As transmission rates in our service area remain high (and in some cases, climb), you may be wondering what this means for your library. NCLS recommends that our libraries take all reasonable precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to follow the policies and procedures your board has put into place to protect the staff and the community. It's unlikely that we will see the return of state-level mandates; your best bet is to contact your local public health service for guidance.
Board Meetings: Effective September 1, 2021, the NYS legislature voted to suspend (or amend) portions of the Open Meetings Law until January 15, 2022.
Boards may decide to;
a) hold fully open public meetings or,
b) hold in person meetings for the board and staff and broadcast the meeting, tape it, and transcribe it and not allow the public into the meeting or,
c) hold remote meetings where the board and staff are all remote and broadcast the meeting, tape it, and transcribe it.
You will want to check with legal counsel if you have specific questions about how to implement these changes. Be on the lookout for any updates as we get closer to the January 15 deadline.
Open Hours/Curbside: Throughout 2021, the State Library's definition of “hours open” for compliance with NYS minimum standards during the pandemic included curbside and/or lobby service hours. Effective January 1, 2022, only in-building hours will be accepted for the purposes of minimum standards compliance.
Vaccines are now widely available. Click HERE to learn more about the Covid-19 vaccine, eligibility and how to schedule an appointment with a local provider.
The NYS Sick Leave Act and Sick Leave for Covid19 Act require employers to grant sick leave time (and in some cases compensation) to their employees. The amount of time and pay depends on the organizations size and budget. Information about the requirements are provided in the links below.
*Because every library's situation is different, it is recommended that you contact an attorney if you need clarification on a specific sick leave case.
Does a mask policy violate the ADA? What should you do if an employee tests positive for COVID-19? How should the library respond to symptomatic patrons? Ask the Lawyer addresses these questions and more.
Recent legal guidance for NYS libraries regarding COVID-19 related topics. Ask The Lawyer is provided by WNYLRC.
Model Airborne Infectious Disease Exposure Prevention Plan Template From NYS Department of Labor: "The purpose of this plan is to protect employees against exposure and disease during an airborne infectious disease outbreak. This plan goes into effect when an airborne infectious disease is designated by the New York State Commissioner of Health as a highly contagious communicable disease that presents a serious risk of harm to the public health. This plan is subject to any additional or greater requirements arising from a declaration of a state of emergency due to an airborne infectious disease, as well as any applicable federal standards." For association libraries.
NYS Public Employer Health Emergency Planning Template. (See attached document below.) Template for the required pandemic operations plan for NYS. Required for municipal and district libraries.
How will we know what the state requires to reopen?
NY Forward Business Reopening Safety Template (Important: Each re-opening business must develop a written Safety Plan outlining how its workplace will prevent the spread of COVID-19. You cannot legally reopen with completing this.)
Guidelines
Interim Guidance for Curbside and In-Store Pickup
NCLS recommends reopening in stages to mitigate potential health risks due to COVID-19. Below is a sample timeline of a staged reopening plan that considers the safety of both staff, patrons, and the community at large. Visit our website for past guidance regarding COVID-19.