Libraries are struggling right now, trying to determine the best way to serve their communities. They realize that there are many people who depend on them, not just for books, but for essential services. People use the library to send in time sheets so they can be paid, to file for benefits if they’ve been laid off, and simply to connect to the world around them, using public computers to communicate with distant relatives, letting them know that they are alive and well.
But what if the best way to serve your community is to NOT serve them, but to close your doors to encourage social distancing? As Rita Meade said on Twitter, “Here’s the thing: library closures does (sic) not mean libraries are NOT essential to society. It’s BECAUSE libraries are seen as essential that they have to close. People wouldn’t stay away/social distance otherwise. Ironic, yes. Painful, yes. Necessary, yes.”
Even as libraries across the country close to the public, they’re searching for ways to serve. They’re reminding people that their digital resources are available 24/7, and some are issuing card numbers over the phone or electronically so that people who didn’t previously have cards can take advantage. They’re using Facebook Live and YouTube videos to hold Story Time, and they’re offering craft programs that can be done with materials found around the house. They’re exploring avenues for holding book discussions online, and they’re making phone calls to check on their elderly patrons.
While libraries are closed to the public, they continue to do what they do best – provide the community with information. They share where to find reliable sources of information about COVID-19, and they share where students can access Wi-Fi so that they can complete homework while schools are closed. They tell people about concerts that are streaming, museums and national parks that can be toured virtually, and breakout games that can be played without leaving the house.
And sometimes, they share a bit of much needed levity, like the meme that says, “Day 9 of social distancing: Struck up a conversation with a spider today. Seems nice. He’s a web designer.”
Jackie Zataweski is the director of the Nottoway County Library in Crewe, Virginia. She is a frequent contributor to This Awful-Awesome Life.