Access Services Minutes - August 15, 2023

Welcome: Tricia called the meeting to order. The group went around sharing their name, branch, title, and the best Guest Experience they have seen/given/received since the June AM Meeting.

Staff Day Update from Larry White, CEO: This year’s staff day will be more like a conference. The goal of the day is to be about staff learning about what we do and how it fits into the strategic framework. Staff should not have their backs to the speakers. Larry asked everyone to be engaged, pay attention, and please stay off cell phones. Fun things are scheduled including music at lunch by Blake Bricker and activities during breaks.

Learn: Hiring Process with Human Resources (Jeff Cover & David Leader, HUM): Jeff and David shared information about who in Human Resources is handling hiring. Elizabeth is no longer overseeing any hiring. She now is solely in benefits. They also answered several questions the group sent in advance. Here are some highlights:

• The cart assessment online is the same as the old cart assessments done at the time of the interviews.  The online version was created by Tricia Andrews and Risa Jensen-Jones.
• How to help HUM? Be organized and prepared. Make your requests crystal clear and give good info on the requisition. Know your hiring team, plus a backup, well in advance.  HUM prefers 3 people on the panel as an odd number means no tie. A HUM person can be on your hiring panel.
• Send an email to MLS recruitment if there are any issues or challenges.

Discuss: Small Group Sharing 

System Updates (Risa Jensen-Jones, PSA): Risa shared system updates.

• Young At Art Display coming to the Downtown Library by Special Collections. It will be a collection of Caldecott art in the downtown atrium mid-December to mid-January. Larry added that the system has ordered new large display panels (like what was used for the Holocaust exhibit) that will be used for this event but will be available to be used in the future by the branches for their own events.
• Festival of Literary Voices:  Kwame Alexander, James Patterson, and Kevin Kwan are being secured as speakers for April’s weeklong event during National Library Week.
• EDY architects are meeting with MLS Thursday morning.  The completed designs are expected to come in September. Still on track for a March 2025 completion, with construction scheduled to begin in October this year.

Next Meeting: October 17, 2023 at 1:30pm at Del City / Next Notetaker: Midwest City