Hosts
Key: IHLS Library
Chris Dawdy: Hello everyone!
Susan Edwardsville: Hi Chris
Diana Donahoo-Centralia RLD: Hi!
Susan Colbert - Sparta Public Library: Hello!
Diane - Breese P.L.: Hello.
Chris Dawdy: So, did any of you have weird weather yesterday? The golf ball sized hail that was beating on the roof at the Edwardsville office stopped the IHLS Board meeting for awhile last night because it was so loud!
Susan Colbert - Sparta Public Library: Nothing serious in Sparta, thankfully. But our power was out for 4 hours early this a.m.
Susan Edwardsville: I was on the other side of Edwardsville and didn't have any of it!
Chris Dawdy: Lucky you! We all have a few new dents on our cars!
Ellen Popit: I was at the O'Fallon Township High School Board Meeting and when the sirens went off they evacuted the entire meeting space and I bet there were about 400 people there.
Chris Dawdy: Well, enough about the weather! What would you all like to talk about today?
Kristina Benson-Du Quoin: Elkville is in bad shape.
Ellen Popit: @ Kristina, yet, I'd like to contact that library and also Royalton and see how they are!
Chris Dawdy: What kind of problems there, Kristina?
Kristina Benson-Du Quoin: There must have been touchdown right outside of the community. There are houses with significant damage. I think Johnnie and the library further in would be okay. I don't school is in session today.
Kristina Benson-Du Quoin: doubt not don't
Esther Curry--C.E. Brehm Memorial PLD: Mt Vernon had some hail around 3am, but nothing too crazy. Thank goodness.
Ellen Popit: I'm pretty sure they were closed.
Ellen Popit: I guess this all means we should review safety procedures at home and at work.
Ellen Popit: They really had it down at the high school last night!
Kristina Benson-Du Quoin: Ellen, good idea. We are all windows. My plan when the sirens go off is to escort patrons to a back hallway. Every time, we have patrons refuse to leave. Does anyone else have this problem?
Stephanie Carmi Public: We sometimes have people in the community come to the library if the weather is really bad during the day. Of course last night we were already closed when it hit our area.
Susan Colbert - Sparta Public Library: I, myself would want to get home, but I think it would be safer for staff & patrons to stay in a safe place in the library until the storm is over.
janeth: We had a patron that did not want to leave during a gas leak scare. Of course, we wouldn't stand for that.
Kristina Benson-Du Quoin: Not leave the library. They refuse to leave the computers that are surrounded by glass.
Susan Colbert - Sparta Public Library: Oh dear, that's not good.
Kristina Benson-Du Quoin: Janeth, thank you for sharing that. I thought it was just me not being forceful enough to manage the situation.
Esther Curry--C.E. Brehm Memorial PLD: We have people try, but we just tell them they have to leave. We could shut off the computer through SAM--if it came to that.
Kristina Benson-Du Quoin: That might be the best policy. Shutting down the computers.
Stephanie Carmi Public: I strongly agree with shutting down the computers over this issue as well as a few others!
Esther Curry--C.E. Brehm Memorial PLD: I'd hate to take the time to do that--if it was a Tornado Warning. But usually, saying it's a tornado warning gets them moving.
Susan Edwardsville: Here's a question about safety. We had a staff meeting where the police came and talked us through how to react a shooter or violent person at the library. So we all know what to do, but I can't imagine it going smoothly because heariong a lecture or viewing a video just isn't the same.
Susan Colbert - Sparta Public Library: I think that in an emergency situation like the sirens going off and time is important, I wouldn't bother with SAM. I'd just manually shut them down.
Esther Curry--C.E. Brehm Memorial PLD: We have a safey phrase--and we have had to use that in some strange situations. It's a name and we usually say X is here for you or could you call X.
Teresa (Paris): Our public computers are all on the same circuit breaker. If necessary, I'd shut off the breaker.
Susan Edwardsville: Has anyone ever had a realistic enactment or training for a violent intruder??
Esther Curry--C.E. Brehm Memorial PLD: Susan C--we don't turn them off, it would just be an option if there was a patron not leaving.
Chris Dawdy: Yes, we did at all of the IHLS offices. It was a really scary event!
Kristina Benson-Du Quoin: Susan-No, we have a panic button that we test and the police next door.
Ellen Popit: @ Susan Edwardsville Susan, some police departments will do real drills with weapons going off, etc. I don't know if that would make people more aware. We did active shooter training recently. The DuQuoin group had two people from the U of I police force and their focus was very much of dealing with the mentally ill. It was really interesting.
Susan Edwardsville: Chris-who put it on at IHLS?
Chris Dawdy: The Edwardsville Police Department.
Esther Curry--C.E. Brehm Memorial PLD: We've had more issues with "mentally unstable" patrons, than violent ones.
Ellen Popit: One thing that training did was make us all very aware of our surroundings and what were dangers and what were safe spaces.
Stephanie Carmi Public: We have more problems withs mouthy and smart alec kids than anything!!
Susan Edwardsville: Chris. The Edwardsville police gave us a lecture, but no realistic training. Do you recommend having staff go through it?
Diane - Breese P.L.: Same Here.
Kristina Benson-Du Quoin: We try to graciously take care of our mentally ill patrons. But there have been some bad situations.
Chris Dawdy: Yes, because as Ellen said, even though the training was several months ago, I still observe staff looking for possible dangers, and looking for safety measures. The couple hour event had a definite impact on those of us who attended.
Stephanie Carmi Public: Looking forward to the Members Matters meeting next week. I think these are very important especially for the smaller libraries
Ellen Popit: Great! We have fun at those!
Susan Edwardsville: Chris-thanks, I'll look into it.
Ellen Popit: I just checked with Elkville and Royalton and neither library had an weather issues last night. They were very fortunate!
Ellen Popit: One thing we really want to ramp up in the Member Matter Meetings is the discussion piece. The topic we included for the March Meeting is patron privacy. What are the best practices and what questions can be discussed as a group. It should be interesting.
Chris Dawdy: Looks like there are 34 people signed up to participate in Members Matter next week. You all know you don't have to travel, right? You can participate using Zoom from your library?
Susan Edwardsville: looking forward to it!
Stephanie Carmi Public: Sometimes it is good to travel to get to visit other libraries!!
Chris Dawdy: Yes, Ellen and I like to travel around visiting all of you!
Ellen Popit: ....and I have the easy drive next Tuesday!
Ellen 2: In case you were all dying to know....395 libraries have completed the certification process with only 129 left to go!
Ellen 2: And....speaking of Members Matter, we hope you saw the announcement for our 3rd annual member day to be help on Tuesday, April 18th at the Keller Conference Center in Effingham. It's going to be a great day!
Chris Dawdy: And we have sponsors!! So there will be no cost for member library staff to attend.
Chris Dawdy: i.e, lunch is free!
Ellen 2: .....and the food is always the most important, correct?
Ellen 2: Also, later today, you'll see an announcement of Director's University, which is a state-wide initiative to replicate the training that used to take place at SPLMI (Statewide Public LIbrary Management Institute). It will be held June 5th through 8th in Springfield. However, SPLMI graduates are not eligible to attend. The application is already up on ILA's website.
Ellen 2: What else can we talk about? Anything exciting going on in your libraries or any happennings that you'd like to share (no pun intended!)
Teresa (Paris): Paris is involved for the 7th year in Vigo County Library's (Terre Haute, IN) Big Read. We are doing Their Eyes Were Watching God. And at the same time, our Friends group is doing our 2nd annual Adult/Teen Reading Program.
Twilla Coon: I have a question I had a patron come in they live in one state and have a library card there they say they own property in wabash and is wanting a library card here too can they do that?
Chris Dawdy: Is anyone doing anything tomorrow for Dr. Seuss' birthday??
Susan Colbert - Sparta Public Library: On March 28th at 6:30 we're have a program by Bill Jamerson called "Dollar-A-Day Boys which is a musical tribute to the Civilian Conservation Corps. This was FDR's work program during the Great Depression. Sparta had a CCC camp just outside of town. The CCC is the group that built Giant City Park.
Ellen 2: Twilla, do they have any proof that they own property within your library district? A water bill?
Chris Dawdy: Yes, Twilla, they can, but you will want to have them show you some proof that they own land in your library's boundaries.
Ellen 2: @Teresa, what ages are participating in the Big Read?
Chris Dawdy: Sounds interesting, Susan!
Teresa (Paris): Adults and teens this year. In other years, when the book was a better fit, we had activities for elementary students.
Ellen 2: @ Teresa, I wondered about the younger readers.
Twilla Coon: Ok thank you for your help first time I had someone ask me that
Esther Curry--C.E. Brehm Memorial PLD: Twilla, we ask them to bring in a tax bill for the property in our district.
Diana Donahoo-Centralia RLD: Bill Jamerson will be at Centralia Main Library on March 30th. Same program with emphasis on Mt Vernon Camp.
Ellen 2: Esther, that's probably the most clear cut way to go!
Stephanie Carmi Public: We always have a birthday party on his birthday with different activities. This year we are having a bigger story hour with one of our favorite readers along with crafts and other games.
Ellen 2: Diana and Susan, if I remember correctly, doesn't the Salem library have some significant WPA artwork?
Susan Colbert - Sparta Public Library: Ellen, I didn't know that. Good to know!
Diana Donahoo-Centralia RLD: Ellen, I wasn't aware of it either.
Susan Colbert - Sparta Public Library: Our program is free and everyone's invited.
Angie--Breese: Teresa ... curious as to how Paris Illinois got connected with Terre Haute Indiana on library programs and activities.
Ellen 2: Angie, my guess (in case Teresa doesn't see this) is that it's all about forming partnerships that serve your patrons.
Teresa (Paris): Yes, we're 26 miles from Terre Haute -- and often asked why our library cards can't be used there.
Ellen 2: It's 2:00 p.m. Hope to see many of you at Members Matter, Member Day or at our next Director's Chat. Have a lovely afternoon!
Susan Colbert - Sparta Public Library: Thank you!
Chris Dawdy: Thanks for joining us!