February 8, 2021

DLD Reopening Task Force

The Reopening Task Force is a group of System and State Library staff who are analyzing information from libraries across New York. They have asked for our help in completing the Google Sheet linked below. If you have a moment, all you need to do is check the appropriate boxes for your library and answer the non-highlighted fields.

DLD Survey

Advocacy Day 2021 Appointments

I will have an OWWL Docs page up soon with all the appointments for Advocacy Day. Stay tuned.

PLSDAC Follow-Up

Recording

Click here for a link to the recording of the February 5, 2021 PLSDAC Meeting.

Build America's Libraries

The legislation would provide $5 billion to support long-term improvements to library facilities, including addressing needs that have arisen due to COVID–19, to enable libraries to better serve rural, low-income and underserved areas, as well as people with disabilities and other vulnerable library users. Source: http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2021/01/ala-acclaims-re-introduction-build-america-s-libraries-act

Below is a summary of the act as well as the letters written to Senator Gillibrand and Senator Schumer that were mentioned on Friday.

• Build Americas Libraries Act Summary - 01.2021.pdf
• Build Americas Libraries Act - Gillibrand.pdf
• Build Americas Libraries Act - Schumer.pdf

If you would like to take action on the Build America's Libraries Act, I would encourage you to complete ALA's Advocacy request here. For more information, take a look at ALA's Advocacy Page.

Resolution on Monetary Fines and Fees

As mentioned on Friday, here is a link to the System's updated Resolution on Monetary Library Fines and Fees as a Form of Social Inequity. This resolution was updated in September 2020. If your library is thinking about going fine-free, let us know what information you need.

Plan of Service 2022-2026

Systems are required to file a Plan of Service with DLD every five years. This includes evaluating the predetermined goals and objectives laid out by the State, updating the Central Library Plan of Service, updating the Free Direct Access Plan, and getting member library director feedback on those items. To accomplish this, I am going to draft all the documentation and send it to all of you for review. There will be some type of mechanism to receive feedback, but for now, I just want you to be aware that it is coming. If you would like to take a look at our current 2017-2021 Plan of Service you can click here.

mRNA Vaccines

The video included in the quote below is a short and to the point explanation of how mRNA vaccines work.

 

It will be a good resource if you receive any questions.  

You've heard of mRNA vaccines—but do you know how they work?Both the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are mRNA vaccines. New York State released a video explaining how mRNA vaccines work to safely protect individuals from COVID-19. Three key things to know: They do not affect your own genetic material or DNA in any way; they do not contain the actual COVID-19 virus; and they cannot give you COVID. Watch the video.

Trustee Training

Next week we have our first two Trustee Workshops of the year.

• Office Hours for Trustees - Thursday, February 18 at 4:00 PM
• Roles & Responsibilities for New Library Trustees - Thursday, February 18 at 6:00 PM

If you have new Trustees I would recommend the Roles & Responsibilities training. If you have Trustees with questions let them know about the Office Hours. It will run the same way that Suzanne and I hold Office Hours for Directors.

Be sure to register so you can get the links.

SPAM Email

Earlier today an email went out that looked like it came from me asking people to "run a quick task." I am not sure how far spread it is, nevertheless this is a good opportunity to remind people of Email Spoofing. Messages can be sent with a familiar name even if an email account has not been compromised. If something looks a bit odd in an email from a contact, it is always a good idea to take a look at the address it's coming from to see if you recognize it.

Email Spoofing Example

> From: Ron Kirsop <executvedirector09 at gmail.com>
> Sent: Mon, 08 Feb 2021 08:06:47 -0500 (EST)
> Subject: Task
>
> I need you to run a quick task,
>
> let me know if you're unoccupied.
>
> Thanks.
> Ron Kirsop

Last Week's Briefing

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