Dear MLS Members,

I hope you’re all doing well as we move into a new month. I have some updates to share with you:

  1. The MBLC and MLS released our Reopening MA Libraries Guidelines.  There is a lot of information in these living documents. Edits and additions will be available as we receive updated information. To assist with navigation through the information,  I plan to highlight a topic that can be found in the guidelines in each of my forthcoming member updates.
  2. Which leads to this message’s highlight! Many of you have questions about the safety of library materials. MLS and MBLC support following the NEDCC’s recommendation of a 3 day quarantine period. You can read more about this beginning on page 7 of the guidelines, under Collections and Circulation. This recommendation may be updated as more information becomes available.
  3. We’ve also heard some questions about acquiring PPE for staff, as well as sample posters and flyers to hang in the library with guidance on hand washing. Our colleagues at the MA Department of Public Health have created some great resources to share!  On their clearinghouse page, you’ll find posters, flyers, and other info ready to print and hang; many are available in multiple languages. Mass.gov also has some info on what supplies to purchase and where to get them.
  4. Below is the delivery update that our Delivery Coordinator, Amanda Malikowski, sent out yesterday. Please contact her with any questions:

We want to provide you with an update on phase one of Delivery.  In case you missed the previous update, our plan is to sweep high volume libraries to alleviate volume capacity at libraries, warehouses and in the trucks.

 

We have reached out to libraries with high volume. We are currently working with Optima to schedule pick ups. Many factors are involved in coordinating pick-ups.  We plan to complete our first sweep soon and may need to complete additional sweeps. We understand that libraries are reopening at different stages. We will be sending out a questionnaire asking you for information regarding accepting delivery, hours of operation, special delivery instructions and more. This questionnaire will be sent to the MLS Delivery Updates listserv. At this time, we do not have a date set for the resumption of delivery. This is a slow process and we thank you for your patience. We will continue to update you as the process moves forward.

 

Our staff remains available to respond to questions and concerns.

Thanks,
Sarah

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