[Libs-Or] JCLS DART Switching Gears

[Carrie Turney-Ross]

Jackson County Oregon has seen a major spike in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, prompting Jackson County Library Services to return to Front Door Service beginning August 30. This means that, once again, our patrons are limited to placing holds on materials and picking them up at the door, and they cannot access computers and printers inside the library branches.



This is where JCLS DART (Direct Access to Resources & Technology) steps in to ease this barrier to access. With ten laptops and twenty tablets, the mobile technology van will make the rounds at each of our fifteen branches on a rotating schedule to provide patrons with dedicated time for computer and WIFI access. DART will begin this service on September 13.



In addition to providing computer access at the branches, the Mobile Services Specialist is creating a survey for community members who remain displaced from the fires last September and are staying at FEMA sites in Jackson County. The goal of the survey is to determine their information needs and create targeted outreach for wildfire survivors through DART.



More on Front Door Service (FDS)



Front Door Service is the third stage of the JCLS COVID Operation Plan. We have moved in and out of various stages since March 2020. The libraries were completely shut down in Stage 1 and most staff worked from home (March 14, 2020 - April 26, 2020). Stage 2 welcomed staff back in to the libraries in order to prepare for Front Door Service (April 27, 2020 - May 8, 2020). JCLS was first in Stage 3 May 8, 2020 - May 18, 20202. During this stage, staff continued offering virtual programs and added Take & Makes, and patrons could pick up their materials at the door. Next, we moved to Stage 4 Lobby Services (May 18, 2020 - June 8, 2020) where patrons could enter the library, use computers for one-hour sessions, and check out materials placed on hold, but they were unable to browse the collection. We moved to Stage 5 Limited Library Services (June 8, 2020 - November 12, 2020) where patrons could browse the collection in addition to accessing computers at all fifteen branches. In November 2020, we returned to Lobby Services and stayed in that stage through May 3, 2021 when we moved back to providing Limited Library Services (Stage 5).



This return to Front Door Services means that patrons are not permitted to enter the libraries for browsing or computer access. In November 2020, JCLS created JCLS Discovery<https://jcls.libwizard.com/f/jcls_discovery>, and online reader advisory service. Patrons fill out a form sharing their likes and dislikes to help staff curate a customized list of up to fifteen titles that patrons can place on hold. This has helped those who relied on browsing to find their next read. Now, JCLS DART will take on all computer access sessions throughout the county. We will spread the word about computer access through DART in a number of ways, but we will place a special focus on flyers and printed schedules.


Carrie Turney Ross | she/her/hers
Adult Services Coordinator
Jackson County Library Services
541.774.6561
jcls.org<https://jcls.org/>



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