Posted on March 31, 2021 at 10:37 AM by Brian Herder
Pivoting during the Pandemic: Ideas for Serving Your Community Anytime, Anywhere (2021)
Kathleen M. Hughes and Jamie Santoro
ALA Editions
9780838949740
When the pandemic
suddenly forced many public libraries to close their doors or limit
patron access, library staff redoubled their efforts to serve their
communities in every way possible. Demonstrating their resilience by
quickly pivoting to new modes of service, public libraries are
continuing to offer innovative yet practical ways to connect patrons to
the information and services they need and enjoy. Offering real-life
examples of what it means to be a 24/7 library, this collection from the
Public Library Association (PLA) and ALA Editions shares how several
libraries transitioned to virtual and socially-distanced services. No
matter your library’s current situation or outlook for the future,
you’ll be inspired to adapt their ideas to suit the needs of your own
organization. Among the initiatives and topics explored are
- homebound delivery;
- citizen science programs;
- virtual reference advice;
- services to small businesses;
- remote readers' advisory and book chats;
- early literacy storytimes;
- health services outreach;
- tech guidance for patrons;
- wifi hotspot lending; and
- tips for social media and marketing.