By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
The Wood County District Board of Trustees gave Library Director Michael Penrod the go ahead to lay off employees in line with the library’s policy and state law.
The move comes as the library faces a cut of 20 percent in state funding. The library has been closed for seven weeks and has continued to pay employees during this period. But there’s uncertainty how long it will be when the library will resume its normal operations.
This was not a position, he ever thought he would be in, Penrod said.
The cut in state funding would put it at a level that it was at during the Great Recession. Then the library cut its staff almost in half. But that, Penrod noted, was done over two years with many of the cuts done through attrition. The library was also closed for short periods with the employees furloughed without pay. Penrod was assistant director at the time.
The resolution came after an executive session.
“This is a very difficult decision to make,” said Brian Paskvan, president of the board, “but we must make sure the library is financially stable.”
Before the executive session, the board discussed Penrod’s proposal for partially opening the library.
The first step will begin on Monday when some employees will return to get the library set for workers to return, and eventually the public to come back in.
Those preparations will include clear screens and more separation at the circulation desks, and relocation of office spaces to allow for more distance.
The library is purchasing appropriate personal protective gear for staff and for patrons. That would include 2,000 masks for patrons. The trustees voted to require all patrons to wear appropriate face coverings when they enter the library.
Staff is also being trained in the procedures needed to operate the library under current restrictions.
The meeting room will be given over to holding books that have been returned until they can be assured they free of any coronavirus.
Penrod said one of the difficulties of dealing with the pandemic has been the shifting advice as epidemiologists have learned more about the virus.
The next phase would be to ramp up the circulation of materials through curbside pickup, or possibly delivery.
If they can deliver a pizza to my porch, I should be able to get a book as well, Penrod said.
Beyond that would be allowing some patrons into the library. They would be limited in numbers and duration. The cushy furniture will not be available to discourage lingering.
Trustee Ken Frisch also wondered if the opening to patrons should at first be limited to adults.
Penrod said that there would be a restriction on unattended minors in the library.
The library when it does open to patrons will not be the same. Such staples as story times for kids and book clubs for adults will not happen face to face for some time.
Computer use may be limited to essential services, not for playing games and checking Facebook.
Penrod praised staff for maintaining services even in the period of social distancing.
