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Q&A
Discussion on library service, staffing, and funding challenges
4:02:28
ยท
3 min
Council Member Rivera engages in a Q&A session with library representatives about service hours, staffing issues, and funding challenges. The discussion covers the difficulties in maintaining six-day service, overtime concerns, and the need for better compensation and consistent funding.
- Explores challenges in staffing six-day service and expanding to seven-day service
- Discusses issues of understaffing, burnout, and the need for competitive salaries
- Highlights the importance of consistent funding for hiring and retaining staff
Carlina Rivera
4:02:28
I just had a question because we all want seven day service.
4:02:31
It's coming to more branches as you mentioned.
4:02:34
But you mentioned that six day service currently needs support.
4:02:37
What are you seeing right now?
4:02:39
What are you experiencing in terms of that that overtime?
4:02:43
I don't want to call it the you said competing but like what what is what's the story with overtime and six day service and how can we actively you know, how can we be better in advocating for what you need as employees?
John Hyslop
4:02:58
So right right now Queens has has problem staffing six day service.
4:03:07
On Saturdays an email during the week an email goes out to the whole branch, we need emergency coverage at x branch.
4:03:18
Are there volunteers for that overtime?
4:03:22
Sometimes I get it, sometimes I don't.
4:03:24
We've had branches throughout the year close because we don't have enough staff.
4:03:30
We have so the biggest issue is hiring and staffing that and funding, getting that money so we can fund these vacancies.
Carlina Rivera
4:03:42
Right.
4:03:42
And you need a compensation package that's attractive.
John Hyslop
4:03:46
That as we talked about, yes.
4:03:47
But also the libraries need to have and our fellow CEO presidents talked about that, we need consistent funding because they're not able to hire consistently because every year they have to they have to, you know, fight for a budget that we may not get.
4:04:07
And that but our biggest concern now is six day service.
4:04:11
Obviously Sunday service is great and we talked about it in our testimony.
4:04:14
Staff need that money because we don't get paid enough.
4:04:18
So we do fight for those slots.
4:04:22
But, you know, six day service hiring more people, getting making our salaries more attractive so people can come because we have a huge retention problem.
4:04:31
Mean all of us can testify.
4:04:32
We're losing people now.
4:04:34
We're not even being able to fill these positions.
George Olken
4:04:37
Yeah.
4:04:37
And I'll add, I mean what happens is a library will open and there'll be just two people there and maybe no librarian.
4:04:46
And so I got a call recently from a worker who was like pulling their hair out because, you know, 12 boxes of books show up that need to be processed by the clerical workers.
4:04:56
So one person's in the back room doing that.
4:04:58
The other person's on the desk.
4:04:59
The place is full.
4:05:00
And they're hoping a third person shows up before lunch, right, so that they can go on break.
4:05:04
And so that library's open.
4:05:06
But can we really do the programs that we want?
4:05:08
And how long will that staff be able to do it before they burn out?
4:05:12
So I think that's the real thing.
4:05:14
It's not just opening the branches.
4:05:17
It's not just having them open.
4:05:18
We want them to be properly staffed so that people can we can fully provide for community.
4:05:24
And then Sunday, again, it's overtime so that means people are taking we have plenty of volunteers.
4:05:32
I mean we can definitely think if you're talking about 10 more branches across the city, there's enough people who are wanting that overtime that we can staff that if there's the money obviously to fund it.
4:05:44
But I think it is a shame that folks who are working five days a week are having to work that sixth day to make ends meet.
4:05:51
And so how do we build up enough staff so that it can be spread out more and how do we build up wages enough so that people, okay they do it sometimes but they don't have to be doing it constantly.
4:06:01
I mean I have people who like want it every Sunday.
4:06:03
Know they need to work six days every week.
4:06:05
Maybe they have another job too just to make ends meet and that seems like a shame in a public job.