COVID-19’s call for closed doors threw libraries across Idaho in a bind. Browsing patrons could no longer wander aisle after aisle, and children couldn’t come in for story times.
Libraries promoted their online stashes of e-books and encouraged patrons to keep reading. But unable to invite the community in, libraries had to get creative in their reach out.
Wi-Fi Dependent
“I want a shirt that says I’m a Zoom zombie,” said Cindy Bigler, the Library Director at the Gooding Public Library.
Closed doors provides massive barriers to a library’s schedule. When they can’t invite the community in, they have to find a way to enter the community.
Story times, elementary book clubs, STEM projects and kindergarten readiness trainings over Zoom invited the library into the Gooding community . The Wi-Fi dependent video chat allowed more groups and individuals to participate in activities.
Pre-shutdown, many daycares simply couldn’t bring all their attendees to the library for story time. With Zoom not only could they join, but Bigler also had more time to virtually hop over to a classroom and read with them.
Curbside 2.0
Most libraries were able to quickly implement curbside services, allowing patrons to place an order for books they could snag with a drive-by. Other libraries, such as the Twin Falls Public Library, leveled up their curbside services.
When patrons add books to their check-out basket, they can choose to pick it up from the library’s curb, or they can request it be delivered to theirs. Or rather their door.
The Library Starter Kit
“It can be difficult to replicate going into the library and physically browsing,” said Tyler Mclane, a librarian at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library.
While some library patrons know what books they want, others have relied on browsing and looking at rows of books to find one that stands out to them. Children especially.
Trying to reinvent a browsable experience with closed doors, the Children’s Librarian, Mandy Harris, put together kits and curated collections for families to checkout. Each kit included paper crafts, word searches and activities, and two to three books.
While families were always welcome to request a kit’s theme, Mclane noted they found much more success with the weekly themes the librarians put together. Their biggest success thus far has been “Star Wars.”
“We ran out of “Star Wars” books library wide in just a couple hours,” Mclane said.
The Community Reached Back
The shutdown encouraged libraries to promote their storage of e-books, so patrons could continue accessing library materials. However, e-books from some libraries, like the Hailey Public Library, were not a popular reading source prior to 2020.
Near Hailey, in Central Idaho, several non-profit organizations recognized library shutdowns as a serious situation. After appealing to people with deep pockets, they made grants available to organizations up and down the valley.
With their grants, the Hailey librarians expanded their e-book collection, so they could continue catering to their patrons needs.
“[The grant] was well appreciated,” said Kristin Fletcher, the Programs and Engagement Coordinator at the Hailey Public Library.