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Innovation, Patience Lead to Virtual Success
WHEN HISTORY ASKS HOW TEXAS LIBRARIANS responded to the COVID-19 pandemic the answer will be, with innovation, courage and grace.
In the spring of 2020, in the span of a few weeks, the whole world changed as the COVID-19 virus spread. Broadway shut down and sports events were cancelled; theme parks closed and so did schools. Colleges and universities, and local officials and administrators directed libraries to close, or limit services.
Nearly overnight, children across Texas saw their beloved librarians for storytime, but through computer screens instead of in person; book club members learned how to use Zoom, and librarians worked harder than ever as thousands of readers across the state signed up for virtual subscriptions and learned how to check out books and other materials with Libby, Overdrive, Hoopla and other apps. Here are a few ways our courageous Texas librarians made the best of a difficult situation.
VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING AND SUCCESSES At the Fort Worth Public Library, more than 300 residents signed up for virtual Spanish classes, and more than 200 people signed up for a "Stay at Home" Facebook book club. The book club is currently engaged in a robust discussion of The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton.
"We have always valued the creativity and innovation our library staff brings to their jobs, but closing all our library locations in a day presented us with challenges we had never faced before," said Fort Worth Library Director Manya Shorr. "Our staff continues to deliver services that our community is yearning for, while we are all working to keep each other safe and healthy during the crisis."
The digital collection was already an important component of the library's offerings, but suddenly it became the only way for patrons to access materials. Around 3,000 titles for all ages, in English and Spanish, have been added to the collection since the closure, with more added almost every day. Digital usage has also increased. From the day the library buildings closed to the public, March 14, to April 5, digital checkouts were up 23 percent to 56,913 items.
One project at the Fort Worth Library is providing a personal touch at a time when isolation has...