City of Kenosha Announces Kenosha's Commit to Action Roadmap and Vaccine Update

• Last summer, in the wake of the Jacob Blake shooting, Mayor Antaramian and Police Chief Miskinis held listening sessions to hear from residents what went wrong and how to move forward. This month, the results of those sessions were posted along with "next steps." The library is likely to be involved in at least one of the proposed teams to develop plans for improvement in areas of concern. I invite you to consider playing an active role yourself if you are a city resident and have ideas to bring to the table. I'll let you know when the call for volunteers begins.
• City administration reports that government employees are scheduled to receive the vaccine in phase 4 of the vaccine rollout. In other words, the library staff as a group does not have special designation as essential workers. (I beg to differ- see page 6 of the current WLA newsletter for my take on libraries as essential services.) Your personal health challenges or age may place you in a higher category, meaning you may get the vaccine by summer. The rest of us have a while to wait. Please know that whether you have received the vaccine or not, or whether you have natural temporary immunity due to surviving a bout of COVID-19, you must continue to follow mask and social distancing protocol to keep your coworkers safe. We have done a tremendous job so far. Not one of our staff have become sick due to exposure at work. You have been amazing at following the guidelines! Not a day goes by when I don't think about how lucky I am to work with such thoughtful, caring people. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
• Wondering where our active borrowers live in town? Wondering where we haven't connected? View this interactive map showing activity by census tract. Brandi and I will be brainstorming ways to connect with neighborhoods with low library use. If you have great ideas, send them my way!
• From the Kenosha County Health Department: Kenosha Community Health Center, Inc. has officially moved the COVID-19 Testing Site to a new downtown location at 5506 – 7th Avenue (formerly Chase Bank Drive Thru). The new site will be operational Wednesday, December 30, 2020. Hours of operation will remain unchanged: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays from 8am-4pm. o Testing will be conducted by appointment. A new online registration and scheduling process has been added. Registration and scheduling can be accessed by visiting the KCHC website or using the following link: https://www.kenoshachc.org/covid-19-resource-center/ • Other new COVID-19 testing will be available in the next two weeks. Stay tuned to the County’s COVID Hub Website for up-to-the-moment details as we once again increase testing capacity.
• If you're looking for something to read over the holidays, Library Journal has released its annual list of best books. If you love beautiful architecture, you can virtually visit 8 magnificent libraries. Or you can reorganize your home collections the librarian way. So many books, so little time!

This week's Bright Spot goes to the maintenance team, Dan, Jeff, Scott and Jason, for tackling the first big snow of the season with their signature good humor and can-do spirit! We appreciate you guys so much!

Enjoy this snowy weekend and Happy New Year to you all!

Barb

Quarantine Time Modified

 Hello, Everyone

Back in October, the libraries in Oregon asked their state health department to make a determination on  the correct quarantine time for library materials. The epidemiologists evaluated the Battelle Labs  REALM Project experimental data and concluded that library materials quarantined for 24 hours posed negligible health threat to the public. Here is the official letter released in October. 

This information came to us just as the infection rate began to soar in Wisconsin, so we held off on implementing the new guidelines here so we wouldn't further alarm the public. In the meantime, the libraries surrounding us grabbed the chance to reduce the stress on their space and workflow by adopting the new 24 hour guidelines. 

Today we reexamined our policies and decided that reducing our 96 hour quarantine to 48 hours was supported by the science and posed no added threat to KPL staff or the public. So starting today, we will reduce our quarantine period for all library materials to 48 hours. This is still more precautionary than the Oregon guidance, but we prefer to err on the side of caution during this time of increased spread. All staff handling returns should continue to wear gloves and everyone should keep their masks on in shared spaces. This combination of precautions should keep us safe at work. 

Keep up the good work, everyone!

Barb

News for the Week

 This morning the Chamber of Commerce held its annual Legislative Update. Here's what I learned:

• Pfizer's facility in Pleasant Prairie is one of three distribution sites for their CPVID-19 vaccine. That means we are geographically positioned to begin vaccinations in our area by the middle of December, ahead of many areas of the country. Health care workers are first in line. Essential workers are second. Naturally the decision about who qualifies as essential will be contentious. Certainly teachers will be on that list so children are able to return to the classroom.
• The state's biennial budget process is underway and there will be a lot of pressure on the budget with the additional costs of the pandemic. Federal support for state and local governments is pending in Congress at this time.
• Wisconsin has caught up with the backlog of unemployment claims. Those benefits have been extended. You may receive questions from patrons about this. Here is a post from DPI explaining the extended benefits. 

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From Jennifer:

Registration for our 2021 Winter Reading Challenge is now open on Beanstack! 

Here is what you need to know:

• We are asking everyone to upsell this program to our patrons. Please be intentional about encouraging participation as you engage with the community.
• This program will run from January 1st - 31st. Registration is currently open.
• This program is virtual only. Community members can participate via Beanstack either through the Beanstack website or via the Beanstack app.
• This program is for all ages.
• Participants will be logging their reading minutes each day. The goal is 20 minutes daily for individuals. Our community goal is to reach 100,000 minutes.
• This year, Beanstack will be awarding the winning communities prizes from Simon and Schuster's Books Like Us program. Prizes will include book collections and virtual author visits. Ten (10) winning schools or libraries will each get a collection of fifty (50) books from the “Books Like Us” collection. 

Community members may be asking us questions on how to register or get started. You may find it helpful to review the videos shared from the Mind and Body Challenge about registration on both the website and the app.

Feel free to reach out to me or Heather Thompson if you have any questions about Beanstack or the challenge.

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Common Council approved our 2021 budget this past Tuesday. We have pretty much the same amount of money for 2021 as last year, which makes us a little luckier than most libraries in the state. If you watch our monthly stats sheet, you've noticed a gradual increase in people returning to the branches and curbside is increasing, as well. 2021 will be very interesting to watch as people get immunized and feel safe to return to public spaces. The infection rate is likely to continue to climb during the holidays but by January we may feel confident to extend our open hours into the evening. We will continue to make the best decisions we can to maintain service while keeping everyone as safe as possible.

As Library Director, I read and sign every single performance review and this year I am so pleased to read about all the ways that so many of you worked together and supported each other during this very trying year. I'm so proud of how KPL has pivoted and responded during the pandemic. And a huge thank you to everyone for sticking with the protective measures for all these months. I understand how annoying it can be to wear a mask all day, try to offer service behind plexiglas, and steer clear from others physically. Our hands are feeling the effect of all that washing and sanitizer. Yet you have diligently adhered to the health department guidelines and we have been able to keep our staff safe. THANK YOU!

Have a lovely weekend, everyone!

Barb

CDC Travel Warning

The CDC is begging everyone not to travel for Thanksgiving.  No one feels this sacrifice more than I do. My closest family members are a 9 hour drive from my house. I have yet to hold my new granddaughter born in September. I have missed a full half of the twins' 2 year lives. This is heart breaking for me. My children are my whole world. I spend a portion of every day talking myself into staying strong and focusing on the image of a happy, virus-free reunion. I have gone back and forth, checking on airline tickets, watching the CDC website, hoping for a sign that I can jump on a plane and bask in the warmth of my beautiful family after all the stress of a horrible year. But the signs I want to see just aren't there.  And I love them all enough not to take the chance that I'll be bringing an infection into their homes. To think that my poor judgment could leave Bryn or Ella with a chronic condition or be the cause of them losing a parent is unthinkable, more unthinkable than my feeling sad. I'm hoping you all exercise good sense this holiday season and do your very best to help mitigate this extraordinarily devastating pandemic. We are all in this together. Sacrificing for the common good does not come easy. I know. If you do travel, please watch your symptoms closely. If you have even the slightest reason to believe you've been exposed to someone with COVID-19, please isolate yourself and get tested before returning to work. Please take care of your KPL family the way you would your own.
Thank you!

We passed the second of three hurdles in the 2021 city budget process Wednesday evening when the council's finance committee approved our budget as submitted. Our 2021 budget is $6,839,275 which is about $2,000 more than last year. The city gave us exactly the same in our tax levy as last year, and we earned $107,501 more through our reimbursements for service to patrons outside the city limits, but the effect of reduced attendance (fines, fees, copying and printing) and lower interest rates spells status quo in the coming year. While this is disappointing, it's actually far better than Madison (2.5% cut) and Racine (4% cut). We'll continue to be cautious with spending until we see our revenues normalize. You will receive your step increase if you've met proficiency on your performance review this year but there will be no cost of living adjustment in 2021.

Reminder to get all your vacation taken before the end of the year. No requests for carryover will be granted.

This week's Bright Spot Award comes from Martha:

"I nominate Rob for coordinating the key fob installation for our doors.  Staff have been so pleased with their fobs! Small, easy to use and very happy about them."

I'm taking next week off. See you back at work November 30th.

Have a safe and peaceful holiday, everyone!

Barb

Transitioning to Customer Service Specialists

The staff shuffle resumes, with more of our long term staff deciding that it's high time they leave the workforce and enjoy every moment of their post work life. So we have upcoming openings in Circulation, Outreach and ADS. Good thing we just did a Choose Your Own Adventure survey! For those of you who indicated interest in different positions, here's your chance. 

One thing we learned when NS closed for several days is that ICS staff have limited work options in our organization. ICS staff focus on managing collections where we have AMH installed, and that leaves only SW and NS positions. When NS closed in response to the staff COVID infection, ICS staff could only be reassigned to SW.  We scrambled to find projects for our displaced ICSs. That's really inefficient.

When we crafted a staff reorganization several years ago, we consolidated the tasks in our circulation department from 3 positions into 2 so staffing could be more flexible and pages could move into a better paying position. The gold star reorganization would have been to consolidate all circ positions into one position at the CSS level that was trained to do everything. But the price tag for doing that was too high with the number of staff we had and there were some staff that were reluctant to make such a leap. So we moved ahead with the 3 positions to 2 positions transition, and gradually used the money we had to convert to Customer Service Specialists whenever we had the chance.

Now we see the opportunity to move forward again with our transition toward the one highly skilled position in circ that can do it all. With so many circulation staff opting for retirement and a couple finding full time work in their desired fields, we see an opportunity to move toward an even more nimble workforce where every member of the circ team is fully trained to do all circ functions and can fill in at any branch location. This next phase will require that CSS staff regularly pitch in during part of their workday to sort delivery, work the AMH, and shelve the collection. With so few patrons using the library these days, it will be an optimal time to do cross training. 

So, if you're an ICS and you've been toying with the idea of applying for an open CSS position, I encourage you to do so. Transitioning now will give you the space to learn your new tasks in a less busy environment. And who doesn't want to earn a bigger paycheck? 

A Video Congratulations

 

News for the week

• It's official! We are the 2020 WLA Library of the Year! Brandi and Aaron are ready with banners and a newly designed commemorative t-shirt, so get ready for a lot of celebration social distancing-style! There's a lovefest on our Facebook page, so be sure to visit and grin. And while you're there, help get the word out by sharing Brandi's post. YOU DESERVE THIS! Congratulations, Everyone!
• We're finalizing an application to the Institute of Museum and Library Service for the National Medal for Museum and Library Service.  10 winners are announced every year, usually around May. I think we're a strong contender, and so does DPI, who encouraged our application. 

• November kicks off our Gratitude Tour, designed to let you know just how much you mean to KPL. We have prizes for those of you who were named for individual and team awards (think masks, Tenuta's and time off vouchers) and we'll be making the rounds to celebrate you- stay tuned.

• Sirsi/Dynix has awarded three more libraries with the Power of Libraries award, and we stand in good company. Boone County, KY is right across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, Ohio which was one of the    most active areas for the Underground Railroad's efforts to free enslaved people before the Civil War. 90% of the population in Boone County was black prior to the Civil War, now that                population is less than 10% and along with the black residents, their history disappeared. So Boone County Library pieced it back together. Watch this inspiring video that describes the project and its impact here. Broward County, Fla (Fort Lauderdale) libraries began a Veterans Connect program for military servicemen returning to the area. East Hamilton (Indiana) Public Library turned their 3rd floor into a 15,000 sq. ft. makerspace called Ignite!

• Thanks to Zander, Kristin, Sue P,  and Sandy for joining me on Tuesday to work for the elections team!
• Don't forget to turn your clocks back one hour this weekend! 
• You rocked the Halloween costumes this year! Thanks to everyone who dared to look ridiculous! If you want to enter the costume contest, make sure you ask Brandi to take your picture.

• This week's Bright Spot goes to the Simmons Team for their Living History event, including period costumes. Thoughtful, educational, stunningly beautiful. Simply amazing! 

I'm taking this next week off to recharge. I'll see my election colleagues on Tuesday, and the rest of you on November 9th. Stay well, stay happy!

Barb

Northside Closed Until October 22nd

We knew it was inevitable, and inevitable it proved to be. Our first positive staff case of COVID-19 has been confirmed and reported. We were notified yesterday of this positive test result and have been working diligently with our local health experts to craft the best response. This morning we spent time with the Kenosha County Health Department who advised us to follow through with a 2 week quarantine of all staff who had prolonged contact with the positive case. Based on the last known contact dates, it is clear we do not have enough staff to run the Northside Branch or conduct Outreach until October 22nd when everyone is cleared. All  staff with known contact at work have been notified and will be off work in quarantine for 14 days after the last known contact. They will be paid their regular wages through CARES Act funding and will not need to use their KPL paid time off . Several Northside staff who do not need to be quarantined will be reassigned to other locations. 

Here are some questions we think you may have and associated answers:

Q: If staff who have been in contact with the positive case test negative, can they come back to work?

A: No. The virus could take a while to build up to a level that's detectable. The health department follows the 14 day quarantine, no symptoms, no fever criteria for release from quarantine. 

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Q: If someone who had contact at NS worked at my branch, should I quarantine?

A: No. Quarantine is for people with direct contact, not secondary contact.

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Q: If I'm on quarantine, can I work from home?

A: You are not expected to work while on the CARES Act paid time away.

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Q: What should we tell the public?

A: Brandi is crafting the messages and the signage. Please read those messages and take your talking points from her finely worded messages. Here are some quick highlights:

• Our staff's health and the health of the public are our priorities. We are taking these extra precautionary measures in order to mitigate the spread of this serious disease. 
• The Northside branch facility is not a risk to the public. It is clean and there is no risk to the public. We simply do not have the staff to operate the branch nor the Outreach services during this quarantine period.
• Southwest, Simmons and Uptown locations remain open. 
• The library continues all precautions, including quarantining library materials for 4 days after return, cleaning covers of all materials on hold, social distancing, plexiglass barriers, handwashing, and face masks.   

Thanks to all of you who have been so kind and supportive with us as we make these hard decisions!  

OTHER NEWS AND REMINDERS
One thing that's clear about winning an award like Wisconsin Library of the Year is, it takes a whole lot of exceptional staff doing exceptional work to get an award like this. So let's all call out those exceptional people and the exceptional work they do and thank them!  Make your coworker's day and nominate them for a fun (or serious) award. It's easy to do- just go to this form and start typing in names of people who have really done an exceptional job this year! 

This week's Bright Spot Award goes to the KPL Kitten Rescue Squad. What a darling little creature! Well done, team!

Delightful Podcast About Children's Librarians and other news

Thanks to everyone who completed the Choose Your Own Adventure survey. We are so delighted to see how many of our talented staff have an interest in contributing their skills to other positions. Michelle, Linda, Rob and I will be designing "boot camps" for a number of positions, including Cataloging Specialist and Customer Service Specialist and set up mentoring programs for manager positions so we have a strong workforce ready to slide into vacant positions as they become available. By gradually training in small manageable chunks you'll have time to practice what you learn before you commit and get a feel for jobs you might (or might not) enjoy. It's like trying on a pair of shoes before you buy. So if you indicated you'd like to "try on" another role in the library, look for an introductory email in October that invites you to an orientation session.

For those of you wondering when we'll add evening hours at SW and NS, the latest surge in the pandemic in Wisconsin has caused us to place any such plans on hold. We'll keep watching for an opportunity to expand services. The next phase will most likely be 6pm-9pm one night a week with a lull between 3 and 6 so we can continue to avoid any after school crowds.

Thanks to everyone who is scheduling out their remaining vacation and personal time for the year. Remember, there will be no exceptions for carryovers this year. So schedule it and use it up!

The next Library Board meeting is this Tuesday at 5:30pm via Zoom. We'll present a request to close by 5pm at all locations to give you a chance to get a head start on the new year.

A friend of mine sent me the link to this delightful podcast from 99percentinvisible celebrating the magic and warmth of children's librarians. Listen here.

This week's Bright Spot Award goes to every one of you for being named the 2020 Wisconsin Library of the Year! I couldn't be prouder and I hope you are, too!

Enjoy this beautiful fall weekend, everyone! I'll be back in the library on Tuesday.

CONGRATULATIONS WISCONSIN LIBRARY OF THE YEAR!

Good morning,

 

As chair of the WLA Awards and Honors Committee, it is my great pleasure to inform you that the Kenosha Public Library has been selected as the 2020 Wisconsin Library Association Library of the Year.  Congratulations! 

 

The selection committee was greatly impressed by all aspects of your nomination, but especially by the library’s excellent work on inclusion and equity, as well as the library’s response to the twin challenges of the pandemic and the turmoil in the streets of Kenosha.  I’ve been a part of this committee for several years and it’s always a lot of fun recognizing the great work that libraries, library staff, and library supporters are doing around the state, but it’s especially satisfying this year.

 

As you might know, recipients of this and other awards are normally recognized at the Wisconsin Library Association conference.  Unfortunately, this has been cancelled due to the pandemic.  The association is working on some other form of recognition for this year’s recipients.  We will share that information with you as it develops.

 

WLA will soon issue a press release sharing this wonderful news statewide.  Before they do, they want to make sure that all of the winners have been notified.  Would you please confirm that you’ve received this and had a chance to share the information?

 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

 

Joe

 

Joseph Bongers, MLIS

Head of Information Services

Oshkosh Public Library

920-236-5214

www.oshkoshpubliclibrary.org

Wow! What a joy to have our work recognized for the tremendous impact it's making! This team has been simply amazing during all the challenges of 2020 and YOU deserve this award so very much. I couldn't be prouder of all of you! Thank you on behalf of the Kenosha community for all you do every day on their behalf.

Curious what I said in the application? Read it here.

COVID-19 in Wisconsin Update

This afternoon I attended an online presentation by Dr. John Raymond of the Medical College of Wisconsin. I thought you might be interested in what the experts are saying about the recent virus surge. Here are my notes and a link to Dr. Raymond's slides.

Notes from Medical College of Wisconsin Webinar 10/2/2020 (Dr. John Raymond)

(access presentation slides here )

• The Wisconsin surge in COVID-19 spread will last 2 full months. Expect the surge to move south into Milwaukee County next week. Positive tests are currently 17% and 6% of those are being hospitalized. 

• COVID-19 and the common flu are both respiratory illnesses but COVID-19 differs from common flu strains in a couple of ways. Common flu stays in your respiratory system. COVID-19 enters the respiratory tract, then attacks your blood vessels and clots your blood, which can cause long lasting symptoms long after the virus is overcome. 

• This is a respiratory pathogen. There is low risk of surface transmission of COVID-19. In other words, touching common surfaces is an issue only if you then move your hands to your face where it can enter your respiratory system. That’s another good reason to wear a mask- your hands don’t absentmindedly touch your mouth and nose.

• When you get a COVID-19  test, your results capture the status of the virus in your system on that day. If you don’t have symptoms or your symptoms are mild and and you test negative, then develop symptoms a few days later, it could be that you didn’t have enough virus in your system the day you were tested, but the virus has now replicated to the point where another test will be positive.

• It takes 5-7 days after exposure to the disease to exhibit symptoms and you are most contagious 2 days before you begin feeling symptoms. So if you know you’ve been exposed and no one was wearing a mask, you need to quarantine even if you don’t have symptoms. If you feel worse before your test results come back, and your test comes back negative you should be retested.

• Youth ages 10-19 are twice as likely to spread the disease as any other age group.

Choose Your Own Adventure and other matters

Michelle and I are having great fun reading your responses to the Choose Your Own Adventure survey. It's a joy to see how many of you are enthusiastic about taking on new roles at the library. With my eyes set on retirement a few years from now, I'm personally excited to begin a Director's Boot Camp to share the inside view of the work I do in my position. It will be great for the organization to have someone who can confidently jump right in, knowing what needs to be done and clued in on the tricks I've learned to getting it done according to the expectations of all the agencies we report to. The same goes for other positions here at KPL. Providing an insider's view to the job you think you want may seal the deal for you or convince you to pursue something else. So feel free to dabble. No obligation.
For those of you who responded that you're blissfully happy in your current position, congratulations on landing where you belong! Contentment is the best state of mind. We're so glad you enjoy what you do- it shows!
If you haven't yet responded, please do. I have no doubt that 2021 will bring new opportunities.

This morning the New York Times reported that Oshkosh, WI has more COVID-19 cases per capita than anywhere in the country and that of the top 20 per capita concentrations of cases in the country, 8 northern Wisconsin cities are on the list. KPL has been really, really lucky so far and Kenosha County is doing very well in comparison to many parts of the state. 

No positive cases at KPL so far!!

Let's keep doing everything we have been doing, no matter how tiresome it gets! Wear the masks, wash your hands, spray down those surfaces, keep your distance. Avoid public gatherings and if you find yourself at one, please wear your mask. We're counting on you!
A side note: HIPPA rules protect the identity of any who contracts COVID-19. So should anyone on staff test positive, we won't be able to tell you who it is unless that person gives us permission. If you've possibly been exposed to anyone testing positive, the county health department will contact you through contact tracing and provide you with instructions. 

Coming soon: Staff Gratitude Awards. We've come up with some funny and serious awards for you to vote on this month as a lead up to Thanksgiving. We've been though a lot this year! Let's celebrate our good fortune to be healthy, employed, and facing a brighter future!

This week's Bright Spot Award goes to Zander for his calm and courageous leadership in launching KPL Community Conversations. Zander has a way of creating safe spaces for honest and meaningful dialogue that's just remarkable! Thank you for taking on this important work with such grace, Zander!

Happy fall weekend, everyone! Enjoy today's sunshine!

Barb

Exterior signs, Ballot Boxes, and more

Our signs are now live at SW and Northside! 
Thanks to Dan and his crew for getting them electrified, to Brent and Max for getting the internal antennas ready,  and to Brandi for her brilliant messaging that is up and running at SW and will soon be at NS. I'm predicting "We're Open!" will bring a few more people through our doors.

Speaking of visitors, check out our opening day stats at SW and NS:

SW : 748 Checkouts and 241 Patrons 

NS :  385 Checkouts and 276 Patrons

Northside's first full week (9/14 to 9/20) is

2,673 Checkouts

1,305 Patrons

Doesn't it feel great to be open again?!

We have our first Ballot Return Box installed at NS Library. 
The city will place one at Uptown and one at SW, but they need to pour concrete slabs first. You may have noticed installation of security cameras at NS and SW already. The city's target date for all to be installed is October 5th.

Remember the 2015 Choose Your Own Adventure staff survey?
I'll bet most of you don't! It's a short questionnaire about what positions in our organization you'd like to be considered for in the future. Michelle is finalizing a 2020 version, so start thinking about where you see yourself a couple of years from now. You never know who's going to announce retirement, who will win the lottery, or who will decide to move to Hawaii after the first snowstorm of the season. So let us know if you have an eye on a different job and we'll construct a plan for you to learn what you need to know to get you there.

Outreach will be at the Urban League building on Saturday for voter registration day. Thanks, Outreach Team!

I'm taking a long weekend to get the exterior of my house ready for winter. I'll be gone Monday and Tuesday, and Rob has those days off, too, so Linda is your go-to gal in our absence.

Highly Recommended Training and other news...

Hello, Everyone

Here's what's new and a few reminders:

• As of Monday, all branches are open! I can't thank all of you enough for the thoughtful planning, shifting, cleaning, spacing, scheduling, messaging, and rearranging that took place in order for all library branches to be back open for business. I know your community is ecstatic about returning to their neighborhood libraries and personally, I am thrilled to be back in a public service location to help greet and serve them. 
• If patrons ask, please let them know we will be adding evening hours as a next phase in our transition back to "normalcy." As we all know, it's two steps forward and one step back these days. We never know what tomorrow will bring, but we'll do everything we can to restore services as soon and as safely as possible.
• It's National Voter Registration Day on September 22nd and our library staff have prepared by creating this amazingly helpful resource to guide our community through registration and selecting their candidates. It's easy to remember the link- our website address/vote. Thanks to everyone who worked on this! And don't forget- our ADS staff are trained to guide any of our visitors or callers to guide them through the registration process.
• Now that were open at all locations, remember that if your job description allows for telecommuting, you'll need an a written agreement to take advantage of that option. See your supervisor.
• Also remember that our 2020 Dress Code is back in full effect starting Monday. See my last blog post for the details of that dress code.
• Building Our Future Kenosha County is hosting weekly community conversations on Thursdays at 4pm at the Uptown Bank Building. If you have strong convictions abut how our community can come together around commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, please join the conversation. 
• The city of Kenosha is also holding community conversations on Sundays which may fit your work schedule better. Here's the schedule with links to sign up.
• To improve our security, we'll be replacing our exterior locks with a Fob system, devices each of you will receive that slip onto your key chain and allow you access to outside doors by touching the fob to the handle. Here's a picture of a fob system. It will take some time to get the system into place, and we'll do it location by location. I'll keep you posted as we finalize the installation schedule.
  
  
  

From Michelle:
I have spoken to several staff who watched the latest Ryan Dowd webinar "Getting Hit on by Customers".  The reviews have been filled with praise.  I highly recommend everyone (men included!) watch this video as soon as possible.  Great tips!  

Use this link for registration (even though it has already happened), sign up and you will be taken to the video recording.

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3015832712254/WN_WhkU687IQ3yc7aWQuTz0zQ

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks.

Have a fabulous weekend, everyone!

Barb

Return to KPL Dress Code September 21, 2020

 Kenosha Public Library Staff Dress Code (effective 1/2/2020)

General Guidelines

The Library requires all employees to present a positive, professional image to the public. First impressions are important,  and your appearance factors in that first impression, whether your regular contact is with vendors, professional colleagues, or the general public. Your appearance conveys your commitment to service and your competence in delivering that service.  All employees shall wear clothing that is neat, clean, well-fitting, in good repair, and appropriate to their position, the work you perform, and the Library environment. All employees shall maintain a clean and well groomed appearance. Reasonable accommodations for alternative dress or grooming directly related to an employee’s recognized religion, ethnicity, disability, or health condition will be considered on an individual basis.

Your supervisor is responsible for ensuring that you are appropriately dressed and groomed for your work area. If your supervisor determines that your dress or grooming is not appropriate, your supervisor is expected to tell you that your dress or grooming is not appropriate, and to tell you to leave work. You may not return to work until your dress or grooming is appropriate. The time away from work to correct your appearance is unpaid.

The Library Director makes the final determination about what is acceptable or unacceptable attire for the workplace. 

Dress code varies by job description based on work being performed including the following factors:

• Regular contact with public

• Potential hazards associated with duties assigned to the position

• Exposure to the elements

• Level of authority

Definition of Business Casual 

Collared shirts, slacks, dresses, skirts, blouses, and sweaters are acceptable. Library-issued collared shirts are always acceptable. Clothing should always meet the general requirements stated above. Slacks that are similar to Dockers and other makers of cotton or synthetic material pants, wool pants, flannel pants, dressy capris, and nice looking dress synthetic pants are acceptable. Inappropriate slacks or pants include sweatpants, yoga or other exercise pants, Bermuda shorts, short shorts, bib overalls, leggings (unless worn under a dress or skirt) , and any spandex or other form-fitting pants such as people wear for biking.

Dress and skirt length should be at a length at which you can sit comfortably in public. Shorts and tight skirts that ride halfway up the thigh are inappropriate for work. Mini-skirts, skorts, sun dresses, beach dresses, and spaghetti-strap dresses are inappropriate for the library.

Casual collared shirts, dress shirts, sweaters, golf-type shirts, and turtlenecks are acceptable attire for work. Most suit jackets and sport jackets are also acceptable attire for the office, if they violate none of the listed guidelines. Inappropriate attire for work includes tank tops; midriff tops; shirts with potentially offensive words, terms, logos, pictures, cartoons, or slogans; revealing tops either low cut or tight fitting; halter-tops; tops with bare shoulders; sweatshirts, unless worn under another blouse, shirt, sweater, jacket, or dress.

Shoes and Footwear:

Conservative walking shoes, loafers, clogs, boots, flats, dress heels, and leather deck-type shoes are acceptable for work. Wearing no stockings is acceptable in warm weather. Flashy athletic shoes, thongs, flip-flops, and slippers are not acceptable. 

Jewelry, makeup, perfume, and cologne should be in good taste, with limited visible body piercing. Remember that some people are allergic to the chemicals in perfumes and make-up, so wear these substances with restraint. 

Hats and Head Covering:

Hats are not appropriate. Head Covers that are required for religious purposes or to honor cultural tradition are allowed.

Division Head, Department Head, and Team Leader positions:

Standard dress is business casual. Library issued logo collared shirts are encouraged. Jeans are acceptable on Fridays or other specially designated days. Shorts no more than one inch above the knee are acceptable during the warm summer months.

Youth and Family Services, Adults Services, Administration, and Circulation Services Staff

Standard dress is business casual. Library issued t-shirts are encouraged. Jeans are acceptable on Fridays or other specially designated days. Shorts no more than one inch above the knee are acceptable during the warm summer months.

Outreach, Collection Services, Computer & Network Services, and Inventory Control Specialists

Library issued t-shirts are encouraged. Footwear must be closed toe for safety. Blue jeans may be worn every day and must be clean and in good repair, with no dragging hems, no stains, holes, or tears. Shorts no more than one inch above the knee are acceptable during the warm summer months.

Maintenance Employees

Maintenance staff are issued KPL shirts and protective footwear to be worn daily. Blue jeans must be clean and in good repair, with no dragging hems, no stains, holes, or tears. Shorts no more than one inch above the knee are acceptable during the warm summer months. 

 

Holiday Celebrations, and Other Exceptions

From time to time, special occasions like Halloween or local sports team events may prompt library management to announce special dress code days. No matter what the occasion, library staff should diligently follow general guidelines of decency, cleanliness, and  good repair.

Employees who are scheduled to work on days the Library is closed to the public may wear comfortable clothes (jeans, tee shirts, sweats, and athletic shoes), as long as their appearance remains neat. Shirts with logos, images, or text other than library issued KPL shirts remain unacceptable, as do frayed, ripped, or torn clothes. Any employee assigned to work at outdoor library events may follow the dress guidelines for Outreach staff. 

EAP Covers Your Family

This morning I heard about a study of the effects of the pandemic on young people and the shocking statistics revealed that 11% of young people under 18 had seriously considered suicide during the past 2 weeks. For young people 18-24 the stats were 1 in 4. To think that 25% of our young adults just getting started in life view their futures as so dark is stunning! It reminds us of the human need for connection and the toll that physical separation takes on all of us, particularly the young and the elderly. As the pandemic eases and people come back together, we can be sure that public spaces like ours will provide a healing place for our community in more ways than we can now imagine.  
If the sad statistics I've mentioned here feel close to home, please remember that our EAP benefits extend to your immediate family. If your children are feeling really down, please take advantage of free counseling. And if you feel like the world is heavy on your shoulders, don't hesitate to reach out for counseling yourself. Sometimes just having someone to talk to who won't judge you or worry about you if you confess you're feeling vulnerable is all you need to feel stronger. Many of us carry a lot of responsibility. Some of us are the "head of the family" and know everyone is looking at us as the role model for staying strong. We don't think we can share our worries with our families. Rest assured that everyone is feeling the effects of all the challenges we've had to face this year. Please take advantage of our EAP support system. It's completely confidential. All we'll know is how many staff members used the service, never your name, or what you told the counselor.

The Aurora EAP can be reached by calling 1-800-236-3231 (available 24 hours a day)

Please know your coworkers care about you. We're all in this together!

Barb

Northside and Southwest Closed on Election Day

 From the City Administrator's office:

The Kenosha Municipal Office Building will be closed for all City Business on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, due to the National Election.  All three floors of the building will be utilized for counting of absentee ballots.  We will be utilizing the majority of city employees to assist in counting of the ballots. 

We will maintain a skeleton staff to answer phone calls.  As a reminder citizens are not allowed to vote or register to vote at the Municipal Building on election day.  They must register or vote at their polling place.  The citizens will be allowed to drop off absentee ballots at the drop boxes until 8 PM on election day.

From Barb:

We would normally be open on Election Day, but because of the pandemic, we are working with building capacity limits, and this election is likely to attract crowds. So we will be open normal hours at Simmons and Uptown but close the Northside and Southwest Library branches on November 3rd, with a skeleton crew to help answer phones for the election and to monitor the building  in support of the election workers. There will also be one or two people assigned to handle delivery and returns. Otherwise, if you are typically assigned to SW or NS, this is a great day for you to take paid time off. You may also help count ballots at the municipal building to earn your regular pay that day. If you choose to do that, please let your supervisor know as soon as possible so the city clerk's office knows what to expect and can contact you with reporting instructions. 

The city will be installing exterior ballot drop boxes at Southwest, Northside, and Uptown library locations. We are not expected or authorized to empty those boxes. 

I'll keep you posted on any new developments.

Thanks for Your Dedication to a City in Crisis!

This week's Bright Spot Award is shared by all of you who have stepped up to provide service at Simmons and Uptown during these challenging times! Lots of libraries talk about their commitment to neighborhoods in crisis, to serving people experiencing homelessness, to kids falling behind in school, to keeping libraries open in hard times. You didn't just talk, you showed up! 

To dedicated branch staff Kathy Duba, Diane Smith, Ed Godula, Michaela Beltran, Phillip Kuszel, Claudia Dahl, Linda Hinderliter, Bennett Schuner, Patty Bajabir and Erin Mendoza who bravely opened the doors days after the destruction in the Uptown neighborhood and the nightly unrest downtown.

To Zander Miller, Janice Rovik, Elkid Alvarez, and Vicki Zielsdorf for pitching in where needed, and all the YFS staff who staffed the children's room. To Frankie for his outstanding cleaning and Jeff for keeping the buildings in great shape.

THANK YOU! 

You make us proud! You make a difference to people in need! You change people's lives for the better! 

Thank you for your dedication to public service and the ideals of the library profession.

News Update

The city has lifted the curfew immediately. We'll still continue service till 5pm at all locations this week and change back to full service hours beginning Tuesday of next week.

Don't forget, we're closed Monday for Labor Day.

Kenosha Community Media will move into the SW Digital Media Lab (The HUB) over the next few weeks. They are losing their home on Washington Road due to the Spectrum merger. Jason and Ralph will set up some office space within the green room. No public visitors will be invited in to use the lab until we open SW to the public. KCM staff will follow all our virus safety protocols. Please welcome them!

A group of citizens will use the far ends of the parking lots at Northside and Southwest this Thursday to collect signatures on petitions. While solicitation is prohibited inside library buildings or immediately outside blocking entryways, Free Speech is generally allowed on public property. Public entities can restrict certain zones for the smooth operation of their business and for safety. We can't restrict Free Speech because we don't agree with the message, but if the Klan decides to hold an event on our property, we can deny them if we feel they are causing a safety concern by inciting violence. I'll be introducing a policy draft to the Library Board on Tuesday that sets boundaries outside the library buildings and parking lots as Free Speech Zones. The policy also contains behavior rules that prohibit harassment toward library visitors and other aggressive behavior. In the meantime, this group will stay far away from curbside pickup traffic and our entrances in recognition of the pandemic. 

Yesterday morning I sent out a staff survey to collect your input regarding our future services. (See your email.) The community wants a lot from us, and we can't be all things to all people, so we need to decide where to concentrate our energy so we invest in programs and services that best fulfill our mission. We all know that if you try to be good at everything, you'll be good at nothing. Let's aim to be very good at the things that matter most. We face some tough choices ahead and I want to hear from you about where your passion for library service is focused. Please take the survey by September 15th!

Please be sure your personal social media and email messages are clearly stated as your own and not those of the organization or the City of Kenosha.  To create a clear separation, I suggest you remove your work information in your profile, as I have. People may still know you work at the library, but you're not advertising the connection.  And as always, personal social media posts and/or email should not be done on work time.

The City has received a $900,000 grant to hire election workers and will be adding the Public Museum as an additional polling location. Ballot collection boxes will be installed at Northside, Uptown and Southwest library locations in time for the November election. 

Simmons Library is listed on police reports as one of the sites in the city where attempted arson took place. Please know that the library building was not severely damaged. Someone threw an incendiary device into the north facing window wells and the wood frames burned a little and the storm window glass was cracked. Nothing got into the building. The police witnessed the attempt and acted quickly. The device was removed by ATF. We will have the windows rebuilt. There was no damage at any other location.

Enjoy the beautiful day, everyone!

News for the Week

Here's what's happened, here's what's ahead:

• We expect to restore full hours at Uptown and Simmons next week, barring any further security concerns. Staff regularly scheduled at these locations should expect to report as usual.
• City HR will conduct interviews for the new Community Development Director in the new activities room at SW on Monday from 8:30am-3pm and on Tuesday morning. Some interview will be in person, others via Google. I ask that you refrain from lingering outside the room since candidates may be distracted if they can see you through the glass. We all know how unnerving it is to interview- let's be kind!
• We'll be asking the Board to approve No Trespassing After Hours signs for our exterior spaces. Those signs need to be approved by the Library Board as well as a couple Council committees so it may be a few months before we can post them. This is not a decision based on recent civil unrest. Instead, it's the result of a long history of overnight damage and accumulation of excrement, used needles and trash on the grounds of Simmons, overnight parking at Northside,  belligerent, destructive behavior near the Dewey garden, and people sleeping in door wells at Uptown. While I have much compassion for those living outside, it's become a matter of public safety and I feel it's time to act. The signs won't affect people who need to use our wireless after hours. If the police ask them their purpose, they'll be fine. But it will allow police to move the destructive groups along and hopefully prevent further damage.
• In the middle of all this disruption, we are collecting valuable information to help us decide what our priority services should be for the next few years. Kenosha County ranks 62 out of 72 counties in Wisconsin for health in the new release of 2020 County Health Rankings, a troubling statistic. Kenosha School District Report Cards are pretty depressing, as well. We have a lot of work to do as a community and a library, but if we've learned anything over the past few months, it's that we are strong and well positioned to lead positive change.

Which leads me to the Bright Spot Awards for the week. Honestly, there are so many people to name. Here are a few, and I'd love to hear from you about who I've missed.

Dan Davis was the clever one who strongly suggested we place a fence across the front terrace at Simmons on Monday morning. That same evening after his crew installed that fence, someone threw a Molotov cocktail at Simmons from afar. It landed in a window well but didn't do more than crack the glass on a storm window. Without that fence, they would have easily gotten closer and done more damage. Dan, thank you for your smart suggestion!

Brent Williams cleverly devised a scheme to get our payroll processed on time when we lost Internet at SW on Monday. Linking desktops of several computers, he gave Jeremy the access he needed to get us paid. Now that's worth shouting THANK YOU! about!!

Alejandria Galarza and Susannah Gilbert delivered a very interesting and useful webinar for staff about teen behavior in the library. What a great way to use your remote work time in such a helpful way! Thank you!

Jeff Dial and Rosa Herrera worked in the Uptown neighborhood to help board up and pass out food, and Alex Lewis, Vicki Zielsdorf and Kelly Witte took their artistic selves downtown today to paint some beautiful words and images of love and compassion on the boarded up buildings there. (If I've omitted names here, I apologize- let me know!)

Brandi Cummings quietly hung out at Uptown on Wednesday as we opened our doors without fanfare to a community in need. Word on the street brought in a lot of people grateful for Internet, printing, faxing, and a cool, safe place to be. Brandi is consistently the person you can count on to be there, ready to help at a moment's notice. Her compassion and respect for every person is inspiring. And she never asks for recognition for her quiet, selfless deeds.

Shannon, Kristin, Heather and Stephanie volunteered to staff Uptown library on day 2 and 3 of reopening. Thank you for being brave and standing for the ideals of our profession!

And finally, a special note of gratitude and admiration for Zander Miller. On Tuesday, Zander asked to speak with me, saying simply that he felt we should open the Uptown library for a neighborhood that  needed us more than ever during this difficult time. Zander was right, and he showed the courage of his convictions by volunteering to be the guy who opened the doors on Wednesday and greeted each visitor warmly, patiently, and respectfully. For an administrator who spends a good part of my day with a laptop and paperwork, it was an amazing, renewing experience to directly serve the public again. Thank you, Zander, for advocating to restore service where needed, and for your patience teaching me how to do the job you do every day. And for not clutching the passenger seat too tightly as I drove the maintenance van across town. (Yes, I saw you clutching the seat 😉)

Have a safe and healthy summer weekend, everyone!

Barb

News for the Week

Now that the new activities room is finished at SW, we are planning for the limited reopening of both our large locations to visitors mid-September. There are a few more details to work out, but we should be ready to announce something soon, and you'll be the first to know. Thanks for your patience.

KUSD has updated their back to school plan to allow both in-person and remote learning. Here is the current plan. I understand for you working parents there is a lot of uncertainty and worry about the coming year. Having raised two boys on my own, many of those years living paycheck to paycheck, I fully understand your challenge and your worry. Please know that we will be as flexible and supportive as we possibly can be as you try to manage during the coming school year. You are all very important to us and we are in this together.

The City of Kenosha will be installing ballot drop boxes on the curbs outsider UPT, SW and NS libraries in preparation for the November election. Here's the mock-up of where they'll go. 

County Health Rankings are released every year, and the 2020 report for Kenosha County has just been released. Thanks to Patty for the summaries she's provided to inform our long range planning. It will come as no surprise that alcohol related deaths are very high and so is obesity. What can the library do to promote a more healthy community? Our role as a community forum and the fact that we see over 600,000 visitors in our buildings every year puts us in an excellent space to partner with the county health department to promote positive health habits. Look for health education to be part of our final 2021-2023 plan.

I subscribe to Aspen Ideas emails that provide 5 links per day of their "best ideas." This article was in today's email and I just had to share it with you all. What have you left unsaid?

From Amy Klein:
"I just wanted to pass along a really positive patron interaction I had today while on the phones. A 78-year-old patron called to request books for her 80-year-old neighbor friend who isn't much of a reader. While picking out titles we got to chatting and before everything happened the patron wasn't a big reader either, but since we have been offering our curbside pick-up she has read 30 books and has really impressed herself. She told me how much she loves the library and everything we're doing, she also said if we did a commercial she would give us the biggest HOORAH! 
She was so thankful and appreciative she started tearing up and I did too. I told her I was going to pass along the story and her kind words to you. "

Two Bright Spots this week, both nominated by Linda Noyce:

"This Bright Spot goes to Jennifer for sharing Legally Blonde lead, Elle Wood’s “Snap Cup” idea with the NS team! Jennifer reported, “The idea is that when someone observes someone doing a good job or going the extra mile, that they "give them snaps." We have a jar in the staff lounge with snap sheets to fill out and a pen. People can give snaps anonymously or sign their name if they like.” She also related the following: “I've been pleased to see that many are also cross-departmental. I've seen snaps for NS, OS, and Maintenance staff. I've also seen a variety of comments, ranging from staff feeling emotionally supported and inspired by other staff, to comments on work ethic and a job well done.” To the NS team Snap Cup on!

This Bright Spot goes to Stephanie for checking up on the patron locked in the upstairs bathroom during the Tornado Warning on Monday evening. When the Tornado Warning ended Stephanie worked with her team to break in and help the then unresponsive patron inside. Nice response, Stephanie! Kudos to your quick thinking to remove the pins in the hinge of the door."

I'm taking Monday off to soak up more summer sun. Linda Noyce is your point person for major issues. Enjoy the beautiful summer weather, everyone!

News for the Week and a sweet little pic

This week we sent a survey out to caregivers to see what they'll want from the library as online school begins. We've received 304 responses since yesterday morning. 75% said they intend to visit the library while school remains online. The rest opted for curbside. Over 70% said the most important thing they want from us is access to physical books. Now doesn't that just make your heart sing?

Here's how the results broke down:

1. Access to physical books

2. Access to online books and music

3. Take home project kits

4. Online homework help

Clever librarians that we are, we predicted that the online homework help would be of major interest, so along with all the other libraries in SHARE, we have purchased a product called BrainFuse . Here is a video introduction to this amazing product that not only provides instructional materials by age group, but real-time live tutors to help on just about any school topic.  (Then try it live with your library card and password.) There's help with FAFSA financial aid paperwork, practice tests at all levels, advice for parents on how to manage online school,  and special sections for ESL students. If you work with the public or have school age children in your life, you'll want to explore everything this product has to offer and spread the news far and wide. Please take the time to get to know BrainFuse.

Other News:

• New carpet will be installed in the Northside activities room, conference room, and hallway starting August 25th.
• Be sure and sign up for the webinar with Alejandria and Susannah, "Working with Teens." See your email from Heather.
• Thanks to Mary and Carlice who worked this week's election.
• Thanks to those of you who are scheduling your time off, especially while our larger branches remain closed.
• Congratulations to the YFS staff for their beautiful reorganization of the NS children's area.
  

I'll be on vacation starting tomorrow through Tuesday, back Wednesday. Linda and Rob will be in charge during my absence. Have a wonderful summer weekend!

Barb

News for the Week

Thanks to Hilary for this awesome obstacle course outside SW Library! (Brandi nominates you for a Bright Spot Award!)

Test 4 of Library materials is underway by Battelle Labs.

Five items were selected for the fourth round of Battelle lab testing to examine the length of time the COVID-19 virus may live on materials commonly used in archives, libraries, and museums. The study began on Friday, July 31, on items provided by Columbus Metropolitan Library and the National Archives and Records Administration. In response to feedback from the library community and discussion among REALM working groups, four of the five items selected for test 4 are similar book materials as were studied in test 1; for this test they will be stacked to simulate their common storage configuration in bins, book drops, and on shelves.

For more information on this first round of testing and other activities, visit the “Happening Now” project update page. For more on the scope, timeline, and committees involved with #REALMproject, visit oc.lc/realm-project.

I did a quick look at vacation accruals and a lot of you have a significant amount of vacation left. This would be a great time for you to take some of that paid time off while we are still closed to the public at the larger branches. We'll need you at work when things get busy again.

This from Marcia:

I'm pleased to announce that Outreach services is resuming home delivery services this week in a process that is contact free.  Starting Aug 17, we will expand home delivery service to our senior lobby stop buildings.  Patrons may already have a KPL staff selector, or they may call to place holds on their own and all those holds should be sent to the KPL-BKM location code starting immediately.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  Thank you!

This from Shawn:

I would like to nominate Brandi and Aaron for a Bright Spot. The new directional signage at Southwest is exceptional. The eye is instantly drawn to whatever a patron may need. Very simple but extremely effective. Well done.

Glad you like it, Shawn! We'll be adding the same directional signage at NS shortly.