CARLA WILSON
Times Colonist
The Greater Victoria Public Library says it will lay off 168 regular and auxiliary employees next month if it has not resumed some services by then.
This follows the Vancouver Island Regional Library system laying off 420 employees in mid-March.
Both systems shut their doors on March 16 due to COVID-19 concerns.
Maureen Sawa, GVPL chief executive, hopes the system will start to reopen by the time layoff notices come into effect.
She can’t say when library users will be able to physically borrow a book again, but there are lots of details to consider: How will visitor flow in branches be managed? Who will physically take books from shelves? Should there will be a set period of time before a returned book can be loaned again? What will be required in terms of personal protective equipment?
The Greater Victoria system has 100,000 active users across its 12 branches, and many took away armloads of books in mid-March, Sawa said.
“It just broke my heart,” she said. “A lot of users are very, very anxious to get a real book in their hands.”
People can sign up for library cards online to access digital content. The library has seen online use of its services climb by 77 per cent during the pandemic and has expanded its services.
Since library branches closed, 117 regular staff and 51 auxiliary workers have been on paid leave.
Another 53 library employees, including managers, librarians and speciality positions such as finance, information technology and human resources, have continued working remotely.
Deborah Begoray, GVPL board chairwoman, said the board decided on layoffs after reviewing options presented by management, including financial impacts and future uncertainty.
“This decision was extremely difficult for us, and we reluctantly determined that initiating the layoff process was in the best interests of the organization,” she said.
Layoff notices will be issued Friday to auxiliary staff, who do not have guaranteed hours.
Regular staff will receive their layoff notices on May 15. Under the collective agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 410, those workers will be paid for another eight weeks.
At the Vancouver Island Regional Library, 420 employees, or 92 per cent of staff, received lay off notices on March 17.
Of those, 22 per cent are full time, 49 per cent are part time, and 29 per cent are casual employees, said spokesman David Carson.
Full- and part-time staff will continue to receive their pay until July 2, and their benefits will continue for another 30 days after that, he said.
Casual staff received full pay and benefits for 30 days after notice was served.
VIRL, which has 38 branches, has seen an increase in users during the pandemic. Since an online membership platform was introduced on March 27, 1,200 more people have signed up for a library card.
The library system is aiming to increase its services. Additional online programming, including story times, books clubs and learning opportunities, will be offered as they are developed.
The Island system has set up a new taskforce to map out a strategy to resume offering services within branches while following provincial guidelines.
For information on the Greater Victoria Public Library go to gvpl.ca, and for information on the Vancouver Island Regional Library system at virl.bc.ca.
