Patron Resources

Resources for COVID-19 Information, Internet Connectivity and Devices, Youth, and Adults

Dial 2-1-1 or (888) 892-1162 to get the latest updates on COVID-19. To get text updates, text COVIDNC to 898211.

NC 2-1-1

Operated by the United Way of North Carolina, 2-1-1, provides residents and businesses information about accessing services and assistance such as food, shelter, and healthcare.

Resources from across state government addressing topics such as unemployment, human services, education, and volunteering. Visit DHHS for the latest information related to COVID-19 in North Carolina, including Executive Orders and guidance for businesses and the public.

NC Prevent and Protect Media Toolkit

To help you get out the word about North Carolina’s ongoing efforts to expand testing and contact tracing, DHHS is providing the social media resources and flyers in both English and Spanish. Also, please note that the Check My Symptoms flyers have an additional option to add your organization’s logo and branding information.

COVID-19 Health Literacy Project

COVID-19 Fact Sheets in 35+ languages

Center for Disease Control (CDC)

The CDC provides information on the COVID-19 outbreak along with health information such as prevention, symptoms, and what to do if you are sick.
COVID-19 information is also made available in multiple languages.

World Health Organization (WHO)

The WHO provides global information and country-by-country guidance. WHO has also made available public information flyers about common misconceptions regarding COVID-19.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

MedlinePlus COVID-19 Vaccines Page

WHO's Vaccines and immunization: Myths and misconceptions

Talking to Children About COVID-19

National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Parent/Caregiver Guide

Provides information for parents and caregivers about infectious disease outbreaks in your community. Knowing important information about the outbreak and learning how to be prepared can reduce stress and help calm likely anxieties. This resource will help parents and caregivers think about how an infectious disease outbreak might affect their family— both physically and emotionally—and what they can do to help their family cope.

National Association of School Psychologists

Provides helpful guidelines and suggestions for discussing COVID-19 with children.

Resources for Internet Access, Computers, and Digital Skills

As policies and practices are implemented to limit the spread of COVID-19, people are being asked to rely on the internet for more and more activities. When libraries close or suspend services, an important source of internet access is cut off and those caught in the digital divide (lacking internet access, digital devices, or digital skills) are disproportionally affected.

These resources will help patrons connect to home internet offers, low-cost computers, and training on new digital skills.

COVID-19 Internet Offers in NC (flyer)

Map of free Wi-Fi access in North Carolina searchable by location and up-to-date list of low-cost internet offers. To have your library added to the Wi-Fi map, contact Library Development.

NC Broadband Survey (flyer)

The North Carolina Broadband Survey is designed to gather information on locations in the state without adequate internet access and speeds. The survey takes about 5 minutes to complete and is available in both English and Spanish. Those without connectivity can take the survey by calling or texting 919-750-0553 . Outreach materials including printables and social media posts are available.

Free and Low-Cost Computer Offers (flyer)

PCs for People

Connect All

E2D
Charlotte, NC
(704) 657-0408

Kramden Institute
Durham, NC
(919) 293-1133

Computer Skills (flyer)

Basics and Beyond: For computer beginners and those looking to learn new skills:

For small businesses and those seeking job skills:

For parents:

Wide Open School
Additional resources for parents flyer

Resources for Youth

Resources For At-Home Learning

Common Sense Media has collected many resources for families engaging in at-home learning, including a guide to preparing children for video chats with class and suggested daily schedules. Additional resources for parents flyer.

Free Resources Provided to Kids During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Audible Books --Now for free, kids everywhere can instantly stream a collection of stories, including titles across six different languages, that will help them continue dreaming, learning, and just being kids. All stories are free to stream on your desktop, laptop, phone or tablet.

Capstone Interactive ebooks: Interactive ebooks for PreK-high school

TeenBookCloud - A collection of eBooks and educator resources perfect for your middle school, high school, or public library. Find a robust selection of Graphic Novels, Enhanced Novels, eBooks, classic literature, National Geographic videos, educator resources, and audiobooks.

Epic!-This massive digital library for kids 12 and under is offering free Remote Student Access through June 30th through Educators (and Educator accounts are free).

Gumdrop Books -free ebooks from Gumdrop Books and a few of its partners.

Online Kids Book Read Alouds:

Authors Everywhere, a Youtube Channel created and run by children's book writers and illustrators. With all this talk of potential quarantines and school closures, we wanted to do something to offer relief for parents and kids who might find themselves stuck at home. On this channel, you'll find workshops, readings, activities, art projects, writing games, writing advice, and more. We hope that we can offer you some fun, some distraction, and a creative outlet for any feelings that might come up during this time.

#StoryMarch--The Greater Boston Illustrators' Group dreamed up #StoryMarch as the COVID-19 pandemic took over the daily lives of everyone we know. As schools and offices close and people are stuck at home without their usual activities and diversions, we hope that #StoryMarch might be a fun way for all artists of every age to stretch themselves a little and have fun.

Stuck Inside: Authors’ Virtual Book Club (well, this one’s just getting started but maybe it’ll grow)

Spanish children's stories (The Spanish Experiment) - Well-known children's stories translated into Spanish and spoken by a native Spanish speaker. Great for kids... and adults too! Read along in Spanish or English. Site also includes free Spanish lessons. Tip: Scroll to bottom to find similar sites for French, German, and Italian!

Activities Lunch Doodles with children’s author/illustrator Mo Willems - New episodes will be posted each weekday at 1:00 p.m. ET and then remain online to be streamed afterwards. Check back each weekday for new LUNCH DOODLES!

Databases

EBSCO PrepSTEP for High School --Resources including practice tests, tutorials, e-books, articles and flashcards to help students; free through June 30.

Activities

Girls Who Code at Home --a new service of Girls Who Code, which will release activities weekly — some online, some offline, of varying levels of difficulty—over the course of the next few months. Each activity will include a feature of a woman in tech who pioneered innovative technology.

Free Online Events and Activities for Kids at Home --Huge list of fun, free activities and live events from Common Sense Media.

Scholastic Learn at Home: Day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing.

Education Companies Offering Free Subscriptions Due To School Closings (big list!)

Jarrett J. Krosoczka drawing webcasts—Award-winning author and illustrator will be hosting free drawing webcasts every weekday at 2pm EST for at least the next few weeks.

Authors Launch Digital Children's Book Festival --The Everywhere Book Festival will be held virtually May 1-2 with more than 50 participating authors and illustrators.

Encantos --Free bilingual activities for kids

Free Resources Provided to Kids Available Anytime

StoryBlocks An IMLS funded project from CLEL features short videos of Colorado librarians demonstrating rhymes and songs with early literacy tips. Videos are available in 7 languages.

Story Preservation Initiative to find a selection of audio stories from three master storytellers on the K-3 Storytelling Learning Lab. To access click K-3 Learning Lab on blue banner. A one-time registration is required and then click on “storytellers” and listen and enjoy at no cost.

One Hundred Museums Transformed Their Collections Into Free Coloring Pages

Storyline Online from the Screen Actors Guild, featuring actors reading picture books.

Google Arts & Culture Collections teamed up with over 500 museums and galleries around the world to bring anyone and everyone virtual tours and online exhibits of some of the most famous museums around the world.

Virtual concerts, plays, museums and other culture a list of worldwide cultural activities to engage in online

Free resources from Pop Culture Classroom provides some of its comics-literacy based materials free.

Read, Wonder, and Learn! Favorite Authors & Illustrators Share Resources for Learning Anywhere --webpage featuring authors reading their own kids' books, with the videos embedded in the page.

"Talking is Teaching: Talk, Read, Sing" Family Staycation Resources -from Too Small to Fail.

Story Time From Space While in space, astronauts videotape themselves reading picture books to the children of Earth. These videos are being edited and placed on this website -- look under the heading 'Story Time Videos.'

KidLit TV -multimedia site celebrating all things children's literature.

Book Authors Reading their Books --YouTube playlist of kids' authors reading their own works.

Jarrett Lerner’s Activities Page -lots of printouts/activities that encourage creativity and story creation.

Virtual School Activities -great list of free virtual tours and activities from around the world.

Resources for Adults