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This May Day 2020 column is dedicated to those out of work and to our first responders and health care workers who are working overtime and risking their lives to save ours. May Day is always an unusual mix of celebration and protest but this year it’s been strictly a day of protest. These protests are limited due to limits on public gatherings but they are happening around the world.
Here in our part of the world, we have many supports in place for those struggling during the pandemic. Visit this page on our website for links to assistance programs:
https://notlpubliclibrary.org/communityhelp
This week marks the beginning of a temporary reduction in library staffing and service. I would like to thank library staff for their excellent work during this crisis and take a moment to acknowledge library staff who are temporarily laid off. At the beginning of April, our student pages, Katie, Kenny, Max and Riley were laid off. Frontline staff members Carole, Emma and Sylvia were also laid off in early April.
Two full time staff members were temporarily laid off this week. Debbie Krause is our Community Engagement Coordinator and in addition to other duties as assigned, she coordinates community outreach, partnerships, programming, events, volunteers and fundraising. The library exists to serve the community so Debbie’s work is crucial. Her work is also very hands-on and in-person so much of it is temporarily on hold while we’re closed, including our signature author series and fundraiser, Wine & Words. Debbie has set up several initiatives that will continue during the closure including outreach to vulnerable and isolated community members. This crisis has shown us how much we need human contact and when it’s safe to do so, the library will re-open and Debbie’s community engagement work will be more important than ever.
Sarah Bowers is our Local History & Cataloguing Technician. She shatters the cliché of introverted cataloguer with her excellent customer services skills, monthly book club hosting with Debbie, weekly care of our knitting group and assistance with Wine & Words. She’s currently overseeing the digitization of our local history collection in addition to answering local history inquiries. Sarah ensures our e-book collection meets the needs of the community which is especially important now the physical collection is temporarily off limits. With intermittent physical distancing likely needed through 2022, Sarah’s curation of our e-resources and local history digitization will be needed more than then ever.
Now that the library closure is extended until at least July 2nd and we have a robust virtual collection plan and virtual programming in place, remaining library staff (including me) are working reduced hours. This reduction in staffing corresponds with the reduction in available work and is a cost-saving measure. We thank you for your patience as we reduce service and look forward to a gradual and safe re-opening.
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The Library may be closed, but you can still access our many free e-resources. Simply click here to become a member!
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Looking for something to create, play, read, discuss, learn about or explore? We've got you covered! Check out our events schedule for each week and meet us there! We can't wait to connect with you.
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IT staff is still available to help you with your technology needs. Ask us anything about how to video call your family, where to find more ebooks, help with email, phones, tablets or apps - we will be happy to answer! Send Matt a request at mfurlong@notlpl.org
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Looking for some inspiration
in the kitchen?
We will be sharing local chef
Miles Suhaimi's latest creations on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Sunday mornings at 10:30am
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Virtual Chess Club Tournaments
Ages 14 & Up: Mondays at 11:00am
Kids: Wednesdays at 3:00pm
Create an account at chess.com. Email your account to notllibrary@gmail.com and we will invite you to our club.
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Ask Me Anything
Join our guests for a chat online. Each week, we will have a guest with a different specialty. Come to our facebook page to have all of your questions answered. This month we have musician Steve Goldberger, actor/writer Barbara Worthy, and Dr. Robin Foster. Visit us for the Ask Me Anything sessions at our Facebook page.
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Weekly Trivia
Kids Trivia on Mondays at 2:00pm
All Ages Trivia on Tuesdays at 7:30pm
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The COVID-19 pandemic is calling on all of us to work collectively in a way many of us have never experienced before.
Here is a list of resources if you want to provide help or are looking for support in our community.
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