August 28 Update

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Hi Everyone,

This week will see a lot of staff coming back to work.

Below is an update from Surinder.

As always send any concerns and questions to any member of the executive.

In Solidarity,

Sandra

From: Bhogal, Surinder <Sbhogal@surrey.ca>
Sent: 28-Aug-20 10:44 AM
To: SURREY PUBLIC LIBRARY <SURREYPUBLICLIBRARY2@surrey.ca>
Subject: Message from Chief Librarian: Updated Plans, Service Hours and Mask Protocols

Hi Everyone,

We look forward to welcoming many more staff back on September 1 as the branches are preparing for reopening – installing plexiglas, signage, and finalizing schedules, training documents and procedures. All staff will receive training on the safety protocols and new procedures. As information and health orders change, our plans are fluid, and processes and procedures will continue to change even after we open. Note the latest reopening documents are available on the Intranet here.

UPDATED SAFETY PLAN AND SECURITY MANUAL

  • An updated Safety Plan is on the intranet here. with the addition of 3 new procedures regarding testing positive for COVID, self-isolating and contact tracing. (appendices 0, P, S).
  • An updated Security Manual includes new procedures on patron physical distancing protocols and dealing with symptomatic patrons (section 3.23), and how to respond to racism (section 3.6.2)

REOPENING SERVICE HOURS & DAYS

Starting September 9, 2020,  we will reopen City Centre, Cloverdale, Fleetwood, Guildford, Newton, Ocean Park, Semiahmoo and Strawberry Hill with the limited hours. Port Kells will not reopen for public access but offer curbside/holds pick-up and closed stack service. Clayton branch will open in Q1 2021 – exact timing to be determined. The Library will remain closed on Sundays and Mondays, including Monday Dec 28. The Library will close on statutory holidays (Oct 12, Nov 11, Dec 25, 26, Jan 1, and remain open on Dec, 30, 31 and Jan 2. More details in the Level 3 Recovery Plan .

UPDATED PROTOCOLS FOR WEARING MASKS AT WORK

With the rise of COVID-19 cases in BC and as more staff return to work, the City is taking additional precautions to ensure everyone’s safety and to reduce the risk of exposure in the workplace.  Effective Tuesday, September 8:

  • Masks must be worn in areas where physical distancing is not possible, including elevators, stairwells and vehicles.
  • Masks must be worn when:
    • Staff are front facing, working with the public and not separated by a physical barrier
    • Departments have advised staff to wear masks.
    • There is a fire drill.
    • Staff visit other branches.
  • Masks are also expected to be worn when staff leave their immediate work areas and especially in common areas such as hallways, lunch rooms, and washrooms – essentially, at any point where you may not be able to maintain a  2 metre distance for another person.

City/Library staff have been issued with 2 cloth and 1 disposable masks. Please ensure that you have them readily available to use at any time while at work.

Thank you again to all the staff that have been working so hard to serve our public;  and all the teams that have contributed to our reopening preparations.

SURINDER BHOGAL | CHIEF LIBRARIAN

Q & A Meeting

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Hi Everyone,

We are having another Q & A meeting.

It is happening at 7 pm on Thursday, August 20. Link to be sent through the email list.

Please send any questions to Denise/Raqiya by Wednesday August 19. there will also be time to take questions from the chat during the meeting.

In Solidarity,
Sandra

Latest Updates

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Hi Everyone,

Here are the latest updates from Surinder.

Any questions, concerns, please contact any member of the executive.

In Solidarity,

Sandra

From: Bhogal, Surinder <Sbhogal@surrey.ca>
Sent: August 13, 2020 2:45 PM
To: SURREY PUBLIC LIBRARY <SURREYPUBLICLIBRARY2@surrey.ca>
Subject: Message from Chief Librarian: Safety Plan, COVID Activity Risk Assessment and latest Activities Update

Hi Everyone,

Surrey Libraries COVID-19 Safety Plan – The Library’s safety plan has been updated to include protocols for reopening to the public. See pages 11-15 of the plan attached – a copy is also posted on the intranet here.  Please note that this plan is a living document and will continue to be updated as we receive new guidelines from provincial health authorities or enter a new level of service. All currently employed staff will receive training on the level 3 new protocols.  Staff that are returning from temporary lay-off for level 3 services will receive training on the whole safety plan. More detailed procedures are also being prepared. Thank you to all the staff who have been preparing the reopening plans, and also to the joint Health and Safety Committee for their ongoing work on the safety related aspects.

COVID-19 Exposures –The number of cases continues to rise as more places reopen.  The BC Centre for Disease Control has excellent COVID-related information, including a list of public exposures.  Take a look at this page for confirmed cases of COVID on flights, cruises, places or events.

Canada COVID Activity Risk Assessment –  The federal government has created a neat visual assessing the risk associated with different types of activities.  See attached to make informed decisions about your activities in order to keep yourself and your families safe.

Library Activities Update – Here is the latest update on library activities, reported bi-weekly to the EOC. We are busy and look forward to welcoming many of our colleagues back soon. Thank you everyone for their very hard work in these unusual times.

 

Takeout Service –  offered at 6 library locations from Tuesday-Saturday.  5569 takeout forms have been processed and 37,526 physical items borrowed in 30 days of service.

 

Branch CC CV FL GL NE SE TOTAL
Jun 26 – Jul 4 208 196 207 257 256 408 1532
Jul 5 – 11 158 121 166 183 189 282 1099
Jul 12 – 18 177 128 151 187 176 213 1032
Jul 19 – 25 157 102 148 206 188 265 1066
Jul 26 – Aug 1* 118 57 94 114 94 123 600
Aug 2-8 38 28 39 54 39 42 240
Totals 856 632 805 1001 942 1333 5569

*On July 29, the online holds feature was enabled in the catalogue, allowing patrons to place their own requests, rather than using the webform, resulting in the anticipated  decline in takeout requests. As the library prepares to reopen branches, we are transitioning back to the holds system which is more efficient. 6,885 holds have been placed.

 

Phone Calls – daily calls to the library for service has increased to an average of 267 phone calls per days open to the public from an average 215 phone calls per days open from previous week, an increase of 20%.

 

Branch CC CV FL GL NE SE TOTAL
Jun 26 – Jul 4 103 97 138 104 150 163 755
Jul 5 – Jul 11 150 143 88 117 178 243 919
Jul 12 – Jul 18 160 111 120 118 184 213 906
Jul 19 – 25 237 57 111 131 199 223 958
Jul 26 – Aug 1 214 93 136 172 178 283 1076
Aug 2-8 233 93 89 179 213 529 1336
Totals 1097 594 682 821 1102 1654 5950

 

Email Service

Patrons send questions directly to libraryinfo@surrey.ca  or through a ‘Contact Us’ web form. Since June 26, the library has responded to 3044 messages, an average of 101 emails per day open.

Online Programs

Due to COVID-19 and subsequent branch closure, the library launched an array of online programs to address social isolation, promote connections in the community, while continuing to advance strategic objectives.  Program sessions include pre-recorded videos hosted on YouTube and ‘live’ programs with registration through MS Teams.

YouTube views

  • June 5: approx. 3,000
  • July 14: 19,468
  • July 20: 20,278
  • July 28: 21,888
  • Aug 4: 20,620 (one time-sensitive Summer Reading Club video was removed)
  • Aug 10: 21,017 – 747 views in the past week

Live Programs (scaled back in July & August to prioritize takeout service)

July 28- Aug 3: delivered 2 youth programs to 8 participants; and 4 adult programs to 38 participants.

Aug 4-10: delivered 4 youth programs to 252 participants; and 4 adult programs to 39 participants

Ebook Usage

 

Checkouts 2019 2020
February         37,884         43,587
March         41,602         52,266
April         40,194         64,247
May         40,655         70,496
June         40,982         66,076
July 44,576 69,660

New Users 2019 2020
February              533 569
March              563 1,202
April              545 1,946
May              526 1,048
June              556 897
July 676 767

New users = users new to the service who borrow or place a hold for the first time

Unique Users 2019 2020
February           7,489           8,840
March           7,771        10,166
April           7,738        11,976
May           7,827        11,879
June           7,864        11,253
July 7,816 10,574

Unique users = number of distinct different users who borrow, place a hold, or make a request (i.e. if I borrow 4 items it will only be counted as 1 unique user)

SURINDER BHOGAL | CHIEF LIBRARIAN

From: Bhogal, Surinder <Sbhogal@surrey.ca>
Sent: August 14, 2020 6:18 AM
To: SURREY PUBLIC LIBRARY <SURREYPUBLICLIBRARY2@surrey.ca>
Subject: Message from Chief Librarian – July 27 Town Hall Q & A

My apologies all, I inadvertently missed sending last week’s update, including the Town Hall Q&A. Please see below.

 

 

Hi Everyone,

 

I hope you are doing well.

 

Firstly, I wanted to commend all the branch staff who have been working very hard to deal with the massive volume of holds and growing returns. We’ve had some technical glitches and are experiencing some challenges with shortages of van boxes, and carts.  We have ordered more van boxes, and are looking at staffing; however, please pace yourselves and look out for one another to work in a safe manner – both physically and mentally.

 

I don’t have many new updates this week. It’s been trickier to meet as several staff are taking time off (much needed after weeks of intense work in uncertain times), however, preparations for the September 9 reopening are underway. The Ops team meets twice a week, the Labour Management Committee continues to meet weekly, and our Healthy and Safety Committee are also working diligently. We hope to share a copy of the revised safety plan with you next week, outlining the steps we are taking to ensure a safe workplace for our staff and the public when the branches reopen.

 

Our level 3 recovery plan has been approved by the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). Fraser Health, the City’s OHS Committee, and Risk department have also reviewed our plans. The final step is an endorsement from the Library Board, which will happen on August 20.

 

Thank you to everyone who participated in the last Town Hall. I’ve attached  the Q & A, a copy of which is also posted here.  We’ll assess if there is value in another Town Hall prior to the September 9 reopening. Now that several staff are at work, it’s harder to find an ideal meeting time, and the July 27 session was attended by about half the participants than our previous sessions. However, this is another avenue for you to ask questions and share ideas about plans, so we will find a way to continue these Town Halls.

 

Finally, the number of COVID cases are starting to creep up in our province. Please continue to practice physical distancing, wearing a mask when you cannot maintain a 2 metre distance, and continue with frequent handwashing – both at home and work. Do not come to work if you are experiencing any symptoms – phone Health Link BC 8-11 for advice.

 

Let’s keep up the good work – it has been an extraordinarily unsettling time in all our lives but we will get through this!

 

Thanks,

 

 

SURINDER BHOGAL | CHIEF LIBRARIAN