Recap of Statewide Zoom – March 23, 2021

Zoom Meetings:

Note about changed security settings for Zoom.  No one can join until the designated host is logged in.

I noticed some people accessing outside of the meeting and did not recognize names – so made this slight change. The room should open at 3 for the 3:15 pm start. Apologies for those unable to get in prior to 3 pm on March 23.
The meeting recording is posted on the Coronavirus webpage<https://www.maine.gov/msl/libs/services/Coronavirus.htm> and linked here<https://www.maine.gov/msl/libs/services/zoom_March23_2021.mp4> for convenience.
Quarantine – Reduce to 24 hours
Survey results indicate the majority favor a move to 24 hours for quarantine of books.  Based on survey plus chat comments there is still a wide spectrum of beliefs for quarantine.  Survey response summary<https://www.maine.gov/msl/libs/services/documents/March2021QuarantineSurveyResults.pdf> and individual anonymized<https://www.maine.gov/msl/libs/services/documents/AnonymizedQuarantineSurvey-March2021.xlsx> results are available for you to review. The Maine State Library received a clarifying response from Maine DECD, who along with Public Health, indicated in lieu of cleaning and disinfection (as referenced in the General Guidance under Cleaning of “rented” materials), that “quarantine is a method of disinfection but had no recommendation of a set time.”
The Maine State Library is establishing a 24-hour quarantine for the statewide ILL/van delivery system. ILL materials received at your library for return to lending libraries should be quarantined for 24 hours before entering the van delivery system.  Also, the guidance remains that books on your shelves are ready and safe to lend via ILL/van delivery based upon your library’s quarantine and safe materials handling procedures.
The agreed upon 24-hour quarantine allows everyone who works in ILL and those at Freedom Xpress to have a level of confidence regarding how materials are handled statewide. We all know that there exists a wide spectrum of beliefs and interpretation of the science (lab and/or real world) of fomites and COVID virus transfer.  The Maine State Library appreciates everyone who responded and commented on the survey to help us to find some consensus along the quarantine spectrum.
Checklist Update
The Public Library Checklist<https://www.maine.gov/msl/libs/services/documents/LibraryChecklist-Approved-MaineLibraryCommission-May18.pdf> is being updated to align with changes made to the Public and Community Building Checklist<https://www.maine.gov/decd/checklists/public-and-community-buildings> (March 5, 2021) and the General Guidance Checklist<https://www.maine.gov/decd/checklists/general-guidance> (March 12, 2021).  In addition to the quarantine update are changes to cleaning protocols and building capacity/room capacity guidance.
Note: The 6-foot physical distance and mask requirements remain in effect. References to 3-foot distance changes are for K-12 classrooms only.
MSL will post draft updates and send to the Maine Library Commission for their review next week.
ARPA funding from IMLS.
We expect OMB to finish review of procedures and IMLS will provide MSL with a funding commitment letter in April. We will discuss in depth at the next Statewide meeting on either April 6 or April 13 (depending on when we receive the funding documents). MSL is receiving $2,294,177 in federal funding to spend on library services in Maine that align with IMLS priorities and MSL’s five Year LSTA Plan.  MSL will send out a survey next week to gather comments on statewide projects, beta projects and individual library grants. We want to use funds wisely and want libraries to be aware of other ARPA funds available to Maine libraries.  ALA has put together a great Library Recovery Funding Summary<http://www.ala.org/advocacy/sites/ala.org.advocacy/files/content/libfunding/fed/American%20Rescue%20Plan%20Act%20of%202021%20ALA%20Summary.pdf> document for you to review.

MSL wants to ensure that programs and projects are utilizing the best and most targeted funding stream for projects.

Example: The EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY FUND is probably a better resource to fund hotspots than is IMLS money ($7 billion versus $200 million from IMLS).



STATE and LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDS (in billions)
State

ME
State Govts

1.209 billion
States (Capital Projects)

129 million
Local Govts

494 million
Total

1.652 billion

https://www.multistate.us/insider/2021/3/16/american-rescue-plan-act-673-billion-for-state-and-local-governments

Individual library grants would require that a library has a DUNS # in order to receive federal funding. I would encourage libraries to be proactive and use the DUNS Search tool<https://www.dnb.com/duns-number/lookup.html> to see if they have an existing DUNS # or request a DUNS #<https://www.dnb.com/solutions/government/duns-number-request-guide.html>. The SIC for Libraries<https://www.naics.com/sic-industry-description/?code=8231> is 8231.  More information to come.

IMLS Priorities and Purpose:

To achieve the American Rescue Plan Act’s purposes with respect to Grants to States, this funding is to be used by September 30, 2022, in helping communities respond directly and immediately to the pandemic, as well as to related economic and community needs through equitable approaches.  Spending priorities are as follows: 

  1.  First, to enable libraries to reach residents with internet hotspots, accessible Wi-Fi    and other digital inclusion efforts, particularly in support of education, health, and workforce development needs.  The following types of data, among others, can inform efforts to reach underserved populations:   

  *   Poverty/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)  
  *   Unemployment 
  *   Broadband availability;  

  1.  Second, to provide rapid emergency relief to libraries across the country, allowing them to    safely respond to the pandemic and implement public health protocols; 
  2.  Third, to support library services that meet the needs of communities throughout the U.S., including costs such as personnel, technology, training, materials, supplies, equipment, and associated indirect costs; and 
  3.  With respect to (a), (b), or (c), reach tribal and museum partners best positioned to assist with pandemic response efforts, in addition to traditionally eligible library entities, where appropriate. 


Last call to sign up for a free Trustee Manual.  Fill out request form.<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2021TrusteeHandbook>
Reading Round Up registration<https://maine-msl.libcal.com/event/7401498> is open. The date is April 9, 2021. The conference platform is Whova.
Spring Council is scheduled for May 7. The Topic is Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Libraries.

Stay well all,
Janet


Janet McKenney
Director, Library Development
Maine State Library
SHS 64
230 State Street
Augusta, ME 04333

207-287-5603
[log in to unmask]
@janetmckenney (Twitter)