Public Services Managers Minutes - July 08, 2021

Core Values and Ground Rules: 

• Start and finish on time  
  
  • Respect 
• Respect confidentiality  
  
  • Respect and Integrity 
• Raise your virtual “hand” and wait to be called on before speaking in Zoom meetings. 
  
  • Respect and Innovation 
• Be present and engaged 
  
  • Respect and Integrity 
• Ask questions and raise issues in the meeting  
  
  • Integrity and Innovation 
• Be respectful of others’ contributions  
  
  • People First and EDI 

Welcome & Introductions

Risa Jensen-Jones welcomed the group to the meeting.

ART Collection – Judie Matthews: The Oklahoma Contemporary Art Reference Library. 

Judie Matthews gave a presentation about a new resource Metro will soon offer to the public, in partnership with Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center. The Oklahoma Contemporary Art Reference Library will open to the public on August 23 with a reception Downtown.  This new subject collection will be housed Downtown and will circulate like the regular collection, with a location code of ART.  This collection is a gift from Oklahoma Contemporary Art Center, ArtDesk magazine, and the Kirkpatrick Foundation.   Required training will be available in August via EduBrite.

• Please email Judie if you need a stand for ArtDesk magazine at your location.
• Managers should let staff know about the new art reference collection.

RE Centennial – Judie Matthews and Kimberly Francisco

Judie shared some early history of the Library System regarding the segregation of library services which led to the establishing of Dunbar Library in 1921 for the use of the African American community. The loss of Dunbar to imminent domain during urban renewal in 1968 led to the construction of Ralph Ellison in the seventies. Kimberly then shared information about the Ralph Ellison Centennial Commemoration. It is important for the Library System to recognize its history of segregation, share the story as our true and authentic story, and pave the way for an inclusive future. The commemoration will include a landing webpage, traveling exhibit, and a public statement acknowledging the segregation that took place.  

Self-Care Bingo – Brandon Beckham

Brandon introduced a new staff challenge Metro will be offering, Self-Care Bingo. Circulation Forum came up with the idea after discussion about the challenging and stressful circumstances presented in 2020 due to the pandemic. The Circ Forum then worked with the Staff Association to bring this to the entire system. This program will operate similarly to the Winter Reading Challenge.  Completed bingo cards will be submitted via the intranet and drawings for prizes will take place. Staff are eligible to participate. We will begin advertising this July 15 and the event will run the month of August.

• Managers should promote this event at their locations.

Self-check – Risa Jensen-Jones

Feedback was shared regarding the use of touchless self-check. The consensus was that customers are not always appreciative of the timeout feature, are often confused, and would like the option of a printed receipt. It was determined by the group to return the self-check machines to their previous, pre-pandemic settings.  Risa will communicate with IT to move this forward and will find out an ETA.

Risa then shared details about another self-check option being explored using MeeScan software and dedicated iPad kiosk devices. This device would sit on a table and use barcode scanning. It would include a small wireless printer and leave a footprint smaller than the current self-checks. This is currently a pilot project active only at DN.

Readers Advisory Card Idea – Erin Bedford

Erin shared an idea from another library system about a Readers Advisory card. This is a small card on which staff can write recommendations for further reading. These cards could be inserted into ready holds or could be used in face-to-face readers advisory interactions. These cards can be printed at a system level and use will be determined at location level.  The group determined to move forward with this project. There was also a discussion about a possible connection to the Tailored Titles branding.

• Managers should send a ballpark estimate of how many cards might be needed for the first 6 months to Chris Kennedy.

Civil Legal Justice – Nicole Sump-Crethar

Nicole reported on a recent training she took part in, Creating Pathways to Civil Legal Justice.  L & D will begin offering this 4-part training in September.  This training is for library staff and is intended to help staff assist customers with civil legal questions. Training will be 8 weeks with reading and video components and discussions facilitated by Nicole.

• Managers should talk to staff who might be interested in this training.

Library Market refresh – Tim Spindle

In anticipation of return to a fully open status, CIS created three Library Market tutorial videos as a refresher since Library Market has not been used in 17 months. The videos total 6 minutes in length. Managers provided feedback on the videos and they will be edited before being shared with staff.

Location Sharing / Reminders / Updates

• Managers should send names for those interested in being a notary to their RD.
• The next professional development training for the PSM group will be July 29.
• The group shared location updates and then broke out into the following breakout rooms:

1. Question or challenge you need help with.
2. PD topic brainstorming for July 29 (please send notes).
3. ED2 will have to operate differently than our traditional libraries. What current service or process could be changed to be more efficient or take less staff? Consider ways we could do more self-service as well (please send notes).

Adjourn 4 pm