At a virtual special meeting today, the Board of Trustees, Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County (PLYMC), heard a report from Executive Director Aimee Fifarek that most libraries will reopen on Aug. 3. In addition, the Mahoning County system ratified a contract with Library employees, approved a retirement-incentive plan, and voted in a new board member.
The Austintown, Boardman, Canfield, East, Michael Kusalaba, Poland, Struthers and Tri-Lakes libraries will reopen on Aug. 3. They join the Newport, Brownlee Woods, Sebring and Springfield branches, which opened on July 13.
Three libraries remain unavailable for the time being – Main Library, Greenford and Campbell. The Main Library staff is creating a reduced-service area which will serve patrons during the renovation construction. Greenford Library is too small for adequate social distancing. And the Campbell Library will be available once the Community Literacy Workforce and Cultural Center, where it will be located, has opened to the public.
“We are so pleased to be able to welcome our patrons into our libraries throughout the county and bring back a very popular service, browsing our collection. We are asking the public to have patience during the days leading up to August 3, as this transition period may lead to some delays with phone service or curbside pickup. Our staff is gearing up to provide service and they are letting us know that they have missed being able to help our patrons with their library needs,” Fifarek said.
Masks will be required in libraries
Masks or cloth face coverings must be worn by those using the library, including children 6 years of age and older. The Library will have masks available at no charge for those who need one. Staff will be wearing masks. Patrons with a medical reason where they cannot wear a mask or cloth face shield are advised to phone the Library in advance to talk with staff about how their library needs can be met.
Libraries that are open will have safety measures in place, such as social distancing and plastic shields or similar material, spacing between computers, and reduced capacities. Services like meeting-room use, lounging and reading areas, and in-library programming are still not available.
The Library is reserving the first open hour at each location each day for patrons age 65 and over, as well as vulnerable patrons of any age with underlying health conditions. For in-library service, children 7 years and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian 18 years of age or older.
Brownlee Woods and Struthers to host special collections – Specialty services will be located in two smaller libraries in order to remain accessible to patrons throughout the Main Library construction. The Brownlee Woods branch will temporarily house materials and services for the Business Center, Jobs and Career Center, and the Grant Center. The Struthers branch will be home to the Genealogy and Local History collection and services throughout construction. Patrons should call the Library to schedule an appointment with a librarian for help with these collections.
Hours and capacities in libraries beginning Aug. 3
- Austintown – 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Library capacity: 70 people.
- Boardman – 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Library capacity: 77 people.
- Brownlee Woods – 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Library capacity: 19 people.
- Canfield – 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Library capacity: 70 people.
- East – 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Library capacity: 34 people.
- Michael Kusalaba – 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Library capacity: 43 people.
- Newport – 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Library capacity: 35 people.
- Poland – 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Library capacity: 74 people.
- Sebring – 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Library capacity: 14 people.
- Springfield – 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Library capacity: 13 people.
- Struthers – 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Library capacity: 24 people.
- Tri-Lakes –11 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Library capacity: 25 people.
On Aug. 1, Libraries will be unavailable during computer upgrade – On Saturday, Aug. 1, the four libraries currently providing service (Newport, Brownlee Woods, Sebring and Springfield branches) will be closed for one day as the Library’s Internet provider is performing an upgrade and libraries will not have Internet, computer or phone access. These libraries will reopen on their next scheduled day.
New trustee elected – Library Trustees unanimously elected T. Sharon Woodberry to the Library Board of Trustees, upon the recommendation of the Nominating Committee. Woodberry is director of Economic Development for the Department of Community Planning and Economic Development, City of Youngstown. She has been with the City’s Economic Development Office in various capacities since 2000.
Union contract ratified – Trustees voted to ratify a contract between the Library and the SEIU District 1199 CMT, comprised of clerical, maintenance, technical employees. The contract had been scheduled to expire in April 2020. Due to COVID-19, the contract was extended to July 31 and negotiated virtually. The five-year pact provides for 2.5 percent across-the-board pay increases annually. CMT union members ratified the agreement on July 7.
Negotiations with the Library’s other union, SEIU District 1199 PLAY (Public Librarians Association of Youngstown) were completed just prior to the Library’s COVID closings. This five-year agreement also provides 2.5 percent across-the-board pay increases annually. PLAY members ratified the agreement on March 8 and Library trustees ratified on March 11.
Retirement incentive program approved – Trustees approved a plan to offer a modest retirement incentive to PLAY and CMT staff with more than 80 points (points being years of service plus age). Staff electing to take the incentive will receive between $2,000 and $5,000 as a lump-sum payout with their last paycheck. The incentive plan was designed to help avoid layoffs resulting from the new COVID-era staffing plan. Each building will be operating with reduced capacities to support social distancing, which also reduces the number of staff required.
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