Winooski Memorial Library Committee

12/3/2020 - Minutes I. Call to Order Members Present: Prudence Doherty, Aurora Hurd, Jess Wignall City Staff Present: Ray Coffey, Nate Eddy T Guests Present: Steven Berbeco Call to Order by: Nate Eddy F Meeting Start Time: 6:35 PM Minutes Recorded by: Jess Wignall II. Public Comment A None. III. Updates UVM Extension/Office of Engagement COVID Outreach RAPID Grants R l Applied for grant but did not receive it (laptops, furniture, outdoor heating units) l Will continue to look for grants Volunteers D l Great response to call for volunteers; capped at 5 people, with back ups l One volunteer will work every Sat from 10-2 at the library to facilitate appointments l Other volunteers will help with flyering around the community (e.g., meal distribution sites) to advertise library card applications and other library activities l Also getting flyer translated into 5 different languages RB Digital Transition l One of the library online databases, RB Digital (audiobooks), has been bought out by OverDrive, to which the library already has a subscription. To maintain the second, separate platform, patrons would have to manage two OverDrive accounts, and it is only minimally used. In the last month, there were 12 check outs for RB Digital and 146 through OverDrive.Library is proposing to NOT renew the RB Digital subscription. If the subscription is canceled, Library would receive a pro-rated refund for remaining balance. l Library would like to put the funding towards a subscription to Kanopy – a movie streaming database. The Library can set a budget and then cap usage per month (each movie costs $2; common caps are 2 or 4 plays per month). S. Berbeco: Are there foreign films, perhaps from countries reflected in Winooski? N. Eddy: There are foreign films, but do not know specifics about which countries. A. Hurd: How does Kanopy compare to Hoopla (used by Fletcher Free)? N. Eddy: Hoopla is more expensive, which means there is less flexibility for smaller libraries.  N. Eddy: There are foreign films, but do not know specifics about which countries. A. Hurd: How does Kanopy compare to Hoopla (used by Fletcher Free)? N. Eddy: Hoopla is more expensive, which means there is less flexibility for smaller libraries. IV. Reopening by Appointment Only l The library is open for appointments and had 19 bookings this week. l Hours are: Wed 3-6; Thurs 10-1; Fri 3-6; Sat 10-2 l Eventually would like to open on Tues too l People can sign up online for appointments through Calendly, phone, or in person for T 30 min sessions. l Public PCs, copier, printer, and reference work are available to patrons, but not toys/manipulatives. F J. Wignall: Can you confirm you’re keeping track of everyone’s contact information? N. Eddy: Yes, we are required by the state to collect that information and keep it for 30 days. V. Library Card Policy l A City staff are not able to find a library card policy on record, so the Library would like to develop one, including the age cutoff for youth vs. adult patrons. l Right now the library is accepting new requests virtually and is not requiring identification, but it would be appropriate to ask for identification with a new request. R Asking for identification (e.g., IDs, mail) is standard/best practice across libraries, as is requiring caregivers to approve any library cards for children. l The library can make use of automatic notification programs to facilitate renewals, and collecting information such as the age of patrons will facilitate reporting to the state level. For patrons who sign up online, they would have access to online materials until further D verifying their identity. l The current cost for non-Winooski residents to get a library card is $10. l Committee members emphasized the following points during the discussion: - It is important to maintain the welcoming feeling of the library and minimize the burden on any individual person. - The library should develop alternative approaches to validate identities of patrons in case patrons do not have identification materials or a mailing address. - Any new policy should allow for a variety of patron situations, such as unhoused people or those who frequently move, and consider the logistics required to keep contact information up- to-date. - The library could consider issuing temporary cards that need to be renewed less than 1 year after issuance. - It will be important to look for ways to provide library services to children who might not have active and engaged caregivers who sign up for library cards. - New requirements will require “retraining” of patrons who are used to current approaches. N. Eddy will draft a library card policy for review and feedback VI. New Shelving Units  - New requirements will require “retraining” of patrons who are used to current approaches. N. Eddy will draft a library card policy for review and feedback VI. New Shelving Units l The library would like to purchase new shelves for the entrance, to replace the tall bookshelves with lower horseshoe-shaped shelves. This would create a more welcoming feeling at the entrance and open the sight lines across the floor, which reflects best practices for safety purposes. l There are multiple options for purchasing the shelves, which the library is researching. If the library uses the McCollum fund, they will formally ask the Library Committee to T spend the funds. P. Doherty: Check if the discount through the Department of Libraries would help defray costs. If the McCollum fund is used, consider publicly acknowledging the gift with a press release and/or F plaque. Another policy statement/document could be about the space to guide decisions about elements such as sight lines, safety, patron comfort, look and feel of the space, etc. This could be something like a “Housekeeping Plan.” N. Eddy: A vision statement discussing these elements can leverage benchmarks used in the A industry for the physical space of libraries. N. Eddy will further research shelving units and report on options at next meeting; the library will consider developing a Vision Statement around the physical space of the library R VII. Other Business l N. Eddy shared library statistics from November with the committee, including 33 new card registrations, 158 digital materials circulated, and 169 physical items distributed. l P. Doherty suggested that the agenda should include a space for library committee D members to make suggestions or comment on initiatives. For example, past suggestions and initiatives have included researching options around an outdoor parklet and sponsoring an annual Seed Swap. The library committee meeting agendas will include time for the members to proactively comment or report out. VIII. Adjourn Decision: Meeting adjourned at 8 PM. Motion by: P. Doherty Second: J. Wignall