Providing Library Services During COVID-19
Find best practices and discover ways to provide alternative and new services to your community
ALA’s COVID-19 Recovery Resources
ALA's COVID-19 Recovery Resource, developed and updated by units across the American Library Association, will help communities, library workers, and library supporters plot the best course forward for their libraries.
COVID-19, Employers, and Facilities
Reopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums (REALM): A COVID-19 Research Project on how long the COVID-19 virus survives on materials that are prevalent in libraries, archives, and museums. View findings and updates.
Sample Positive Case Protocol Policy from Library of Michigan
Count on Me NC is an innovative partnership with NC Department of Health and Human Services to help businesses protect their customers and their employees. This is part of Governor Cooper’s pledge for public safety and an effort to provide a consistent level of confidence around the state. Count on Me NC provides free online training to protect customers and employees in Phase 2 and beyond. It includes evidence-based practices on social distancing, employee health and sanitation to protect people’s health. Each module takes about half an hour to complete. Of particular interest are the modules "Cleaning and Disinfecting Surfaces for COVID-19 Management" and "General Best Practices for COVID-19 Management." Check back as more modules continue to roll out.
Department of Labor's COVID-19 and the American Workplace
CDC Guide for Employers, including cleaning recommendations
EPA's Disinfectants for Use Against Coronavirus
Public Wi-Fi In Libraries
ALA Recommends Leaving Wifi On
Community Use of E-Rate Network Permitted
To extend Wi-Fi’s reach, move access points to a window facing the parking lot. For more help extending the outdoor reach of your Wi-Fi, you can contact Glenn Knox of the NC Department of Information Technology's Broadband Infrastructure Office.
To be added to North Carolina's map of free Wi-Fi, send an email to COVID.vendor.ideas@nc.gov.
Other Resources
How to Keep Your Hours Current in Online Searches
Library Technology Vendor Responses to COVID-19
Why Wear a Mask Signs from Wyoming State Library
COVID-19 Recovery Learning Resources
ALA COVID-19 Recovery Education Resources
Count on Me NC is an innovative partnership with NC Department of Health and Human Services to help businesses protect their customers and their employees. This is part of Governor Cooper’s pledge for public safety and an effort to provide a consistent level of confidence around the state. Count on Me NC provides free online training to protect customers and employees in Phase 2 and beyond. It includes evidence-based practices on social distancing, employee health and sanitation to protect people’s health. Each module takes about half an hour to complete. Of particular interest are the modules "Cleaning and Disinfecting Surfaces for COVID-19 Management" and "General Best Practices for COVID-19 Management." Check back as more modules continue to roll out.
TechSoup: Community Events and Webinars
Library 2.0: Libraries Stepping Up! Serving the Needs of the Community in Crisis (must make an account to view)
Past COVID-19 Webinars and Courses
Open Culture: Free Courses on the Coronavirus
Wyoming State Library List of COVID-19 Webinars for Librarians
Coronavirus Frauds and Scams: What You Need to Know Federal Depository Library Program
Keep Calm and Carry On-Maintaining Your Composure During the Coronavirus Outbreak Recorded Webinar from Workplace Options
In Case of Emergencies: Continuity of Operations (COOP) Planning Course from National Institutes of Health
Preparing your Digital Branch for Increased Use Recorded Webinar from Library 2.0
Covid-19: What You Need to Know Course from Rise
Managing the Impact of COVID-19 on Nonprofits Recorded Webinar from TechSoup
Other
The Reality of Covid-19 Is Hitting Teens Especially Hard Article from Wired about how the coronavirus is affecting teens.
Project READY - This is a self-paced, free, online course for library staff – both public and school. Project READY to address this existing gap in professional development opportunities for youth services library staff.
Articles and Ideas for Alternative Programming
The Healing Library's Guide to a DIY COVID-19 Kit
Virtual Programming During a Pandemic --a SLJ blog post about programming for teens
Serving Patrons Experiencing Homelessness in a COVID-19 Shutdown --Ideas from Programming Librarian
Online Storytime Resources
ALSC's Virtual Storytime Services Guide
Tracked open access announcements from publishers and authors providing permissions for libraries to use their books in virtual storytimes and other programming
Tackling Copyright Concerns When Taking Storytime Online from School Library Journal
Kid Lit Authors Step Up To Help Educators, Students, and Parents This School Library Journal article addresses copyright issues in virtual storytimes, as well as lists a growing number of fun resources that authors and illustrators are creating.
Streaming Storytimes (How-To) from Library Journal
Copyright Tips for Programming Librarians: Storytimes from Programming Librarian
Miscellaneous Virtual Program Ideas For Adults
- Online book club using Facebook or Goodreads
- Chapter-a-day readings
- Adult crafts
- Cooking demonstrations
- Digital literacy demonstrations
Virtual Programming Technology Tools Guide from ALSC
Comprehensive guide to tools used for streaming, recording, posting, and marketing virtual programs and how to choose a tool using factors like accessibility, privacy, audience, and more. Written for virtual storytimes, but relevant to many virtual programs.
Zoom
- Host up to 100 participants
- Unlimited 1 to 1 meetings
- 40 minute limit on group meetings
- Additional features with paid subscription
- Tips for protecting your Zoom calls from uninvited guests
WebEx
- Host up to 50 participants
- Unlimited 1 to 1 meetings
- 40 minute limit on group meetings
- Additional features with paid subscription
Facebook Live
YouTube Live
Digital Inclusion Concepts & Best Practices
National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA)
NDIA is a unified voice for home broadband access, public broadband access, personal devices, and local technology training and support programs. NDIA is a community of digital inclusion practitioners and advocates. They host the widely used definitions related to digital inclusion and best practices from practitioners.
Digital Inclusion Planning Resources
Digital Inclusion Plan Template
The Broadband Infrastructure Office created this first-of-its-kind Digital Inclusion Plan Template and Guide to help communities create digital inclusion plans to reduce the digital divide and prioritize digital equity for their residents.
Digital Inclusion Startup Manual
The National Digital Inclusion Alliance's Digital Inclusion Start-Up Manual is intended to provide guidance to organizations looking to increase access and use of technology in disadvantaged communities through digital literacy training, affordable home broadband, affordable devices and tech support.
Digital Literacy Curriculum
GCF Learn Free
The GCFLearnFree.org program has helped millions around the world learn the essential skills they need to live and work in the 21st century. It consists of self-paced, interactive courses as well as teacher guides to use the courses as a curriculum. Available in English and Spanish.
Northstar Digital Literacy Assessment & Online Learning
Northstar's free, interactive, audio-based Digital Literacy Assessment allows users to demonstrate their digital skills and identify areas in which they need further education. Northstar Online Learning provides free, interactive, audio-based tutorials for the areas identified by the assessment. Some lessons available in English and Spanish.
Denver Public Library's CTC Classes
Denver Public Library offers classes on a variety of topics from internet basics to more advanced topics such as coding and design. Lesson plans and handouts are available for each topic.
PLA's Digital Learn
DigitalLearn.org teaches digital skills with interactive lessons in English and Spanish and provides complementary lesson plans and classroom materials for instructor led classes.
SLNC's Toolkit for Digital Readiness
The IMLS Homework Gap Project developed curriculum for teaching digital literacy to K-12 families. Also includes a Program Development Guide.
Low-Cost Internet and Devices for Patrons
Low-Cost Internet from ISP
NCDIT's Broadband Infrastructure Office tracks low-cost offers for qualified households from internet service providers in North Carolina on their website.
Low-Cost & Free Devices from Refurbishers
NCDIT's Broadband Infrastructure Office also tracks low-cost devices, primarily through North Carolina's computer refurbishers.
FCC's Emergency Broadband Benefit
The FCC's Emergency Broadband Benefit launches on May 12th, 2021 and provides discounted internet to qualified households. An outreach kit is available through the FCC.