Virtual Library Services in the time of Coronavirus

Today I just wanted to do a quick post to remind people that now is an excellent time to promote your wonderful virtual services available with a library card to your patrons.

We all have ebooks, streaming audio and video services, databases for learning, and more. 

Help calm people's fears with reminders of the good things we can offer them from the comfort of their homes.

Besides simply promoting the services on your websites, in e-newsletters, and in the building, I would also see if you can make few videos or step by step instructions on how to use the services. For many patrons, this will be their first time accessing materials and services in this manner and we want to make sure that we are still there to help them.

For videos, you just need an iPhone. Screen capture software is better, but an iPhone works too, you would just need someone to film you. All you would have to do is demonstrate how to use the services on different devices. Let people see it in real time. And then upload to YouTube. 

But, don't underestimate the power of the good old fashioned written out step-by-step instructions. And you can include screen shots.

These are things that we should have anyway, but I know many libraries have put making tutorials and instruction sheets on the back burner. Well, it's time to move them from and center. 

Now, I know many of you have very real concerns about working with the public during this Covid-19 outbreak, and I unfortunately cannot help there. As a Trustee, I am involved with my specific library's policies and procedures [which are being created right now], but I cannot begin to give advice to each library and its workers out there beyond saying that these are local decisions that need to be made carefully and with input from all parties involved.

But, something every single one of us can do to help all of our patrons is to focus on promoting our virtual services and flexing our bibliographic instruction muscles. Think of it as both services to patrons and a CE opportunity for yourself.

These are anxious times, and having something to do that can be helpful when so much is out of our control, is a good thing. 

Let's remind people [and ourselves] that whether we are open or closed, there is still much the library can do to help its community. It's not the same and our status as a safe space is one I take very seriously, but even without the physical place, there is still good we can do. Let's not lose sight of that.