MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) — Local HVAC companies are experiencing new shortages.

The companies said equipment shortages are not as bad as last year, but the new problem is a ductwork shortage.

Owner of East Heating and Air Inc, David Moshoures said finding flexible duct is the hardest part.

“I’ve been doing this since 1981 in Myrtle Beach and I’ve never seen anything like this,” Moshoures said. “We used all the flex in town and then we used all the pipe in town. I mean, there’s nothing left it trickles in.”

Owner of Heat Pumps Plus, Darrin Barton said suppliers have started limiting what each company can get.

“To prevent people from trying to buy it all up they try and allot the customers just what they can afford to give them,” Barton said. “So they’re trying to spread around what they have. That’s going on with the ductwork quite a bit.”

Moshoures said people building new houses have the worst impact. The allotments don’t give them enough materials to finish a project.

“You can get four bags of six-inch flex a day and that’s not going to do a house,” he said. “I know guys who are building seven or eight houses right now and they’re getting four boxes a day, so you have half-built houses everywhere.”

Bigger contractors are going through the same thing and some manufacturers have also stopped ordering certain parts, he said.

“I’ve had some manufacturers tell me they’re not taking any more orders for certain parts for certain units because they don’t have them,” Moshoures said. “Recently they stole them out of their new units to try and catch up, and guess what, now they’re out of new units. So, it’s tricky.”

Barton and Moshoures both said the busy summer season means the problem will only get worse.

“If you need an air conditioner I wouldn’t wait because we’re coming up on the busy season and who knows what it will be like in July,” Barton said.

Barton said even though the shortages are not as bad with equipment, parts are never guaranteed. He calls ahead of time to make sure what he needs is there. He also works with his suppliers to find the best solutions around any supply obstacles.

Barton and Moshures said some options for beating the shortages can be going up a tier in price or switching to different brands.

The post Myrtle Seaside HVAC corporations expertise ductwork shortages appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

SAN JOSE (KPIX) — The deadline for some emergency workers in Santa Clara County to vax up or stay home is fast approaching, and if they don’t show up, there could be gaps in critical staffing positions.

A health order takes effect on Tuesday for all workers in so-called “high risk” occupations to provide proof of vaccinations and boosters, or they can’t report for work. That includes medical workers and firefighters.

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“We very, very much hope that people will go ahead and get their booster shot, it’s simple to do,” said James Williams, Santa Clara County Counsel.

The order has been looming for months, and fire departments and other agencies have been working to verify that their employees comply, but gaps remain.

“We did see over a 90 percent vaccination rate originally, and so we are expecting our booster rates to be similar,” said Erica Ray, a San Jose Fire Department spokesperson.

The department says 634 firefighters have been fully vaccinated which leaves 42 who are not according to published staffing levels of 676. The department doesn’t know precisely how many vaccinated, but not boosted firefighters there are.

To take up the slack if firefighters cannot report to work, the city plans to cover shifts with overtime.

READ MORE: Heated Debate Expected At Meeting to Discuss Proposed Oakland School Closures

“We have been reyling on our members to fill in with extra hours. So we are very
confident in our ability to offer those critical services to our community,” Ray said.

Last week, firefighters from several agencies voiced concerns that relying on overtime to cover shifts is dangerous and called on supervisors to override the health department and respind the mandates.

“We have a critical staffing crisis in our EMS system and the hospitals. The public is now in jeopardy,” said San Jose Firefighter Barry Arata.

The county is making firefighter’s employers responsible for complying with the mandate, not the firefighters themselves.

“We will be proactive in reaching out and making sure that folks have complied with the order,” Williams said.

MORE NEWS: COVID: After Virtual Start UC Berkeley Students Return To In-Person Learning

Consequences for non-compliance could range from misdemeanor charges to monetary fines.

The post Crucial Workers Shortages Doable When Santa Clara Co. Vaccine Mandate Takes Impact – CBS San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

(CBS Baltimore) – The supply chain consists of the many steps that bring a product to the customer. But at the moment the chain seems to be broken or at least squashed in places. The shelves are partially empty, deliveries are delayed and prices are rising. Bottlenecks in many places keep products out of the hands of consumers. It is unclear when the supply chain will normalize again. And the economy pays the price.

Any company’s supply chain can begin with suppliers of raw materials and other inputs. As soon as a product is manufactured, it travels over the network from the factory via a warehouse to a store and finally to the end customer. Various agents, brokers, sellers, transportation companies, and distribution centers can play a key role in ensuring that a product is manufactured and reaches its final destination.

CONTINUE READING: San Ramon considers townhouses, affordable housing on the site of the Golden Skate Roller Rink

The supply chain is not working as it should, thanks to a host of issues exacerbated by the global COVID pandemic. In the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, cargo ships with around half a million sea containers full of goods from various countries in Asia are waiting to be unloaded. After unloading, a lack of truck drivers prevents these containers from leaving the ports on time. Rail terminals, to which trucks deliver goods for the next stage of the journey, are supplemented with containers for onward transport, which in turn also block arriving trains. Should these goods somehow make it to a warehouse, the labor shortage will limit their timely processing.

And these are just some of the problems.

A global microchip shortage exacerbated by winter storms in Texas that affected domestic production is slowing the production of automobiles and various electronic devices. China, where many consumer goods destined for America are manufactured, is suffering from an ongoing energy crisis that is limiting production. And manufacturers in many other countries with lower vaccination rates have suffered standstills and labor shortages due to the spread of the Delta variant.

CONTINUE READING: Unique twist on the pandemic shutdown of the long-established Santa Clara restaurant

All of this happened when a shift in spending caused by COVID dramatically increased the demand for a wide variety of products. The situation is fluid and will likely remain so during the Christmas season and into the New Year.

CBS Local has the latest supply chain news from its markets across the country. We update this list regularly. So check back often for the latest news on the situation.

A deep look at the supply chain crisis:

Supply chain problems: “Problems are really everywhere”, even for small businesses

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A look at how supply chain issues are affecting consumers across the country:

Companies struggling to get supplies to make tombstones

Some winter gear is in short supply as snowfall for Minnesota

Local Christmas tree plots could sell out early this year due to national shortages

While FTC is closely examining the scarcity of supply, the Colorado Company is helping consumers navigate the waters

Freight volumes at the Port of Oakland decreased 20% in October as ships divert south

Supply chain issues are forcing businesses and buyers to prepare for Cyber ​​Monday

Christmas shoppers start early to avoid problems in the supply chain

Crowds are returning to stores this Black Friday, but supply chain issues pose a challenge

Problems in the supply chain causing a shortage of kitchen and laundry equipment

Christmas shoppers getting to stores early due to concerns in the supply chain

The Squeeze: Experts suggest buying locally made gifts to avoid supply chain problems this holiday season

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Local businesses are getting creative to tackle supply chain bottlenecks

The Squeeze: Supply chain issues hurt charities ahead of the holidays

Problems in the supply chain are causing auto parts shortages and devastating damage to the auto industry

The Squeeze: Supply chain problems are causing headaches and frustration for mom-and-pop retailers in New York

Supply Chain Develops Garage Door Waiting Game; City inspectors are lenient

Global supply chain crisis impacts souvenir and grocery retailers at Levi’s Stadium

The post How Are World Shortages Affecting Native Prospects? – CBS San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

HVAC services are in high demand and the entire industry is suffering from supply bottlenecks. Summer weather has increased demand for HVAC equipment, especially in the record breaking heat in Utah.

An increase in demand for air conditioning is generally welcomed by most contractors, but supply bottlenecks have made it difficult to meet customer demands. Given the scarcity in the industry that is affecting material costs such as steel, aluminum, copper and plastic and is expected to increase, finding the best HVAC supplier in your area is important.

Many HVAC service providers help people save money by reminding homeowners the importance of maintenance, such as: Maintenance service is doable as it doesn’t require new equipment, spares, or additions that are hard to come by.

It is also important to decide whether to reinstall or replace it as soon as possible to avoid unavailable equipment in an emergency. If your air conditioning system fails completely during this heat wave, it would be a disaster. Be proactive – this deficiency could last a long time.

Whether you need a minor repair or a new system, leave it to the experts to get it right the first time. Some HVAC suppliers have physical inventory so they don’t have to order anything so they can get the project done quickly and at a fair price despite the impact of the bottlenecks.

Trust Black Diamond HVAC to take care of your home and make sure you are comfortable at all times.

Right now Black Diamond HVAC is offering a free oven with the purchase of a central AC unit and up to $ 1300 off manufacturer discounts, with an additional 10% savings from us on killer HVAC deals.

The post HVAC trade shortages! Why you shouldn’t wait to switch appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

(CBS Baltimore) – The many steps that take a product to the customer are known as the supply chain. But currently the shelves are partially empty, deliveries are delayed and prices are rising. Bottlenecks in many steps keep products out of the hands of the consumer. It is unclear when the supply chain will normalize again. And the economy pays the price.

Any company’s supply chain can begin with suppliers of raw materials and other inputs. As soon as a product is manufactured, it travels along the network from the factory via a warehouse to a store and finally to the end customer. Various agents, brokers, sellers, transportation companies and distribution centers can play a key role in ensuring that a product is manufactured and reaches its final destination.

CONTINUE READING: San Francisco DA says few auto smash-and-grabs end in arrest

The supply chain is not working as it should, thanks to a host of issues exacerbated by the global COVID pandemic. In the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, cargo ships with around half a million containers full of goods from various countries in Asia are waiting to be unloaded. After unloading, a lack of truck drivers prevents these containers from leaving the ports on time. Rail terminals, to which trucks deliver goods for the next stage of the journey, are supplemented with containers for onward transport, which in turn also block arriving trains. Should these goods somehow make it to a warehouse, the labor shortage will limit their timely processing.

And these are just some of the problems.

A global microchip shortage exacerbated by winter storms in Texas that affected domestic production is slowing the production of automobiles and various electronic devices. China, where many consumer goods destined for America are manufactured, is suffering from an ongoing energy crisis that is limiting production. And manufacturers in many other countries with lower vaccination rates have suffered standstills and labor shortages due to the spread of the Delta variant.

CONTINUE READING: Atherton remains the nation’s most expensive zip code; Median home sale price at $ 7,475,000

All of this happened when a shift in spending caused by COVID dramatically increased the demand for a wide variety of products. The situation is fluid and will likely remain so during the Christmas season and into the New Year.

CBS Local has the latest supply chain news from its markets across the country. We update this list regularly. So check back regularly for the latest news on the situation.

A deep look at the supply chain crisis:

Supply chain problems: “Problems are really everywhere”, even for small businesses

MORE NEWS: Oakland Zoo forced euthanasia of beloved, ailing tiger sisters Molly and Milou

A look at how supply chain issues are affecting consumers across the country:

Bay Area grocery stores facing items on Thanksgiving shopping lists

Dealing with supply chain bottlenecks in view of the holiday season

“This is a year like no other”: Local toy stores are struggling with supply chain bottlenecks

With the rise in natural gas prices, consumers were expecting to pay around $ 40 more a month for heating bills

On the hunt for ammunition: Minnesotans have problems with the supply chain

The supply chain is putting a strain on retailers in the Bay Area as the holidays loom

Oakland Shipping Terminal port empties amid supply chain problems

Supply Chain Issues: Glass shortages only add to frustrations for car break-in victims

Supply chain concerns affecting the needs of the New Jersey Community Food Bank

Fines begin Monday for unmoved containers in LA ports, Long Beach

Problems in the supply chain lead to limited furnace supply

UPS is preparing for a surge in package volume for holidays, but says supply chain issues are not going away

Supply Chain Crisis: Shipping industry leaders meet in San Francisco, warn of backlog to extend long holidays

The post How World Shortages Are Affecting Shoppers Nationwide – CBS San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

(CBS Baltimore) – The many steps that take a product to the customer are known as the supply chain. But currently the shelves are partially empty, deliveries are delayed and prices are rising. Bottlenecks in many steps keep products out of the hands of the consumer. It is unclear when the supply chain will normalize again. And the economy pays the price.

Any company’s supply chain can begin with suppliers of raw materials and other inputs. As soon as a product is manufactured, it travels along the network from the factory via a warehouse to a store and finally to the end customer. Various agents, brokers, sellers, transportation companies and distribution centers can play a key role in ensuring that a product is manufactured and reaches its final destination.

CONTINUE READING: Governor Gavin Newsom ends rare public breaks

The supply chain is not working as it should, thanks to a host of issues exacerbated by the global COVID pandemic. In the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, cargo ships with around half a million containers full of goods from various countries in Asia are waiting to be unloaded. After unloading, a lack of truck drivers prevents these containers from leaving the ports on time. Rail terminals, to which trucks deliver goods for the next stage of the journey, are supplemented with containers for onward transport, which in turn also block arriving trains. Should these goods somehow make it to a warehouse, the labor shortage will limit their timely processing.

And these are just some of the problems.

A global microchip shortage exacerbated by winter storms in Texas that affected domestic production is slowing the production of automobiles and various electronic devices. China, where many consumer goods destined for America are manufactured, is suffering from an ongoing energy crisis that is limiting production. And manufacturers in many other countries with lower vaccination rates have suffered standstills and labor shortages due to the spread of the Delta variant.

CONTINUE READING: Elderly San Jose Man Beaten By Motorists Succumbs From Injuries; 20th pedestrian death this year

All of this happened when a shift in spending caused by COVID dramatically increased the demand for a wide variety of products. The situation is fluid and will likely remain so during the Christmas season and into the New Year.

CBS Local has the latest supply chain news from its markets across the country. We update this list regularly. So check back regularly for the latest news on the situation.

A deep look at the supply chain crisis:

Supply chain problems: “Problems are really everywhere”, even for small businesses

MORE NEWS: Alameda County has a health ordinance that requires a COVID vaccine for all first responders and medical professionals

A look at how supply chain issues are affecting consumers across the country:

Dealing with supply chain bottlenecks in view of the holiday season

“This is a year like no other”: Local toy stores are struggling with supply chain bottlenecks

With the rise in natural gas prices, consumers were expecting to pay around $ 40 more a month for heating bills

On the hunt for ammunition: Minnesotans have problems with the supply chain

The supply chain is putting a strain on retailers in the Bay Area as the holidays loom

Oakland Shipping Terminal port empties amid supply chain problems

Supply Chain Issues: Glass shortages only add to frustrations for car break-in victims

Supply chain concerns affecting the needs of the New Jersey Community Food Bank

Fines begin Monday for unmoved containers in LA ports, Long Beach

Problems in the supply chain lead to limited furnace supply

UPS is preparing for a surge in package volume for holidays, but says supply chain issues are not going away

Supply Chain Crisis: Shipping industry leaders meet in San Francisco, warn of backlog to extend long holidays

The post How World Shortages Are Affecting Customers Nationwide – CBS San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

(CBS Baltimore) – The sequence of steps that brings a product to the customer is known as the supply chain. But currently the shelves are partially empty, deliveries are delayed and prices are rising. Bottlenecks in many steps keep products out of the hands of the consumer. It is unclear when the supply chain will normalize again. And the economy pays the price.

Any company’s supply chain can begin with suppliers of raw materials and other inputs. As soon as a product is manufactured, it travels along the network from the factory via a warehouse to a store and finally to the end customer. Various agents, brokers, sellers, transportation companies, and distribution centers can play a key role in ensuring that a product is manufactured and reaches its final destination.

CONTINUE READING: COVID: The arrival of children’s vaccines calls for the end of the mask mandate in K-12 schools

The supply chain is not working as it should, thanks to a host of issues exacerbated by the global COVID pandemic. In the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, cargo ships with around half a million containers full of goods from various countries in Asia are waiting to be unloaded. After unloading, a lack of truck drivers prevents these containers from leaving the ports on time. Rail terminals, to which trucks deliver goods for the next stage of the journey, are supplemented with containers for onward transport, which in turn also block arriving trains. Should these goods somehow make it to a warehouse, the labor shortage will limit their timely processing.

And these are just some of the problems.

A global shortage of microchips, exacerbated by winter storms in Texas that affected domestic production, is slowing the production of automobiles and various electronic devices. China, where many consumer goods destined for America are manufactured, is suffering from an ongoing energy crisis that is limiting production. And manufacturers in many other countries with lower vaccination rates have suffered standstills and labor shortages due to the spread of the Delta variant.

CONTINUE READING: COVID: Spike in cases in Bay Area counties likely to return no mask requirement for vaccinated people

All of this happened when a shift in spending caused by COVID dramatically increased the demand for products. The situation is fluid and will likely remain so during the Christmas season and into the New Year.

CBS Local has the latest supply chain news from its markets across the country. We update this list regularly. So check back regularly for the latest news on the situation.

A deep look at the supply chain crisis:

Supply chain problems: “Problems are really everywhere”, even for small businesses

MORE NEWS: “Thoughts of suicide just disappeared”; UCSF groundbreaking study treats depression with on-demand stimulation

A look at how supply chain issues are affecting consumers across the country:

Supply Chain Issues: Glass shortages only add to frustrations for car break-in victims

Supply chain concerns affecting the needs of the New Jersey Community Food Bank

Fines begin Monday for unmoved containers in LA ports, Long Beach

Problems in the supply chain lead to limited furnace supply

Supply chain issues make a scary sight when Colordan’s shop for Halloween costumes

UPS is preparing for a surge in package volume for holidays, but says supply chain issues are not going away

Supply chain crisis forces Fort Worth restaurant to close

Supply Chain Crisis: Shipping industry leaders meet in San Francisco, warn of backlog to extend long holidays

The post How International Shortages Are Affecting Shoppers Nationwide – CBS San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

(CBS Baltimore) – The supply chain is the sequence of steps that bring a product to the customer. But currently the shelves are partially empty, deliveries are delayed and prices are rising. Bottlenecks in many steps keep products out of the hands of the consumer. And the economy pays the price.

Any company’s supply chain can begin with suppliers of raw materials and other inputs. As soon as a product is manufactured, it travels along the network from the factory via a warehouse to a store and finally to the end customer. Various agents, brokers, sellers, transportation companies, and distribution centers can play a key role in ensuring that a product is manufactured and reaches its final destination.

CONTINUE READING: Police: Lockdown at Pinole Middle School lifted after student was found with shotgun

The supply chain is not working as it should, thanks to a host of issues exacerbated by the global COVID pandemic. In the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, cargo ships with around half a million containers full of goods from various countries in Asia are waiting to be unloaded. After unloading, a lack of truck drivers prevents these containers from leaving the ports on time. Rail terminals, to which trucks deliver goods for the next stage of the journey, are supplemented with containers for onward transport, which in turn also block arriving trains. Should these goods somehow make it to a warehouse, the labor shortage will limit their timely processing.

And these are just some of the problems.

A global shortage of microchips, exacerbated by winter storms in Texas that affected domestic production, is slowing the production of automobiles and various electronic devices. China, where many consumer goods destined for America are manufactured, is suffering from an ongoing energy crisis that is limiting production. And manufacturers in many other countries with lower vaccination rates have suffered standstills and labor shortages due to the spread of the Delta variant.

CONTINUE READING: San Jose Sharks Remain Devastated Amid COVID Issues; Head coach, 7 players are still missing

All of this happened when a shift in spending caused by COVID dramatically increased the demand for products. The situation is fluid and will likely remain so during the Christmas season and into the New Year.

CBS Local has the latest supply chain news from its markets across the country. We update this list regularly. So check back regularly for the latest news on the situation.

A deep look at the supply chain crisis:

Supply chain problems: “Problems are really everywhere”, even for small businesses

MORE NEWS: 1 dead, 2 injured in gunfight at Halloween weekend party in Stockton, suspect wanted

A look at how supply chain issues are affecting consumers across the country:

Fines begin Monday for unmoved containers in LA ports, Long Beach

Problems in the supply chain lead to limited furnace supply

Supply chain issues make a scary sight when Colordan’s shop for Halloween costumes

UPS is preparing for a surge in package volume for holidays, but says supply chain issues are not going away

Supply chain crisis forces Fort Worth restaurant to close

Supply Chain Crisis: Shipping industry leaders meet in San Francisco, warn of backlog to extend long holidays

The post Right here’s How International Shortages Are Affecting Shoppers Nationwide – CBS San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

SAN JOSE (KPIX) – Two registered nurses working more than 100 miles apart claim they tried to warn hospital staff last year to prepare for the pandemic, but their warnings fell on deaf ears.

“I was actually the first nurse to have a COVID patient,” said Mawata Kamara, a registered nurse at San Leandro Hospital and a board member of the California Nurses Association. “There was no real trial. We had to call the state at the time and then the state told us that there was a low probability that we had to send this patient home. We weren’t prepared. It was torture as a nurse. “

Kamara said she remembered conversations about the need to hire and train more nurses.

“We saw how many people died in other countries,” she said. “Why did we feel like we would be immune to this experience.”

“What is the preparation, what is the plan,” said nurse Catherine Kennedy in Emperor Roseville.

Then patient after patient showed up and tested positive for COVID-19.

TIED TOGETHER: Backlash against healthcare workers is adding to the physical and emotional toll of the pandemic

It was then that Kennedy, president of the California Nurses Association’s president and member of the National Nurses Organizing Committee, saw the real test of how prepared – or unprepared – Kaiser was when dealing with a pandemic.

Both Kennedy and Kamara said they are not immune to the nationwide lack of personal protective equipment.

“The PSA has been locked up,” said Kamara. “And we had to deal with the N95 compared to no N95. We reused them. I have been a nurse since 2008. I know I’ve never heard of reuse. “

“They were never meant to be used and reused because you reused something years ago, you were disciplined for that,” Kennedy said. “Now suddenly it’s okay.”

She said some hospitals continue to handle PPE that is not readily available.

“It’s exhausting making sure you have everything you need, not having to look around and say, ‘Hey manager, I need this,’ instead of having it available to you right away,” said Kennedy . “For the administration, the hospital industry, it is important to understand that our life is important.”

More than a year and a half after the pandemic, the nurses said they are now facing a serious staff shortage that they think is as unsafe as the PPE issues.

“We had a nurse who did three people’s jobs,” said Kamara. “This is dangerous, this is dangerous. One person should not do the work of three people. “

COVID-19 has claimed the lives of 3,607 health care workers, according to a database created by Guardian journalists. The CDC does not track these statistics.

Now registered nurses fear that with increasing COVID cases, working conditions will only worsen, they are grappling with a staff shortage and nurses are tired of the toll of the pandemic.

“I get these calls every day to pick up more hours,” said Kamara. “I’ve had a lot of conversations where nurses just don’t want to do it anymore, they don’t want to. It is too much.”

“Nurses are so frustrated they can do their two to three shifts a week and nothing more,” said Kennedy. “There are those who choose to retire early.”

Kamara said they now have to put people in hallways again and that there is talk of opening up more rooms to handle the recent surge. This time they are not only dealing with personnel problems, but also with patients who are more combative.

“We’re seeing an increase in volatile behavior, be it in the patient or in the visitor,” said Kennedy.

“I trust science and although people in your neighborhood may tell you differently, I see differently in the hospital,” said Kamara. “I’ve seen younger people who thought they would be fine and went out and came back, gave it to their grandma and now their grandma is dying. It breaks my heart that we have reached a point where there is so much suspicion about health care. “

Emperor Roseville said in a statement the hospital currently has no shortage of PPE and recognizes the work nurses have done over the past year and a half. San Leandro Hospital also issued a statement acknowledging the shortage of PPE at the start of the pandemic, as well as the current national shortage of nurses.

Both hospitals said they provided resources to health care workers, including mental health services.

But Kennedy and Kamara said they believe much of what happened last year could have been prevented.

“We think hospitals should have prepared better,” said Kamara. “We are the ones who take the blow while they call us heroes.”

“To make it clear to the employer that we don’t want to be heroes, we want to be able to go to our families, to our community, to go home,” said Kennedy.

The post Nurses Say Persevering with Personnel Shortages Beset COVID Care Employees – CBS San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

By Sydney Johnson

Examiner employee author

The last San Francisco public library finally reopened near Lake Merced this week, but not without some challenges.

“There was so much to do, we couldn’t even walk around the branch. There were boxes that were piled to the ceiling and boxes of books that we had to process. We had tables all over the place, ”said Briana Campbell, a library page for the branch, which reopened Tuesday. “It’s been hectic in the last few weeks; it felt like I was moving. “

Library page Briana Campbell, left, and librarian Laura chat at the main counter of the Merced branch of the San Francisco Public Library on Wednesday, August 18, 2021. (Kevin N. Hume / The Examiner)

The city’s library system, which has 28 locations, closed its presence in March 2020 and has gradually reopened its doors over the past few months. But a hiring freeze during the pandemic combined with turnover in a chaotic year has created a large staffing gap required to support a full system recovery.

“There are around 81 vacancies in the branches alone,” says City Librarian Michael Lambert. “That really affects our ability to have up and service hours.”

According to Lambert, the San Francisco Public Library currently has 141 vacancies, which makes up about 15% of the workforce.

While the centers were closed, nearly two-thirds of the city’s library staff were relocated and assigned to COVID-19 emergency services, which range from filling hotel accommodations for homeless residents to contact tracing.

Fifteen of those employees are still on long-term emergency medical contracts as the San Francisco pandemic continues. But many have returned to their regular library jobs and are working hard to get things back in shape while they wait for vacancies to be filled.

During the pandemic, Campbell was assigned to various emergency functions around the city, including working in pantries and the Moscone Center’s vaccination center. But for the past few weeks she has been one of the tense library staff preparing for the library’s final reopening this week.

“We need people. We have two days a week that we’re closed because we need more processing time so we can open the amount we have, ”said Campbell of the Merced store. “We are a really small branch.”

Library site Briana Campbell is assembling book packages at the San Francisco Public Library Merced branch on Wednesday, August 18, 2021. (Kevin N. Hume / The Examiner)

Merced is not yet up and running like most stores in the pre-pandemic times. The mission branch remains closed for renovation work. Although the main library is expected to be full again after Labor Day, other branches will have to wait for staff to be replenished to help with processes and other on-site work.

To get more libraries back to full service, it is important to resume services like adult digital literacy and to provide technologies like Wi-Fi and printing services that many low-income San Francisco residents rely on.

“The hardest part (in providing services during the pandemic) was not being able to offer internet. So many people rely on the library for connectivity and printers and scanners, ”said Lambert. “They were closed until we started to resume service.”

Although libraries offered roadside collection during the pandemic, the numbers show that users want a more personalized experience and are more likely to use services if they can walk indoors.

“Whenever we switch a site from a to-go service to a personal service, we see a huge increase in traffic,” said Lambert. “Last week we had 1,130 people a day in the main branch and 3,225 people in other branches. That is significantly higher than what we only saw with the door-to-door service. “

Jennie Quinn and her granddaughter Ella Koepsell check out the new book department in the San Francisco Public Library Merced branch on Wednesday, August 18, 2021.

Despite the big boost that came with the reopening this week, Campbell is excited to be back at the library.

“They didn’t have enough work for us in the libraries, so we moved a lot,” she said. But when she got back on Monday she continued, “We had some of our regulars who were excited to be back and see our doors open. It was really cool. “

Lambert sees the staffing gap as an opportunity to grow and usher the city’s libraries into their next chapter, one that will eventually regain personal programming as well as the continuation of the online services and programs created during the on-site placement.

“We look forward to adding some new talent to our ranks,” he said, “and rewarding people who have worked their way up.”

sjohnson@sfexaminer.com

San Francisco LibrarySan Francisco Public Librarysf Library

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The post Workers shortages hamper San Francisco Public Library reopenings appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.