Well, after a two-week shutdown, the SLK staff have been working hard this week to get up and running from home the best we can, and provide as much contact and service as possible.
Like everyone else out there, we’ve discovered that moving forward has taken a bit of planning, much more trial-&-error then we first thought, and a tremendous amount of patience with each other and our own expectations.
We are learning that being adaptive really means to be comfortable with being uncomfortable, and the map we are working from is mostly grey, not simply black and white.
Over the last 4-weeks, I have sought a lot of guidance, been questioned for advice, and had many fantastic conversations that have helped me make sense of the often difficult decisions I have had to make.
The State Librarian of Hawaii, Stacey Aldrich, sent out an email that said, in part, “Regardless of how tough it gets, we will make it through. We are all in the place that we are meant to be at this moment, and how lucky we are to have each other to lean on.”
If you need some help with something, an idea or word of encouragement, it’s out there, just reach out and ask somebody, another librarian, a family member, or ask me – I’m happy to help if I can or at least be a sounding board to help you think through your plan.
The same can be said for any of the State Library of Kansas Staff, they are happy to help where they can, all you have to do is reach out - https://kslib.info/
And again, right now it seems that there are very few crystal clear answers, but there are places to look:
https://governor.kansas.gov/newsroom/executive-orders/
https://ag.ks.gov/open-government
https://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/COVID-19_Resource_Center.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html
http://www.ala.org/pla/education/onlinelearning/webinars/covid-19
Above all, please be sure to look after yourself and your loved ones.
I know that we are all trying to be of the best service that we can for each other and our communities, but if you aren’t good to yourself, you won’t be much good to somebody else.
Listen to good music, try a new recipe, limit the screen time, dig out a jigsaw puzzle, catch the sunrise – be sure to be good to yourself.
I sincerely hope that you are healthy and well, and I can’t wait to see you all again, face to face, in the near future.
May the road rise to meet you,
Eric