I totally agree with Ann Ewbank. Alaska’s Department of Health and Social Services has held public hearings about each of the various tiers - after 1a
The state;’s allocation committee did deviate from the CDC regulations on more than one occasion with reasons they felt were valid for our state.
One thought is to perhaps suggest that chapter councilors go back to their state associations to see if there is interest in adding library personnel as essential workers.
Our indigenous population is serviced under a different system - The Alaska Native Health Service [not the exact name] but the numbers in rural parts of the state are off the charts.
The state also out seniors 65 and older ahead of essential workers in 1b.
Yes, it is important to protect library workers but I don’t feel that an overall general resolution will do us much good. This is a “local” issue.
Ann Symons
Councilor at Large
Began as Alaska Chapter Councilor
Original Message:
Sent: 1/24/2021 2:48:00 PM
From: Ann Ewbank
Subject: RE: 1st draft of a Library Workers and Library in response to COVID-19 and they need to Library Workers to be Prioritized in Vaccines
Thank you Amber for your thoughts. When I read this resolution I felt the same way.
Another thing to note is that state and local (county/parish) governments have vaccine deployment plans which differ from the CDC guidelines. There is no federal control of this process. The CDC can only provide guidelines.
For example, in my state of Montana, the Governor changed phase 1b and 1c criteria. 1b includes our Indigenous population who have been hit very hard. We have an Indigenous student who lost THREE family members in 90 days. I will gladly wait in line for this reason.
Thank you,
Ann
--
Many Indigenous peoples, including the Apsáalooke (Crow), Niimiipuu (Nez Perce), Očhéthi Šakówiŋ (Lakota), Piikani (Blackfeet), Seliš (Salish), Shoshone, and Tsétsêhéstâhese (Northern Cheyenne), have traditional claims to the lands upon which Montana State University (MSU) physically sits. Indigenous histories and perspectives inform my work.
Ann Dutton Ewbank, PhD
Associate Professor and Department Head
Director, School Library Media Certificate Program
Department of Education
College of Education, Health and Human Development
Montana State University
(406) 994-5788
http://www.annewbank.com
ann.ewbank@montana.edu
Original Message:
Sent: 1/24/2021 2:29:00 PM
From: Amber Williams
Subject: RE: 1st draft of a Library Workers and Library in response to COVID-19 and they need to Library Workers to be Prioritized in Vaccines
Hello,
I appreciate all of the work on the resolution so I'd like to add my thoughts now ahead of when this could be discussed at Council Fora and in Council where I will happily share them again if there's a need.
I am opposed to this resolution as written. Getting vaccinated is essentially a line and by asking to move up in the line I think about who we're being asked to move ahead of and who we're trying to shove in with. By advocating for all library staff to be eligible in phase 1b we would be slowing down the distribution of vaccines to others in higher need. The CDC website makes clear the reasoning behind it's phases. We are asking to move ahead of essential workers in the 1C phase, and slow down distribution in 1b which predominantly cannot work remotely and per CDC disproportionally represents the countries non-white workers.
"While Blacks comprise 12% of all workers, they are overrepresented in public transit (26%), child care/social services (19%), trucking/warehouse/Postal Service (18%), and grocery/convenience/drugstores (14%); Hispanics make up 17% of the workforce but are overrepresented in building cleaning services (40%), trucking/warehouse/Postal Service (20%), and grocery/convenience/drugstores (19%)." -CDC
If this resolution could be changed to support library staff working the front lines at libraries that are vaccination sites or COVID test sites moving to 1b I could support that. But as written it sounds a lot like "I want to talk to the manager."
Thanks,
-Amber Williams
Original Message:
Sent: 1/24/2021 2:18:00 PM
From: Louis Mu?oz
Subject: RE: 1st draft of a Library Workers and Library in response to COVID-19 and they need to Library Workers to be Prioritized in Vaccines
Hi Jennifer and Stephanie, et al.,
Many thanks for a great resolution. I've added some edits; I show up as "Anonymous."
Take care, Louis.
Louis Muñoz Jr.
"Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else." - Margaret Mead
P. S. to all: Muñoz is correctly spelled with the letter "ñ."
Press ALT + 164 or else Insert from Special Characters.
(Mac users: Hold Option + n, then type n again.)
Many thanks to all!
Original Message:
Sent: 1/24/2021 10:31:00 AM
From: Paula Laurita
Subject: RE: 1st draft of a Library Workers and Library in response to COVID-19 and they need to Library Workers to be Prioritized in Vaccines
Jennifer, great job pulling this together so quickly.
--
Best,
Paula S.W. Laurita
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Librarian
Alabama Councilor to ALA
"We have found that a library is not an end in itself, but a means to many ends." Charles E. Rush, 1939
Original Message:
Sent: 1/24/2021 10:16:00 AM
From: Stephanie Chase
Subject: RE: 1st draft of a Library Workers and Library in response to COVID-19 and they need to Library Workers to be Prioritized in Vaccines
Jennifer,
thank you SO much for pulling this together. Part of the reasoning behind the request I made to the Council list yesterday was because I'm in the middle of finishing a large grant request, and I simply didn't have time to dig in to start writing. I think you have made an excellent start, and I encourage everyone to take a moment and leave comment on the draft:
Jennifer, what can we do to help move this forward?
Stephanie Chase
PLA Division Councilor
Original Message:
Sent: 1/23/2021 11:38:00 PM
From: Jennifer Boettcher
Subject: 1st draft of a Library Workers and Library in response to COVID-19 and they need to Library Workers to be Prioritized in Vaccines
Hi All,
This is a 1st draft of a Resolution. Have at it....
I will close edits at 5:00 ET on Sunday.
Can I get guidance from COL about what to do? Does this need to be put on your agenda? I'm ccing Chair Joe Thompson with this draft as a heads up.
What should be my next step before submitting it to Resolution Committee?
Jennifer