Monday (Tuesday) Briefing - January 18, 2022

NYLA News

NYLA's New Executive Director

NYLA has selected a new Executive Director, here is a snippet from the press release…

It is an exciting time for our library association: we are poised to open the next chapter with our next Executive Director. The Search Committee conducted a rigorous and thorough search and presented their recommendation to Council on January 6, 2022.

Council unanimously approved the Committee’s recommendation that AnnaLee Dragon be the next Executive Director of the New York Library Association.

AnnaLee comes to NYLA after serving as the Director of the Kinderhook Memorial Library in Kinderhook, NY, since 2012. She has demonstrated a passion for libraries, advocacy, and for NYLA that is contagious and inspiring. AnnaLee is ready to face our current challenges head-on – from taking a fresh look at finances to fostering a positive culture among staff, Council, and membership.

AnnaLee and I have been friends since we both served on NYLA's Leadership and Management Section of NYLA; I am confident she will do a great job.

Advocacy Day 2022

Library Advocacy Day 2022 Goes Virtual this year.

On March 2, 2022, #LibraryAdvocates across the state will join together virtually for NYLA's Annual Library Advocacy Day. We cannot wait to join together to advocate for funding and policies that benefit and strengthen our libraries.

NYLA's 2022 Advocacy page is live at https://www.nyla.org/lad2022/

As we get closer to the date I'll keep you informed on what to expect from our legislators.

Online Board Meetings

Last week, Governor Hochul signed legislation allowing online meetings of public bodies to continue through "the end of the current public health emergency."

Employee Handbook Project

After reviewing the results from last week's survey on libraries interested in a template Employee Handbook, I've decided to move forward with the project (Project Docs Page).

My plan is to have the System fund the initial cost and the 2023 legal updates. In 2024 we will evaluate the effectiveness, usefulness, and adoption so we can develop a plan for moving forward.

Updated 2022 Trustee Workshop Schedule

Workshop	Date	Time	Link
State Aid for Library Construction Info Session	Monday, January 10, 2022	5:00 PM	Registration
Trustee Book Club: Budgets & Finance	Tuesday, January 18, 2022	5:00 PM	Registration
System Orientation for New Trustees	Monday, February 7, 2022	5:00 PM	Registration
Trustee Book Club: Facilities	Tuesday, February 22, 2022	5:00 PM	Registration
A Board's Guide to Book Challenges in Public Libraries	Thursday, March 10, 2022	5:00 PM	Registration
Trustee Book Club: Policies & Risk Management	Tuesday, March 29, 2022	5:00 PM	Registration
Trustee Book Club: Ethics & Conflicts of Interest	Tuesday, April 19, 2022	5:00 PM	Registration
Trustee Book Club: Planning & Evaluation	Tuesday, May 3, 2022	5:00 PM	Registration
Trustee Office Hours	Monday, May 16, 2022	5:00 PM	Registration
Trustee Book Club: PR & Advocacy	Tuesday, June 14, 2022	5:00 PM	Registration

https://docs.owwl.org/Community/TrusteeEducation

New York Sick Leave from HR Works

HR Works sent the following information in response to a few Sick Leave questions from last week that may be helpful.

The New York State COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave and the New York State Paid Sick Leave are two different banks of time. If an employee is under a government order of quarantine, they may be eligible for COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave which is different than the traditional Paid Sick Leave. Additionally, the amount of time an employee is entitled to under each of these leaves will depend on the number of employees the organization has. We have broken out these leaves below:

New York State COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave

Employees who work for companies with 11 – 99 employees are entitled to up to five days of COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave. This is only available to an employee if they are under a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation issued by the state of New York, the Department of Health, local board of health, or any government entity duly authorized to issue such order due to COVID-19. A doctor’s note or recommendation will not suffice, there must be a government order of quarantine to be eligible for this leave. There is no reimbursement or tax credit available to employers for payment of this leave.

Additionally, if an employee has the means to work remotely and are asymptomatic, they would not be eligible for this leave.

Employees who work for employers with 10 or fewer employees and less than $1 million business net income are eligible to apply for a combination of Paid Family Leave and Short-term Disability Insurance if they are under a COVID-19 government order of quarantine. Employees in this scenario would not be eligible for the five days of COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave, just the combination of Paid Family Leave and Short-term Disability Insurance.

New York State Paid Sick Leave

Employees that work for employees with 5 - 99 employees are entitled to up to 40 hours of New York State Paid Sick Leave per year. All employees in New York State are eligible for NYS Paid Sick Leave. This is separate from the COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave discussed above. The NYS Paid Sick Leave can be used by employees for a wide range of situations that are outlined by New York State below:

Permitted Uses

After January 1, 2021, employees may use accrued leave following a verbal or written request to their employer for the following reasons impacting the employee or a member of their family for whom they are providing care or assistance with care:

Sick Leave:

• For mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition, regardless of whether it has been diagnosed or requires medical care at the time of the request for leave*; or
• For the diagnosis, care, or treatment of a mental or physical illness, injury or health condition; or need for medical diagnosis or preventive care.

*This includes using leave for the recovery of any side effects of the COVID-19 vaccination. Please see 'Guidance on the use of Paid Sick Leave for COVID-19 vaccine recovery time'.

Safe Leave:

• For an absence from work when the employee or employee’s family member has been the victim of domestic violence as defined by the State Human Rights Law, a family offense, sexual offense, stalking, or human trafficking due to any of the following as it relates to the domestic violence, family offense, sexual offense, stalking, or human trafficking:
• to obtain services from a domestic violence shelter, rape crisis center, or other services program;
• to participate in safety planning, temporarily or permanently relocate, or take other actions to increase the safety of the employee or employee’s family members;
• to meet with an attorney or other social services provider to obtain information and advice on, and prepare for or participate in any criminal or civil proceeding;
• to file a complaint or domestic incident report with law enforcement;
• to meet with a district attorney’s office;
• to enroll children in a new school; or
• to take any other actions necessary to ensure the health or safety of the employee or the employee’s family member or to protect those who associate or work with the employee.

Additional information on the New York State Paid Sick Leave may be found here.