Category: Uncategorized

You are appreciated!

Thank you to Rebecca B., Meaghan C., and Alissa L. for reviewing and making corrections/suggestions to our Employee Handbook (Nov 2023 edition). There were no substantive changes. We worked to clarify certain sections and corrected some errors.

Please find time to take a look at the updated document. Popular sections include those related to timekeeping, time off, and closings.

What’s missing? What questions do you have? We welcome suggestions for the next update!

Please direct all customer inquiries/issues about the Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers to the main RMLD customer service phone at 781-942-6598. The Customer Service Team can properly record and direct the report. If off hours, that number automatically forwards to RMLD Operations Control, which is staffed 24/7.

There was a report of an issue with one of these last week. RMLD is aware and working on it.

If you missed the all staff meeting on 8/31, watch your RPL coworkers in action in two films:

• Life of a Book Documentary
• Dunder Mifflin Program Seminar for RPL

Next Monday, August 14, 2023, the Board of Library Trustees will review two Requests for Reconsideration (RFR). If you receive inquiries about either RFR, you may print the documents linked below, which are being distributed to Trustees today and are thus public documents. The names of the individuals submitting the RFR are redacted. If anyone requests the name of the individual(s) submitting the RFR, please have them email rdgadmin@noblenet.org, and we will supply that information upon request. Patrons may also email rpltrustee@noblenet.org if they wish to make any further comments to the Board. The Trustee meeting will have limited time set aside at Monday’s meeting for Public Comment and be held in person with a Zoom participation option. Please direct patrons to the posted agenda for more details on the meeting.

• “Tricks” by Ellen Hopkins
• “Assigned Male” by Sophie Labelle

Do you want:

• More confidence working with patrons experiencing homelessness, mental illness, addiction or trauma?
• Less problematic behavior in your library?
• An inclusive library, capable of serving everyone?

 Presented by Ryan Dowd, author of the American Library Association book, The Librarian’s Guide to Homelessness. 

When*:    Thursday, August 17 at 11:00 AM or Friday, August 18 at 1:00 PM                *Times have been adjusted for your time zone

Length:  1 Hour

Registration Required: https://event.webinarjam.com/register/546/vy9lqc09

Just a little reminder (and in case you missed this in July)

Former President of the United States Barack Obama published an open letter on Monday, extending his support to America’s librarians in an era of rising book challenges and growing personal attacks against those who resist them.

In his letter, President Obama underscores the importance of communities being able to have access to information via libraries and expresses his and former First Lady Michelle Obama’s gratitude to librarians for their “unwavering commitment to the freedom to read.”

To the dedicated and hardworking librarians of America:

In any democracy, the free exchange of ideas is an important part of making sure that citizens are informed, engaged and feel like their perspectives matter.

Continue reading “Your work matters! Thank you…”

We are testing a new product called LibGuides. The Massachuestts Library System Professional Collection and the Policy Collection use LibGuides, and it is popular at colleges and universities. LibGuides can be for internal use (intranet how to guides) and/or for creating pathfinders, booklist, and other guides for public use.

Interested in testing out this product? We are in search of a few curious minds who would like to learn about LibGuides and take a crack at creating a few sample guides. Please contact Amy if you are interested in learning more.

To see examples, visit the LibGuide Community.

• Pride Guide
• Tools for Book Lovers
• Early Literacy
• Voting

Please note RPL’s current Patron Rights & Responsibilities policy says that patrons are to refrain from “Bringing in animals or pets except for properly leashed and trained service animals.” The section aims to ensure the access, public health, and safety of those visiting the library – those requiring service animals and those not.

If a situation escalates to cause concerns about access, public health, or safety, please remind the patron of this policy. Also, according to the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division,

Q. What questions can a covered entity’s employees ask to determine if a dog is a service animal?

A. In situations where it is not obvious that the dog is a service animal, staff may ask only two specific questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform? Staff are not allowed to request any documentation for the dog, require that the dog demonstrate its task, or inquire about the nature of the person’s disability.

In Massachusetts, the law requires staff to take individuals at their word.

Please report to Amy and Michelle if you see a rat/mouse or any unwanted critters anywhere in or on the Library property. The Town contracts with a pest control company that maintains the rodent black boxes around the perimeter of the building and will also deal with insects, etc.