Q & A – Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Would it be possible for branches to have access to the information included in the board packets, either in print or electronically?

The short answer is yes. However, some information would need to remain confidential until after the board approved the item, such as granting contracts. Anna will look into how we could make it work. 


Will the policy update regarding lost items not being able to be replaced by the patron be retroactive or apply moving forward?

We always want to err on the side of the patron. If patrons were contacted prior to the policy change and were told they could purchase a replacement item, we will honor that. Moving forward, we will not offer it as an option.


Will patrons be notified of the policy change? 

We will make an effort to get the message out, but staff will most likely still need to educate patrons. 


How will patrons know what the replacement cost is? It currently does not appear in the PAC.

Currently, staff can access replacement costs from Polaris and can share that cost with patrons. Holly is looking in to how to make the cost visible in PAC as well.


What hours will curbside be offered with the expanded hours?

Each branch has control over their individual schedules so they can adjust service hours to meet the needs of their patrons and staffing levels. We will not publicize exact curbside hours, but patrons will be able to see what appointment times are available when they go online to schedule their pick-up.


Has there been any discussion of how long staff will have remote access to their email?

Staff will continue to have remote access to their email for the time being. Many virtual programs require some staff to access their email in order to communicate with registrants. We will revisit the issue as necessary.


We will share more information about the board meeting soon, but Nikki got some exciting news. The Board approved the purchase of a new financial and human resources system that offers many options to facilitate Support Services workflow. It is a web-based program with full financial, HR, and fixed asset capabilities. It will be instrumental in processing payroll, onboarding new hires, and automating many financial reports that were previously created manually. There is an employee portal for staff featuring electronic timesheets and access to pay stubs, previous W-2s and leave balances. It is scheduled to be up and running in the first quarter of 2021.