. Dry surface thoroughly.
- Do not get moisture into any openings, gaps, ports, keyboards, etc.
- There is a concern that repeated and frequent cleaning of any electronic devices over a long period of time may cause problems. We do not know what the effect will be. These tips are based on manufacturer’s guidelines.
- Wash or sanitize hands after sanitizing equipment.
If all else fails, encourage patrons and staff to wash hands before and after use.
Ways to Reduce “Touch” on Touch Screens
- Provide a stylus per patron that can be cleaned in between use (SCLS is researching these)
- Reconfigure settings for self-check settings to reduce touch (for example, disable PIN)
Manufacturer’s Instructions
The following are known manufacturer’s instructions:
- Apple How to Clean your Apple products
- Dell Guidance for Keeping Your Dell Technologies Equipment Clean
- Exception: Libraries may choose to unplug the mouse or keyboard rather than unplug the PC.
- Bibliotheca Cleaning methods for Bibliotheca solutions
- Envisionware Cleaning Envisionware Self Checks
Encourage Washing Hands
Based on access to cleaning supplies, it may not be feasible to perform frequent, if any, regular cleanings. Encouraging staff and patrons to wash hands may be your only option. You may post signs regarding proper hand hygiene before and after using the computers to minimize disease transmission.
--for TechBits by Vicki Teal Lovely
Unemployment insurance updates and short how-to videos for patrons
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted many individuals and families across Wisconsin, and unemployment claims have skyrocketed.
As a means of providing assistance, Department of Workforce Development (DWD) information and videos for patrons are available. Additionally, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling on May 13 resulted in changes in Unemployment Insurance eligibility, and here is the link to the FAQ, public information page: https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/covid19/public/ui.htm.
The Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin has videos available for recently laid-off workers about creating accounts and filing for Unemployment Insurance on the Job Center of Wisconsin website. The Unemployment Benefits information (located in the middle of the page) is applicable throughout the state: https://wdbscw.org/workers/laid-off-workers/. The video specific to the creation of accounts is located in the middle of the page titled "Job Center of Wisconsin: Job Seeker Registration":https://youtu.be/VikaHS5akCY.
If you have questions or need more information, please contact Mark Jochem at 608-630-0270.
Milwaukee Public Library awarded ALA’s first Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant
The American Library Association (ALA) has awarded its first Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant (LTCEG) to the Milwaukee Public Library for Deaf Storyslam, a free community event in which deaf individuals of varying backgrounds share personal stories and experiences with the broader community.
The $2,000 grant, part of ALA’s Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC) community engagement initiative, is open to school, public, academic, tribal or special libraries to help them expand upon community engagement efforts. Community engagement is the process of working collaboratively with community members -- be they library users, residents, faculty, students or local organizations -- to address issues for the betterment of the community.
In May 2019, ALA announced that it had surpassed its original $50,000 fundraising goal to support the creation of the Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant, raising a total of $70,000 from 130 individuals. The initiative was made possible by a matching grant from former ALA president and longtime generous supporter Nancy Kranich.
“This has been an exciting effort and one I’m proud to have funded -- a great opening for our first round of grants,” said Nancy Kranich, who teaches a new generation of civically focused librarians in the Masters of Information program at Rutgers University. “Deaf Storyslam is a worthy program, and Milwaukee Public Library’s proposal is beautifully constructed.”
The Milwaukee Public Library will use the Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant to launch the second year of Wisconsin Deaf Storyslam. The first Wisconsin Deaf Storyslam had an attendance of over 100 and received a nomination for a local Innovation Trailblazer MANDI (Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation) Award.
For the second wave of Deaf Storyslam, the library seeks to increase the number of Deaf community members in the planning process, train additional Deaf community members as storytelling coaches, increase attendance and continue to offer the trilingual (American Sign Language, English, Spanish) format.
“The selection committee was heartened by the breadth of applications from all corners of the country. They reflect library workers’ wide and deep interest in understanding community needs and aspirations, and commitment to working alongside community members to achieve the changes they want to see,” said Jean Canosa Albano, the LTCEG committee chair and assistant director for public services at Springfield (Mass.) City Library. The LTCEG committee consists of a chair and four ALA members appointed by the Public and Cultural Programs Advisory Committee (PCPAC).
The U.S. Census Bureau, in coordination with federal, state and local health officials, this week began dropping off 2020 Census questionnaire packets at front doors of households in Wisconsin. This is done in areas where the majority of households do not receive mail at their physical address. The Census Bureau began hand-delivering census materials on March 15, but suspended all fieldwork for this operation on March 18 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Temporary field staff have been trained to observe all social distancing protocols and will wear official government-provided personal protective equipment for their safety and the safety of the public. This operation is contactless and follows the most current federal health and safety guidelines.
The health and safety of Census Bureau staff and the public is always a top priority.
The Census Bureau will deliver 2020 Census invitations and paper questionnaires at the front doors of roughly 5.1 million stateside households and 93,400 households in Wisconsin. This operation is crucial to ensure a complete and accurate count of all communities, which helps guide hundreds of billions of dollars in public and private sector spending per year.
People are strongly encouraged to respond promptly to the 2020 Census using the ID number included in the questionnaire packet. Responding with a census ID or the paper questionnaire helps ensure the best count of their community. People can respond online, by phone or by using the paper form in the packet.
For more information, please visit the 2020 Census COVID-19 operational adjustments page and/or the DPI Division of Libraries and Technology Census page.
--for Wisconsin Libraries for Everyone by Cindy Fesemyer
ALA partners with Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission to donate 6,000 book sets to libraries
The American Library Association (ALA) is pleased to partner with the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission (WSCC) to distribute 6,000 women’s suffrage youth book sets to libraries across the country. Public and school libraries are encouraged to apply for the book sets by June 15, 2020.
This generous donation celebrates the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment and highlights the importance of libraries as hubs of civic education and engagement.
Created by Congress to mark the centennial of women's suffrage, WSCC selected the books and is providing funding for the project. Each set consists of three books corresponding to different reading levels: "Around America to Win the Vote" by Mara Rockliff for elementary readers; "The Woman's Hour: Our Fight for the Right to Vote" by Elaine Weiss for middle schoolers; and the "National Park Service Women's Suffrage Reader," an anthology of essays for high school readers.
A working group representing members and staff from ALA's offices and three youth divisions -- American Association of School Librarians , Association for Library Service to Children, and Young Adult Library Services Association -- will field the requests and have created a recommended list of diverse books, as well as program and display ideas to accompany the book donations. In addition, ALA and the WSCC will co-host a series of virtual women’s suffrage herstory times.
ALA and the WSCC look forward to getting books to libraries and into the hands of young readers, and to commemorating the diverse suffragists on whose shoulders we stand today.
For more information about the project or with questions about the application, contact Jazzy Celindro.
About the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission
The Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission was created by Congress to coordinate the nationwide commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and women’s constitutional right to vote in 2020. Led by a bipartisan group of women leaders, the WSCC has a nonpartisan mission to make sure Americans across the country have the chance to participate in centennial commemorations and to learn about this important but often overlooked history. Through digital events, educational programs, media campaigns, and collaborative partnerships, the WSCC is working to ensure that the centennial is honored nationwide. Learn more about the centennial and the WSCC at www.womensvote100.org.
AASL partners with StoryCorps to launch StoryCorps Connect and bring individuals together
The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) is partnering with StoryCorps to launch StoryCorps Connect. The new free platform allows Americans to conduct and record StoryCorps interviews remotely. AASL encourages school librarians to utilize the technology to support learners in connecting with others amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and, in the process, to contribute to the creation of a unique first-person historical record of this unprecedented crisis.
“We at AASL are thrilled to partner with StoryCorps,” said AASL President Mary Keeling. “This platform empowers our learners to reach out to family members to record first-person narratives about the pandemic. As they inquire into the life experiences of their loved ones, they will be curating primary source material that will be invaluable for researchers in the future. School librarians can also use this platform to interview educators and fellow librarians about how we adjusted our practices to transform learning while schools have been shut down.”
StoryCorps Connect is a public service platform to bring people together amidst a global public health crisis. StoryCorps Connect uses advanced online videoconferencing technology and wraparound instructional tools to give participants a free, high-quality platform to record StoryCorps conversations remotely. The organization began developing StoryCorps Connect in March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, motivated by the belief that at this time of physical separation, StoryCorps can provide a critical public service to increase connection to others and reduce the impact of isolation.
Dave Isay, Founder and President of StoryCorps, said, “Social distancing is the exact opposite of the StoryCorps ethos, which strives to bring people together and acknowledge and celebrate our common humanity. At this time of physical separation, the StoryCorps interview methodology is a more essential tool than ever before for bringing us together.”
StoryCorps is the national non-profit organization dedicated to recording, preserving, and sharing the stories of people of all backgrounds and beliefs. Conversations recorded are preserved for future generations at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress and become instantly accessible and shareable through the StoryCorps Archive. Founded in 2003, StoryCorps has brought more than 600,000 Americans together -- two at a time -- to record intimate, face-to-face conversations about their lives, create human connection, pass wisdom from one generation to the next, and leave a legacy for the future. It is the largest single collection of voices ever gathered.
StoryCorps is working with national partners, including AASL, and with public media organizations, school districts, teachers, and others across the country to bring StoryCorps Connect to the American people, and to call on the country to honor the stories of our elders at this momentous point in our history. While StoryCorps is a U.S.-based effort, StoryCorps Connect interviews can be conducted by anyone, anywhere in the world.
To assist school library professionals in the usage of the site, AASL and StoryCorps collaborated to produce the webinar “How to Use StoryCorps Connect as a School Librarian.” During the webinar, Isay and members of the StoryCorps team share how to effectively record a StoryCorps Connect interview and how to use StoryCorps Connect to engage the school community. The archive is freely available on the AASL Learning Library.
About AASL
The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning.
About StoryCorps
Founded in 2003 by Dave Isay, StoryCorps has given people of all backgrounds and beliefs, in thousands of towns and cities in all 50 states, the chance to record interviews about their lives. The organization preserves the recordings in its archive at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, the largest single collection of human voices ever gathered, and shares select stories with the public through StoryCorps’ podcast, NPR broadcasts, animated shorts, digital platforms, and best-selling books. These powerful human stories reflect the vast range of American experiences, wisdom and values; engender empathy and connection; and remind us how much more we have in common than what divides us.
ALA Editions releases free PDF of coloring pages, writing prompts, and uplifting quotes
Library workers everywhere continue to serve their communities in countless innovative ways. Take some time out for yourself with “Stay Well, Stay Inspired,” a free PDF of relaxing activities published by ALA Editions. Featuring excerpts from “Check This Out! A Coloring Book for Library Lovers,” “This Journal is Overdue,” “The Librarian's Book of Quotes,” and “Future-Proof Your Team,” the creative writing prompts, coloring book pages, and uplifting quotes inside will help you unwind and destress.
View the free PDF here. Share your finished colored pages online with the hashtag #ColorMeALA.
To support the need for increased remote access to information during the COVID-19 outbreak, ALA Editions | ALA Neal-Schuman is making materials easier to access. For more information visit alastore.ala.org/ebookoffers.
ALA Store purchases fund advocacy, awareness and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide. ALA Editions | ALA Neal-Schuman publishes resources used by library and information professionals, scholars, students, and educators to improve programs and services, build on best practices, enhance pedagogy, share research, develop leadership, and promote advocacy. ALA authors and developers are leaders in their fields, and their content is published in a variety of print and electronic formats. For more information contact ALA Editions | ALA Neal-Schuman at [email protected].