WE NEED YOU @ AN UPCOMING STAFF INPUT SESSION
We've been contemplating the incident reports from the past year and it's pretty clear that the frequency of mental health problems we face in our libraries is on the rise. This has always been a big challenge for large urban libraries. Now it's the case for just about every public library in America. We've considered a lot of different ways to respond to this and we've been talking with 10 other libraries in Wisconsin who serve populations between 50,000 and 100,000 about best practices. A few have chosen to hire social workers after experiments with student interns. Linda and I spoke with Dr. Rebecca Hornung at Carthage College this morning about working with her social work students on a support plan for our staff. We have a draft response plan in mind that begins with staff interviews to capture your on-the ground experience with challenging patrons and your thoughts on the library's role in responding to our community's challenge with mental health and unhoused people. This will provide a "needs assessment" and inform a staff training plan that will help us all more effectively recognize the issues our patrons present and respond in a way that lends the best outcomes for both the library and our patrons. Next steps will include a referral partnership with social service agencies and student placements to support our learning.
To accomplish the first step of this program, we'll be meeting via Zoom with Dr. Hornung in groups of 25 in August. There will be 3 groups, one in the evening. Each session will last 90 minutes. In order to clearly understand our challenges, I need all ADS, YFS, Outreach, Maintenance, and Circulation staff to attend one of the sessions. As soon as we have firm dates, we'll let you know.
SURVEILLANCE REQUESTS
You've all been doing a great job referring police surveillance requests to me. With the new cameras installed, there will be a slight change in how things work. For the new people on staff, a little background: Wisconsin Statutes provide special protections for information regarding people's use of public libraries including what people check out and what they search on the Internet. That protection isn't about a library visit, it's about their freedom to read and view what they please without government interference. If people run into a car in our parking lot or steal a bike outside, that's not protected information.
Up to now, the cameras inside the building and on the outside of the building have been on the same system, so all requests for footage have been vetted by the Library Director, who is responsible to protect library patron privacy. The new system divides the inside cameras and the outside cameras to separate servers so starting soon, with a little tweak on their end, KPD can access the outside footage on our buildings without permission.
KPD will continue to need permission to view activity on the inside of the library, which only KPL staff will have access to. It's my responsibility to make sure we are sharing only the activity not protected by law, and if the police need records of protected activity, that they have the necessary court orders for that. So always pass those requests on to me. Rob will let us know when the new system is complete. And to be clear, we will always have access to both the inside and the outside footage, so sending me requests for either will never be a problem. Gradually KPD will learn when they don't have to ask at all.
OTHER NEWS
- We've signed a contract for painting at Northside that will be done toward the end of the year. If you'd like to see the colors chosen, reach out to Jennifer. Thanks to Jennifer and Aaron for creating a beautiful palette.
- DPI will be providing KPL and Community Library some extra training money through KCLS, our library system. If there are training opportunities or specific topics for training you'd like to see us bring to KPL, please let your supervisor know. Thanks!
- Don't forget about the Parking Lot Social tonight starting at 6:30 at NS. The Nights at Northside series has been a big hit with the community!
Several Bright Spot nominations this week:
From Lisa Rivers:
"I wanted to give a special bright spot shout out and thank you to Frankie Navarez Vega for helping Youth Services with our rescheduled Egg Drop Challenge event held on Friday,July 23rd. The kids had a blast making their contraptions to protect an uncooked egg they were given from breaking when dropped onto the concrete slab. The egg contraptions were being dropped by none other than Frankie high above in the bucket of our scissors lift at the Southwest Library. Frankie went above and beyond and even drew a chalk target on the sidewalk. He was a tremendous help. Not to mention that he saved me from going up and down in the scissors lift, and I have to admit I am just a wee bit afraid of heights. Another special thank you goes out to Jason Holmes for coordinating everything with Frankie. You guys are the best and we couldn't have done it without all your help. "
