1/18/2022

Patron reading/circulation history: 

I got a patron question about this. When logged in to the public catalog, on the left-hand side of "my account" there is a link for "Reading History." Or you can click on your name (upper right) and one of the drop-down choices will be "Reading History."

Please look at this for yourself in the public catalog. We may get other patron questions. 

**If you have a long reading history (not naming any names, Lesley), it might not load. This is something ByWater/Aspen is working on. 

1/18/2022

Ancestry has returned to in-library use only. Sam made sure that there is a shortcut on both public computers. Everyone should take a look at one of the computers so you can see where the icon is, and open it up. It's been a long time since any of us looked at it.

 1/6/2022

Parking during snow storms:

A reminder that we should park in the flat part of the lot, closer to the Town Offices than the library main door. Call me if I can explain it more clearly!! 

Library snow/inclement weather procedures:

• If roads are clear, assume we are open and come in for the start of your shift. If you aren't sure, call or text me before you leave your house.
• I will send a group text before we open if we are going to have a delayed opening or if we will be closed. I do my best to send those out before 8:00 am. If you prefer to get a phone call and NOT a text, let me know.
• Always text or call me if you are wondering what might happen, haven't heard from me, or if you need to stay home regardless -- road conditions can be very different from place to place.
• If the decision is made to close the library, everyone will be paid for their regular scheduled hours.
• If the decision is made to have a delayed opening, everyone will be paid for whatever part of their regular scheduled hours take place when the library is closed. I will text to let everyone know what time we will be opening.
• If the library closes early, everyone will be paid for their regular scheduled hours. I will text or call anyone whose shift hasn't started yet.
• If the library remains open and you opt not to come in, you will need to take leave time for missed hours. If we are in a position of falling below minimum staffing levels, options will be reviewed at that time.
• If you have opted to take leave time and the library closes early, you will still need to take leave time for the time the library was open. 

I wish we didn't have to think about this (bah! winter!), but I guess it's time. I'll be in touch in the morning!

Stay safe,

Lesley  

How do these decisions get made?

A combination of factors, including (not necessarily in this order):

• Road conditions based on reports from Stratham DPW
• Town administration decision
• NH DOT road condition reports
• NWS, WMUR forecasting
• Direction from Board of Trustees 

 1/5/2022

You may have seen that the CDC has updated their COVID isolation and quarantine protocol. Please be aware that there are many factors involved that determine how long you should quarantine following exposure or infection such as vaccination status, booster status, as well as staffing mitigations. The safety of both the staff and residents is of the utmost importance to us.

We have reviewed the CDC’s guidance and continue to look at all employee infections and exposures on a case-by-case basis and base our return-to-work criteria on conventional staffing levels.

 1/5/2022

Masking in Municipal Center:

This is going to be a bit long! The abridged version is that here and in Town offices signs will now say that All people are urged to wear masks (and required for the unvaccinated). Also, David is reminding us all not to make unnecessary trips into other departments and/or buildings. 

More details:

1. Attached our new signs and the Town's original sign. I mentioned to David that their sign (to me) made it sound like they were urging masks for everyone, but not requiring for unvaccinated. They are updating their wording.

2. David's message regarding visiting other departments is copied below.

3. I found this interview with Dr. Robert Wachter to be interesting; I pass it along in case you don't follow him. https://www.npr.org/2022/01/04/1070338045/the-case-for-covid-optimism-despite-sky-high-infection-rates 

4. NH DHHS is lagging behind the CDC for guidance at the moment. I am carefully looking at both and sharing with the Trustees. 

• CDC Data Tracker (can limit by county): https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view?list_select_state=all_states&list_select_county=all_counties&data-type= 
• CDC Data Tracker (Rockingham County): https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view?list_select_state=New+Hampshire&data-type=Risk&list_select_county=33015 
• COVID Act Now: Rockingham County https://www.covidactnow.org/us/new_hampshire-nh/county/rockingham_county/?s=27751665
• NH DHHS Case Summary: https://www.covid19.nh.gov/dashboard/case-summary Today, Stratham is listed as having 36 active cases. The rest of the dashboard tabs and links have detail also on hospitalizations, trends, etc.

5. We have more KN95 masks in the staff room so please help yourself. 

Thanks everyone, and let's all try to stay safe,

Lesley

Msg from David 1/4/2022:

Dear Staff in the Municipal Center,

Last evening, the Board revised its masking guidance for the Municipal Center to reflect the following: To Urge All Persons Both Vaccinated and Unvaccinated to Wear Masks.

This masking guidance reflects the CDC guidance that both vaccinated and unvaccinated persons where masks indoors.

Here are a few notes on how this affects us as a staff.

• As the pandemic has evolved to a new phase, increasing concern has been expressed on staff about masking procedures given the transmissibility of the latest variant, even to vaccinated people.  This urging to wear masks extends to all employees working in the building, especially in common areas.  Similar to the masking requirement in place in 2020, employees may or may not choose to wear masks at their personal workstations.
• One physical change that has occurred since the start of the pandemic is in the work space for Parks and Recreation.  No longer are Seth and Cantrece behind a window.  You will note they have placed a note on their door asking members of the public to knock so they can be met in the lobby.  If you are helping direct members of the public to Seth and Cantrece, please be mindful of this and help facilitate this approach.
• The Select Board understands that masks may be required for participants at certain activities, such as recreation programs due to the nature of those activities.

We will continue to evaluate this policy and appreciate your cooperation and courtesy shown to the public and one another.  If you have feedback on this policy, I encourage you to come speak to me.

Mask policies for the separate municipal buildings will continue to be led by the department heads in those buildings (see attached for sample signage to be posted at the MC today).

Thank you all of your cooperation and understanding.

David M.

Town Administrator

MSG from David today (1/5)

Dear All,

As we are all aware, COVID cases are increases significantly.  Handwashing, workstation cleaning, mask wearing and social distancing all remain effective and recommended approaches to avoiding contagion. 

I want to highlight one other piece of guidance that is important to our strategy of remaining healthy and ensuring our workforce remains at work.  Please do not visit Town buildings other than the one to which you are assigned. 

Even within our MC, I can do better about limiting my movement to personal workspaces that are not my own. Avoiding entering other Town buildings and mixing with other staff groups as much as possible will better ensure our first responders, our critical DPW staff and each one of us remains at our posts providing services during this challenging time.

Thank you for your cooperation.

David M.