Minimum Staff Requirements

The Greenfield Public Library is committed to providing sufficient staffing of the Library required to:

• Maintain a high level of quality service to all patrons
• Protect the personal safety of all library patrons and Greenfield Public Library Staff

The following policies are adopted to support these objectives:

• A minimum of eight (8) staff members should be present during the weekdays between the hours of 9:30am-5:00pm.
• A minimum of four (4) staff members during the evening hours of 5:00-8:00pm.
• A minimum of five (5) staff members on Saturdays between 9:30am-2:00pm.

A staff member is defined as a paid employee who provides regular library services to patrons.

In the event that the minimum staffing requirement is not met, the following steps may be taken:

• Evenings when the Library is open until 8:00pm, full-time staff members may be asked to work a split shift (8:30am-1:00pm and 5:00-8:00pm) or from 11:30am-8:00pm to meet the minimum staffing level, provided this leaves sufficient staff for daytime coverage.
• On Saturdays, the Library Director or Assistant Library Director can be contacted to come in to cover lunches (11:00am-1:00pm).
• If additional staffers are not available to bring the staffing level to the minimum requirement, the Library may be closed.
• If the Library is closed as a result of insufficient staffing, scheduled personnel hours and wages will not be affected. Staff will communicate with the Library Director as quickly as possible regarding the circumstances necessitating closing the Library.
• The Library Director will notify the Chair of the Board of Trustees and the office of the Mayor. In the Director’s absence, this responsibility will fall to the Assistant Director.
• Notice of the Library’s closure will be posted on all patron entrances, on the Library webpage and on applicable social networking sites (when able), and on local radio and television stations. This notice will contain the time of closing, the reason for closing (when possible), and the anticipated time or reopening (when possible).

Approved by the Board of Library Trustees 5/14/2024.
To be reviewed yearly, or as needed.