Because of COVID, the Torrington Library closed to the public on March 13th. Originally, Jones planned to award a $20 Amazon e-gift card to one winner, but, given the number of participants, two gift certificates were awarded. At Florence Lauderdale Public Library in Florence, Ala., young adult librarian Kristen Tippett Briggs created two online scavenger hunts. If anything, I feel this crisis has challenged all of us to reach people in a different way and to do what we do best: assisting, helping, and providing a variety of services to our communities any way we can.”, While closed to the public, Westland Public Library in Westland, Mich., has been hosting weekly social media challenges for teens. “Anyone who plays Animal Crossing: New Horizon knows that exploring news islands, seeing what others have built, and collecting new items is, in itself the best prize!,” said Kevin King, head of community engagement. Staff worked remotely to ensure that patrons still has access to library cards, materials, programs and more. San Diego County public health officials have reported 2,509 COVID … Rather than a scattered response emanating from different agencies, the schools, libraries and parks came together to have one unified message. Learn more in the blog post “How Public Libraries Are Helping Us Find Nature During the Crisis” published on the Children & Nature Network’s website. Bengson used Zoom and Keynote to display the trivia questions. I was afraid the teens wouldn’t see it.” Jones reported that 24 teens participated in the program, which is comparable to her in-person programming during the library’s summer reading program. Society of American Archivists Resources for Response to COVID-19 Health Crisis. The library launched an “Urban Hikes Challenge” which asks people to complete five hikes and send selfies from the library and the hike destinations. King reported that KPL had “dabbled” in online programming in the past, but because of the library system’s closure due to Covid-19, it was clear “we had to redouble those efforts.” In communicating with staff during the first week of the closure, many mentioned playing the new Animal Crossing game for Nintendo Switch, which led to a conversation about turning the game into a program and a call to staff for willing participants. “The teens who participated were so excited to see each other, and it was energizing for me to be able to see their faces!” Normally, a program’s success is measured by attendance, but now, Shifrin said, “The disappointment the teens expressed when the program ended indicated success. In many regions that have not yet seen local cases of COVID-19, many libraries remained open while awaiting instructions from local leaders and public health officials. Some libraries have hosted online scavenger hunts designed for teen patrons. COVID spike prompts Westport Library to scale back building access ... “The library’s outstanding digital resources and virtual programs are also invaluable resources during … In past years, the library provided motivational literature and speakers, and the park and recreation department provided expert instruction in safe physical activity and route planning. The virtual trivia night took place on April 21 from 5:30–7:00. While not a complete list, and we are adding more services, here are some of the ways we are continuing to serve the community: With a mission to serve children first, librarians have helped develop plans and brought in engaging new tools for learning that … A free program that teaches children and teens how to deal with depression, anxiety and other mental health issues is being offered by the Richmond Public Library (RPL) in January. Category topics included “Name That Musical,” “Name That Phobia,” and “Weird Fruit Facts.” An e-gift card was sent to the winner. Current Services. The libraries recently implemented a … While the Library’s doors have been closed to the public, SFPL staff is actively deployed, working in service of the City of San Francisco as Disaster Service Workers (DSWs) to assist in the response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. In High Point, North Carolina, with the support of an America Walks Community Change Grant, the library and park and recreation department announced the launch of their new “Urban Hikes” initiative on April 15. Make a difference in communities around the country and share your ideas at the 2021 NRPA Annual Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. Ask a Librarian Service. The NRPA Directors School is an exclusive two-year professional development opportunity that prepares new and potential park and recreation directors to be effective leaders. Recommendations for Library Services During The Covid-19 Pandemic Regents Public Library Advisory Council (RPLAC) April 2020 Stacy Brown, Leslie Clark, Stephen Houser (Chair), Cynthia Kilby, Anna Lyle, Lisa MacKinney, Mary Lin Maner, Beth McIntyre, Gary McNeely, Holly Phillips, Kathy Pillatzki, Richard Sanders . In Oak Park, Illinois, on March 11, 2020, the village’s two school districts joined forces with Oak Park Public Library and the Park District of Oak Park to make … The Library will not be open to the public for browsing during this period due to … It seems like every teacher and every school has slightly different times when they are doing “live” classes or office hours, so that has been difficult to navigate, especially in my newly changed daily schedule,” Shifrin said. According to the Central for Disease Control (CDC), 8 out of 10 deaths related to COVID-19 are individuals aged 65 years and older. Some have reimagined tried and true programs, while others have tapped into rising trends, setting up community spaces in unexpected places. A Guide to COVID-19 for Public Libraries. While it wasn’t unexpected, Shifrin said it was more difficult to schedule programs for teens virtually than it is when the library is open because the library usually holds teen programs in the evening, but the library currently has limited hours, which means programming is limited to the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. “The earlier time did not work for a lot of my students. Call: 1-800-278-2991 (US) or 1-818-487-2069 (Outside US/Canada) 5 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mon-Fri (Pacific). There are plans to keep the stroll active until the library reopens, refreshing the choice of book every Friday. 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