Summerlanders who have ordered books through the Okanagan Regional Library will have to wait as a job action by unionized library workers continues.
Beginning on July 23 and continuing for two weeks, members of CUPE Local 1123 have not been administering the library’s pull list.
This means items requested by customers at other branches would not be pulled and sent to the customers.
The union represents 87 full-time equivalents at 16 branches of the Okanagan Regional Library system.
In Summerland and other South Okanagan branches, staff members are not part of the union.
While the Summerland branch is continuing to provide its usual services, the effects of the job action can still be felt locally.
“A lot of people order their books online and our shelves have been empty,” said Sue Kline, librarian at the Summerland branch. “It’s a difficult situation.”
Earlier this summer, library customers also had to deal with delays when van drivers did not make deliveries, also as part of the job action.
Despite the inconvenience, Kline said the library users have been understanding and patient.
While the job action is continuing, the Summerland branch remains busy this summer.
The summer reading club for children has more participants than ever before.
Before the job action began, library staff selected books to recommend and brought multiple copies into the branch.