‘Library News’ Archives
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 [...]
What”™s Up at Your Community Libraries
By Lindsey Fenner All Hennepin County Libraries closed on March 17 and are tentatively scheduled to reopen to the public on April 6. Please check the library website at www.hclib.org for updates, as the reopening date may change. Availability of listed services below may change. Starting March 20, ALL library staff are working from home. Hennepin County library workers fought hard to close library buildings down and keep library workers at home. This was a heartbreaking action to take; we all know how important public libraries are to the community. But frontline workers knew that it was impossible to keep libraries open or have workers in the buildings, and still keep workers and vulnerable community members safe. It was also heartbreaking because Franklin Library was scheduled to reopen on March 17 after a long renovation. Thank you to all of the community members who have advocated on behalf of library workers and patrons! We are still here (just working from [...]
