The temporary closure of the Thompson Public Library is resulting in layoffs for three of its six unionized staff at the end of the month.
The library has been closed since March 16 in line with public health precautions as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Administrator Cheryl Davies and two full-time staff members will continue to work after the layoffs of one full-time and two part-time staff members.
"There is only so much work to do when the library is closed and the board felt this was a good fiscal move," Davies told the Thompson Citizen.
She also said she does not anticipate any funding changes for the library.
While physical books and other materials can not be borrowed while the library is closed, library members and other members of the public can continue to borrow e-books through e-Libraries Manitoba as well as audiobooks and digital versions of magazines.
Borrowing e-books and audiobooks requires downloading the Libby app, while magazines can be borrowed using the RB Digital app and a library card number. The library also has a Tumblebooks subscription for young readers.
“More and more titles are being added to e-Libraries to keep up with the needs of our patrons,” Davies says. “Thompson Public Library is, in fact, an e-Libraries Advantage Plus library. This means that we can see what our patrons have on hold or what they request and we have a budget to purchase those books ourselves. All the titles that we purchase are available to our patrons first, and then, eventually to all e-Libraries patrons in the province. Our patrons however, always move up to the top of the waiting list, even after we grant the province access to those titles.”
The Public Library Services Branch has also launched the Canadian Instant Digital Card, which allows new users who don’t have library cards to access e-Libraries Manitoba using their mobile phone number, which will provide one year of access. After that year is over, users need to register for a public library card to keep using the service.
“This will allow people who don’t have access to a public library to borrow e-books and audiobooks,” says Davies.
Physical items borrowed from the library before it closed can be returned using the drop box near the entrance and staff are still ordering physical materials for the library in anticipation of reopening to the public once public health orders are lifted or relaxed. Staff can also receive and set up requests for access to e-Libraries and digital magazines.
For more information about how to borrow e-books and digital magazines, go to the library’s website at www.thompsonlibrary.com or visit the Thompson Public Library Facebook page.
