Libraries in Action During COVID-19: A Few Favorites From Beyond Massachusetts
It’s so hard not to be able to visit libraries the way we used to (soon, we keep telling ourselves, soon!). We know that some libraries have already reopened (looking at you Rhode Island) and others will be in the coming weeks. Many, however, remain closed to the public but are still offering great services. We certainly saw that in Massachusetts - and wrote about some of the programs that caught our attention. We thought it would be interesting to do the same for some of the many libraries we’ve seen and loved in other parts of the country, so here goes!
Braddock Carnegie Library, Braddock, Pennsylvania
If you’ve visited Library Land before or our Instagram feed, you may have seen our write up of the Braddock Carnegie Library. This was Andrew Carnegie’s first library in the US and it is one of the most amazing ones we’ve visited anywhere. The Braddock is opening up, slowly but surely, and are expanding the services they’re offering.
Books and DVDs are available for check out. Patrons can call in advance or make requests in-person at the library.
Print services. The library has sent up a print to the library option for use from a patron’s own devices.
WiFi. As with many (hopefully most?) libraries, the Braddock is making its internet connection available for use outside the library.
Joyful Kids Messages. This may be the best! Just dial 412-203-5734 and select option “1” for a daily joke, riddle, skit, or fun fact. Go ahead, do it … we’ll wait.
At home clay and creative learning kits (supplies are limited). One of the things that amazed us most about the Braddock is its arts programming. The screen printing shop and the ceramics studios are unlike anything we’ve seen at other libraries, and it’s awesome that they’ve found a way to extend this beyond the walls of the library.
While this is a wonderful library, there are plans to make it even “wonderfuler” - but that’s going to take some serious capital. We heard about their fundraising efforts during our visit in February, and we’ve heard about a great program that’s coming up.
Hotline Ring is a virtual fundraiser that will be taking place on Thursday, July 16th from 5:00 PM until midnight. 1Hood Media, BOOM Concepts, the Braddock Carnegie Library Association, Dreams of Hope, The Legacy Arts Project, PearlArts Studios, and Kelly Strayhorn Theater are joining forces for an evening of entertainment, sharing, and giving. You can find out more at www.kelly-strayhorn.org or this event link.
Ben May Library, Mobile, Alabama
It’s been more than a year since we visited Ben May Library, but we sure thought it was swell! We were in touch recently to hear how things were going in these difficult days and were so happy to hear about what they are doing.
From the Mobile Public Library website.
One program, which they described to us as their, “newest, snazziest offering,” is Book Bundles. Families can get 10 surprise picture books or early reader books as part of the library’s Curbside Holds Pickup program. Hearing about it brought back fond memories of assembling similar book bundles at the Dover Town Library. Oh, how I miss those days!
The library has also started offering reading and skill-building recommendations. This has always been a strength of public libraries, where staff are usually more than happy to discuss books, classes, and other programming. Without in-person services though, this can be harder. In Mobile, they’ve come up with a neat solution. Patrons fill out a questionnaire, and the library uses the results to make suggestions and recommendations. Check out the questions for books and skills.
The library has also created a number of digital “escape rooms” and quizzes. One of the most popular has been an ‘Avengers’ themed one that has been completed by several hundred people so far. You can find a list of their escape rooms and quizzes here.
Like many libraries, they have also been ramping up video production and have added a new series, “Read, Eat, Repeat.” This features library workers sharing what they're reading - and snacking on - during these strange days we’re living through.
The Ohio County Library, Wheeling, West Virginia
On our return from speaking at the Monroe County Public Library in Bloomington, we had the opportunity to visit a ton of terrific libraries. A real unexpected gem was the Ohio County Library in Wheeling, West Virginia. When we recently asked about their programming during the pandemic, we were amazed by the scope of services the library has to offer.
“Lunch with Books” has been one of the library’s more popular adult programs. When the library was open to the public, people could bring a bag lunch and hear presentations by authors, poets, historians, musicians, and others from the community and beyond. In the face of COVID-19, the library has moved the program online, where it continues as a livestream every Tuesday at noon. Archived versions of the talks can be found on the library’s website.
During our visit, we were impressed by the library’s focus on local history. Sean Duffy, the library’s programming director and local history specialist, gave us copies of his book on Wheeling, and we were really impressed by a display of items and artifacts. Together with Erin Rothenbuehler, the library’s web administrator (and another local history specialist), Duffy researched, wrote, and published, “Breaking the Grippe: Wheeling During the 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic.”
Image courtesy Archiving Wheeling (archivingwheeling.org), a project of the Ohio County Public Library, Wheeling, WV.
Based on archival sources, the article looks at the parallels between the 1918 pandemic and the one we are currently living through. We’ve seen a number of libraries that are creating archives and community scrapbooks to preserve information about COVID-19 but this is the first one we’ve seen doing this type of comparison. Duffy and Rothenbuehler think there are valuable lessons to be taken from 1918 - as well as a much-needed message of hope.
Adam was blown away by the blog post and related materials. He shared his impressions in an email to Duffy:
“It is an amazing read - so detailed and compelling. It is somewhat chilling to read the parallels, whether that is the action of the Health Commissioner for the City or town officials, reaction and reporting (sometimes contradictory) in the Intelligencer [local newspaper], quarantine lifting/reinstating, and even efforts to avoid the disease by taking a ferry!
You also capture the strength of nurses and healthcare facilities, but also the tragedy of mourning and how some families were particularly struck - so cruel and similar to today. Even some of the so-called cures were detailed and chilling to read about. The lack of recommended hand washing is really surprising.
I'm not surprised, but I am still amazed that you were able to put something like this together with such detail and quality in not a ton of time.”
This article was so well-received that the pair decided to make the article - expanded with some additional research - part of the library’s first issue of the Upper Ohio Valley Historical Review. The Spring 2020, Special Pandemic Issue (Vol. 41, No. 2.), includes stories covering several health-related issues that impacted the Wheeling area since the middle of the 19th century. A free PDF of the issue is available for download.
The Plaistow Public Library, Plaistow, New Hampshire
This was my hometown library when I was growing up. While a lot of things have changed about the Plaistow Public Library since I was a wee library lad, one thing that hasn’t changed is the library’s commitment to the community.
For example, when word came early in the pandemic about the shortage of face masks, Jennifer Dawley, the children’s librarian, and Jim Peck, the chair of the library’s board of trustees, helped create Plaistow & Friends Making Masks 4 Heros, a Facebook group of people making masks at home. The library made pre-cut materials available at the front door and accepted finished masks that were distributed to area hospitals. By mid-May, the project had made more than 10,000 masks, face shields, and other assorted items. Bravo!
At the end of March, the library kinda sorta opened to the public for one day only. There was a blood drive scheduled for the 31st, and it was held more or less as planned. The “more or less” being several additional safeguards put in place by the Red Cross, including temperature checks and social distancing. The result was 32 units of blood. Again, kudos Plaistow!
Finally, as if all this wasn’t enough, the library teamed up with the town’s rec and parks department to set up a pop-up drive-in movie screen! Almost 40 cars, more than 100 people, and 100 percent positive feedback. How cool is that!
A drive-in movie at the Plaistow Public Library! (Photo, courtesy of the Plaistow Public Library.)
The Monroe County Public Library, Bloomington, Indiana
We really enjoyed and valued our visit to the Monroe County Public Library. We went to speak at the library’s staff training day and absolutely loved the place and the community. We reconnected with folks there to hear how things were going during COVID-19, and find out what programs the library was offering.
As is true at many libraries, there has been a big increase in digital services and online offerings. The library also started curbside pick up, again something we’re seeing and hearing about at many other libraries. One thing that was a little more unusual is the resumption of bookmobile services. In a county system with two locations, bringing services to the people matters, and we were happy to hear this is happening.
Historical bookmobile photos courtesy of the Monroe County Public Library,
During our visit, we were given a guide to spring programs and man were we amazed. It was a really well-produced piece of collateral - but more than that, it was jam-packed with programs and events - and there was something for everyone. Of course with COVID, a lot of those programs have been put on hold, but many are still being offered online. You can see all of the upcoming programs here.
Every single public library has a special connection to its community. During these stressful and uncertain times, their essential role in our communities maybe even more important than ever. As always, we salute the creativity and determination of library staffers. We look forward to visiting libraries again real soon!