Week 32: Countway Library Fall Semester Happenings!

By all accounts, our fall semester has been full steam ahead. Staff are onsite 48 hours per month and making tremendous progress doing work which cannot be done remotely such as the BML inventory, scan and deliver, borrow direct, grab and go, mail sorting, organizing the 2nd floor newly renovated spaces (admin and staff offices and kitchen), etc. The captains meet regularly in order to communicate throughout the library and work through issues that have occurred onsite in a given week.

We have responded in real-time to leaks, floods, changes to the entrance from Shattuck Street to the Countway parking lot, getting deliveries, installing new signage for UPS, FedEx, and WB Mason drop-offs and making decisions about the renovation and signage that cannot be done without “eyes on the ground.” Kudos to all!

As we enter the weeks before the holiday break, I want to call your attention to further happenings at Countway. First, we have resumed regular staff meetings. The plan is to have each unit report on their accomplishments during the pandemic and goals going forward. The schedule is as follows:

  • Tuesday, October 27 – R &I
  • Tuesday, November 24 – CHOM
  • Tuesday, November 22 – Scholarly Communication
  • Tuesday, January 26 – Access
  • Tuesday, February 23 – Collections

Second, the Countway Administrative Team has been working on our diversity plan and is seeking staff input. As a Library, we recognize and value the uniqueness of each individual. At the core of Countway Library’s evolving Diversity Plan are a group of terms with different meanings but equal importance—equity, anti-racism, diversity, and inclusion—which we as a group will work together to define. Conversations around these topics with CAT engaging staff as we work through the process of building a Diversity Plan incorporating both our current work and what we aspire to will take place over the next few months. CAT will incorporate staff feedback into the plan. We hope to devote the March all-staff meeting to a Countway Library wide presentation and discussion about our findings. Following the March staff meeting, CAT will be arranging a baseline all staff training session for the April staff meeting around diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, etc. If you have attended any training sessions or heard a speaker in this area that you would like to recommend for kick-off at our April meeting, please let me know. The dates for the March and April meetings have been tentatively set for March 23rd and April 27th, the April date is dependent on speaker availability.

There are other dates I would like to call to your attention.

  • November 3rd—Election Day-staff who wish to vote in person may take the time during the workday that they need to go to their polling station. We also encourage staff to take the time to reflect that day on voting and not hold library-related meetings. In addition, ALL staff scheduled to work onsite that day may work remotely instead of onsite (even if they have decided to vote early or by mail).
  • November 25th—the day before the Thanksgiving Holiday—All staff scheduled to work on-site may work remotely or take paid time off if they wish to take an additional day off.
  • December 24th—the day before Christmas is a half day. Staff scheduled to work onsite that morning may work remotely or take paid time off.

In all cases listed above, if staff work remotely on these designated days, they will not have to work alternate onsite time to achieve 48 hours of onsite work in a given month.

During the last 8 months, Countway Library staff have accomplished much during difficult and challenging times. I look forward to hearing more from you at our future staff meetings! And remember to send Luciana pictures of your voting experience if you feel comfortable doing so. #Countway votes.

Elaine

Elaine Martin wearing a cloth face mask while placing voting ballot in mailbox