‘Library News’ Archives
What”™s Up at Your Community Libraries
By LINDSEY FENNER Hennepin County Libraries are reopening with limited in-person services. For Updated information on Hennepin County Library (HCL) services during the Coronavirus Pandemic, visit www.hclib.org. All information is accurate as of July 15, 2020 Library Updates: As of Tuesday, July 14, Franklin Library is open for computer use! Call 612-543-6925 to make an appointment. The building will remain locked, but staff will let you in at your appointment time. Masks are required and will be provided if you don”™t bring one. You will need to bring your own headphones. At this time, Franklin Library is open for computer use ONLY. Other areas and services, including book/DVD check-out, are not available. They will be accepting returns during staffed service hours. Franklin Library Computer Hours Tuesday & Wednesday 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Thursday 12-7:30 p.m. Friday & Saturday 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sunday [...]
Community Libraries
By Lindsey Fenner As of May 21, all HN Cty libraries are still closed to the public, although there are 8 locations currently doing curbside pick-up for requested materials. Please do not return library materials at this time. Library workers have been advocating for returns to be delayed until a safe process can been developed. With the end of the MN Stay At Home order, HN Cty is currently working on tentative plan to bring back more library services to 4-6 libraries by mid-June, but it is not clear what those services will be or which libraries will be selected to provide those services. In addition, about 100 frontline library workers are still not being allowed to work or have any input in reopening planning. But whatever library services resume will look nothing like the community library you remember. The Coronavirus pandemic is having a serious financial impact on local gov”™t, and HN Cty Commissioners are having discussions about what the future will look [...]
What”™s Up at Your Community Libraries
Photo: PATRICK LARKIN By Lindsey Fenner On April 5, Hennepin County Library locked out around 311 County workers, including about 220 library workers. Most workers locked out are library specialists, who are among the lowest paid County workers. Library specialists usually provide the support functions that make libraries run, and had been working hard supporting remote library services since the libraries closed in mid-March. AFSCME Local 2822, which represents all but one of the locked-out workers, has filed a class action grievance against the lockout action by Hennepin County. Starting April 13, Hennepin County Library started offering curbside holds pick up at 8 library locations, including at East Lake Library. Library workers have raised public health and worker safety concerns about providing this non-essential service, especially as the County decided to make recall to these high-risk locations involuntary, over the protest of Local 2822. (Curbside service has [...]
