Mask-Optional Family Library Time

247 1st Avenue East,Kalispell MT 59901

10 April, 2021

Description

A special mask-optional browsing and check out time for families Dear Families, If your family is mask-free, I'm personally hosting a drop-in time for you on Saturday, April 10th from 3:30-6pm to access materials on the first floor. Sign up for a time slot on this Eventbrite page.Use the SE side entrance Entrance is reserved to recognize the limited access mask-free patrons currently have to the library. RSVP is required. Here are some of the concerns I’ve heard about library access and what’s fair during the pandemic: “My children are being left out of browsing the library.” “Health-conscious families are being punished.” “All other libraries are fully open in Idaho and Montana. You need to be too.” “Montana in general is fully open.” “I cannot believe the library has set aside a time for "unmasked homeschool students". The fact that you want to segregate our children is appalling.” “You’re setting a bad example for our community when you allow people in the library without masks.” “There is no reason to accommodate people who won’t wear masks.” “Why are you letting a small portion of the community pressure you into doing things that aren’t safe?” “You’re accepting a full budget without being fully open. How is that fair?” “You are forcing staff to get vaccinated.” Potential concerns, objections, as well as rumors: “Will you be tracking our names and information in order to keep us separate?” “Is this part of an overall effort to create a vaccine requirement or passport?” “What rights are you going to take away next?” “Are you testing this out because it will be the new normal?” “Are you limiting the hours as a way of trying to wield your control over patrons and taxpayers?” Staff Are Exposed to As Many as 400 Patrons a Day The problem is there are ongoing safety concerns for library staff and patrons. Library staff come into contact with up to 400 patrons a day. That’s far beyond the contact that most of us have in our private lives. And they dedicated their professional lives to our libraries in Flathead County and they have no choice to reduce the number of people they are exposed to while at work, aside from resigning. I have the obligation to provide a reasonably safe environment for County library staff with as little disruption in services for our patrons and taxpayers as possible. What does that mean? Staff spend between 4-8 hours working closely, one-on-one with patrons. We wouldn’t be doing our jobs if we hung back behind our desks with a piece of Plexiglas between us and patrons. Something that would be nearly impossible in the children’s area. Kids are so visual, you need to show them where things are. They need more than a map of where to find the youth books. Respecting Your Rights and Fulfilling My Responsibilities As members of the community and taxpayers you expect to have full access to your library in a way that fits your family’s values. My guess is browsing the stacks at the library is central to why you visit the library. And curbside pickup and other accommodations feel like an affront. That is not the intention or motive for the temporary mask requirement. I cannot ignore the amount of exposure our staff has because of the nature of our work. I take community members concerns, objections, and fears (like those mentioned above) seriously. What’s Keeping Us From Fully Opening Right Now? When Governor Gianforte rescinded the mask mandate, he turned over the decision-making to local officials, service providers, businesses and individuals. As of early April, all public facing state offices still require staff and visitors to wear a mask in order to limit the spread of the virus. Why am I bringing this up? The Governor’s thinking makes sense to me given the hours of exposure staff have and the potential of a library becoming a super-spreader location before vaccinations are available to anyone who wants one. Here’s specifically what I am waiting for: When all of library staff have the chance to be vaccinated (if they choose to). All of our staff who want a vaccination have already received the first does. (At the risk of being an annoyance to Walgreens, I called daily to reserve any unclaimed appointments times or extra shots for our staff.)2 new staff stations are installed, and the Public Health Officer does not object to changing the requirement to a recommendation. When these things happen then the mask requirement will be changed to a recommendation. I anticipate that will be in June. As your library director, I need to come up with as many solutions as feasible to give you access to the library. Library spaces and staff resources are still in transition as we open up to more hours in May and eventually a change in the mask requirement. You can see the draft re-opening plan here: https://imagineiflibraries.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Library-Re-opening-Plan-v-4.pdf Here’s the bad news: This is what I expect the coming months to look like at the library. April No increase to public access 30-minute time limits Masks required Accommodations created for the pandemic (curbside, special appointments, personal shopper, take and make programming, etc.) will be reviewed to see what we can afford to continue and what needs to be stopped when we fully reopen. May Return to full, pre-pandemic hours for patron access 30-minute time limits Masks required Some special services will likely be discontinued (curbside, special appointments, personal shopper, take and make programming, etc.) June Masks recommended (not required) 30-minute time limits In-person storytime will be back, but less frequent and held outside Summer Reading Program is self-guided, junior ranger style program with no group programs in the buildingLimited seating may continue I am committed to moving the transition to more services along as swiftly as my responsibilities as library director allows. Please contact me directly with comments and concerns. Connie Behe ImagineIF Libraries Director [email protected] 406-758-5824