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.