Social Library, Volume 154
Jennifer Peterson
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07 April 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be front of mind in both our personal and professional lives and we're seeing a tremendous amount of activity on social media from libraries that are finding innovative ways to adapt to social distancing requirements. This edition of the Social Library series is dedicated to some of these examples, and we also continue to update the collection, Libraries and the Coronavirus: Evolving Information and Resources. If you'd like to see your library featured in an upcoming edition of the Social Library, let us know via [email protected] or find us on Facebook.
- Laois Libraries in Ireland has enlisted the trusty skills of Library Teddy to maintain a connection with the community, and to highlight resources and activities for those staying safe at home. He's been spotted promoting free online yoga classes, building forts, doing schoolwork, and making crafts. "It’s raining outside so the Library Teddy has decided to do some crafts. He has spent the morning making his Easter bonnet 🐥👒😊 If you have a paper plate or an old cereal box you could cut into a circle you could make one too."
- LOM Library, a middle school library in Louisiana, is sure lucky to have Amanda Jones, 2020 Louisiana School Librarian of the Year! She is leading Virtual Field Trips live on Facebook each week and hosting Digital Escape Room events, too. In addition to connecting with students, she's sharing her resources with other libraries! She's using the online tool Wakelet to share a collection of Digital Escape Rooms. She also posted her “Journey with Jones” virtual field trips and another Wakelet, of virtual trip ideas, including links to presentations to reuse. A special thanks to Amanda for sharing her great work in the Libraries Step Up (in times of crisis) Facebook group. We appreciate all the ideas and support being shared in the group.
- Tacoma Public Library in Washington has launched a Virtual Scavenger Hunt with Challenge Number 1: "Join Tacoma Public Library's virtual scavenger hunt! We will post a new photo challenge every Saturday and Wednesday. To participate, take a picture of the item or task and post it with the hashtag #tplscavengerhunt. You can also post your pic in the comments on Facebook! Open to all ages. We look forward to seeing all the creative things you do!"
- Highland Park Public Library in Illinois is providing rich online readers' advisory with the new Shelf-Isolation: A Readers' Roundtable Mini-series. Each 30-minute Zoom session features their Information & Readers’ Services Department staff discussing books, culture, and what to read next. The recordings are posted to YouTube, and the session descriptions include the full list of recommendations presented by each of the staff members.
- Englewood Public Library in New Jersey has so many online options for their community, that they're posting a weekly flyer in English and Spanish! This included the daily Mr. John's Music for Kids Via Facebook Live. "Please join us for children's songs, ages birth to 5, every morning at 10:30 a.m. for as long as the library is closed." And we love that they provide a way for people to sign up for their newsletter of events, including via text message.