Warsaw Library Board Hears Latest On COVID Safety Steps
November 10, 2020 at 1:52 a.m.
By Jackie Gorski-
Board member Tim Keyes asked if anything from Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer’s special press conference on Friday pertained to the library. The press conference was called in regard to the current surge of coronavirus cases in the county.
Library Director Ann Zydek said the number of cases in the area have been tripling. One step the library has been taking is reducing density.
She reminded the board that at October’s meeting, she explained the library had opened up a study room. An individual or a household can use the room. If there are more than four people, people have ask to use one of the library’s two spaces. Meeting room C also had been opened up for people to meet. The meeting room has a limit of 14 people.
Zydek said there were a lot of good questions regarding masks. If a patron doesn’t have a mask and needs help, a staff member can’t help the person until the patron puts on a mask. If there is a barrier between the patron and the staff member, then the staff member can help.
Zydek said apparently the word has gotten out about the library mandating masks because she’s seen people put on masks in the parking lot before going into the library.
Keyes said he just wanted to make sure people’s safety was first priority for the library.
“I’ll be watching it very closely,” Zydek said.
The board also approved changes to its emergency closings and delayed openings policy.
According to the policy, there are three types of closures.
The first type is a complete closure, where there is no staff in the building at any time.
The second type is a library closure with essential services only, where exempt and other limited employees may be required to work onsite during closures to perform necessary duties.
The third type is a library closure with reduced services. In this type of closure, staff may be allowed to work inside the building, although the building is closed to the public; be assigned to provide services to the community in newly determined ways; be assigned work or training that can be completed off-site; and be required to work varied hours from their regular work schedule.
The policy also specified the types of emergencies the library may be closed for, which includes a building or local disaster, a local health emergency, loss of utilities and a public health emergency, according to the policy.
Zydek said the library may revisit the policies in a couple months.
In other business, the board also approved:
• Its internet acceptable use and computer usage policy.
• Its five-year strategic plan for 2021-25.
• Employee policies, such as a remote work policy, tobacco-free policy and workplace violence policy.
Board member Tim Keyes asked if anything from Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer’s special press conference on Friday pertained to the library. The press conference was called in regard to the current surge of coronavirus cases in the county.
Library Director Ann Zydek said the number of cases in the area have been tripling. One step the library has been taking is reducing density.
She reminded the board that at October’s meeting, she explained the library had opened up a study room. An individual or a household can use the room. If there are more than four people, people have ask to use one of the library’s two spaces. Meeting room C also had been opened up for people to meet. The meeting room has a limit of 14 people.
Zydek said there were a lot of good questions regarding masks. If a patron doesn’t have a mask and needs help, a staff member can’t help the person until the patron puts on a mask. If there is a barrier between the patron and the staff member, then the staff member can help.
Zydek said apparently the word has gotten out about the library mandating masks because she’s seen people put on masks in the parking lot before going into the library.
Keyes said he just wanted to make sure people’s safety was first priority for the library.
“I’ll be watching it very closely,” Zydek said.
The board also approved changes to its emergency closings and delayed openings policy.
According to the policy, there are three types of closures.
The first type is a complete closure, where there is no staff in the building at any time.
The second type is a library closure with essential services only, where exempt and other limited employees may be required to work onsite during closures to perform necessary duties.
The third type is a library closure with reduced services. In this type of closure, staff may be allowed to work inside the building, although the building is closed to the public; be assigned to provide services to the community in newly determined ways; be assigned work or training that can be completed off-site; and be required to work varied hours from their regular work schedule.
The policy also specified the types of emergencies the library may be closed for, which includes a building or local disaster, a local health emergency, loss of utilities and a public health emergency, according to the policy.
Zydek said the library may revisit the policies in a couple months.
In other business, the board also approved:
• Its internet acceptable use and computer usage policy.
• Its five-year strategic plan for 2021-25.
• Employee policies, such as a remote work policy, tobacco-free policy and workplace violence policy.
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