Public Services Managers Minutes - May 11, 2023

Welcome & Introductions:

We welcomed Page to her first PSM meeting and everyone introduced themselves. We also welcomed Kesha, Molly and Bre as representing their locations for the meeting.

Happy Notes:

LaVetta announced that she was going to be retiring on July 3^rd.

Scheduling Software Wish List:

ScheduleAnywhere’s price will be increasing again this year and therefore we will have to go out to bid on the software this year. We are looking into other options and would like to get some feedback about what you would put on your wish list for scheduling software. You may send any suggestions to the RD group so that we can gather it together. Here’s the list that we got at the meeting:

• Syncs with other software (such as Outlook)
• Hides the schedule while it is being worked on and then can be posted
• Ability to export it to Excel
• Save and paste templates for workweeks that don’t change much
• Auto blackout dates for holidays
• Sync to Paycom for leave purposes
• Assist in building a desk schedule
• Ability to build odd schedules if needed

Guest Experiences Checkin/Update

We are waiting on location specific commitments from some groups.

We are going to have the first GX 2.0 training on June 1^st with the RDs and Dennis

Overall the comments were positive from the locations that have completed the training so far. Some have commented that it is what we are already doing, it is the manager’s job to help staff see when it is what staff are doing and when it isn’t going quite like that in the interaction.

Locations are starting to make specific changes to help support GX.

Friends Grants

Please remember that our current process for Friends Grants means that it has to have been included in the budget before it will be considered. Also please ensure that the library manager and RD are included in discussions about requesting Friends Grants before DVS is approached.

Remember to use your Commission Special funds from the Friends and donations as well.

Breaking News:

Vintage Guides

The company who provides the Vintage Guides would like to send us 2 months of the publication at a time so we asked the LMs for guestimates of how many they have been going through at their locations.

Urban Library Council meeting

Larry attended and spoke with 52 other CEOs. Challenges are universal. About half the attendees are facing budget crunches and cuts.

Budget

We always start with a flat budget for the preliminary budget. When we get the final numbers in August/September we will go back and make changes. We are looking at the salaries and will do what we can, we cannot guarantee that anyone will get a pay bump. We may also have to absorb the cost of the DN elevators with estimates of around $650,000 next year.

Federal COVID emergency is ending. We are reviewing the protocol and will be communicating changes in the coming days.

Edmond 2 Update

They are currently in the process of collecting signatures to have a referendum on getting bonds for the 3 Edmond projects (courthouse, parking garage and the YMCA/library). The design phase is still moving forward. There is a public meeting tonight with the City, YMCA and library being represented. The signatures are due soon and if they do not get enough then the City will proceed with issuing bonds.

Almonte Update

Everything is on schedule so far. The framing of the building is complete and they will be paving the parking lot soon. Staff are excited as is the community. We are anticipating a November/December completion for a December/January opening. We are working on finding artists for the art projects that will be included in the building (a mural on the outside and a mosaic tile on the floor inside). There will be a drive up pickup window, hold lockers in the lobby for after hours pickup of holds and an MLS Studios.

Aspen Demo

Tim walked the group through some examples of how Aspen can work. New titles will automatically populate instead of having to be manually entered by staff. There will be links to databases that come up with searches. There will be real time results from Overdrive when searching. Library Market events can be pulled into search results and so can LinkedIn Learning courses. There are embedded help videos. Special Collections’ collections will be available as results as well. We can do more with creating a children’s catalog. This will not replace Library Market but it will reduce the number of websites that guests will have to visit. We will be having training for staff about it once we get closer to the implementation date.

Walk through Village-

Everyone took a walk through Village, everyone was impressed with the parking lot improvements. They mentioned displays and that there was a shark coming out of a wall (i.e. top of a shelf) in the children’s area.

Social Worker Update

We will be having 2 social work students this summer. They will be at CH, DN, RE, and SO. They will be training with Meghan Mueller at the Homeless Alliance at the beginning of their time and will be at the locations from June 1^st to August 4^th.

Public Service Update

Just a reminder that starting July 1^st we will be changing the name from Public Services to Guest Services. That will also be when OES comes back into Guest Services.

Location Sharing

Each location present shared an update about some things happening at their location.

Next meeting June 8^th 1:30-4