How Much Do You Love Your Library?
When Covid came to town last year and the library closed, staff scrambled to figure out how to provide our most core services to our community. First, they figured out how to provide curbside service to keep the books flowing into people’s homes as folks became more homebound. Thousands of books, movies, and other materials were checked out during the period that our doors were officially closed to the public.
Our “Bound to Please” Book Bundles filled in for customers who could no longer browse our collections to fill their reading needs. Our knowledgeable staff curated bags of materials based on customer reading preferences. When we reopened, our “Grab and Go” Book Bundles were available in many of the categories most popular with kids. This service allowed parents to quickly choose books for their children, without spending a long time in the library.
Some of our most basic and beloved offerings are our baby, toddler, preschool, and family Library Learning Times, normally 30 per week. When we had to cancel in-person programming, our staff learned the ins and outs of filming, editing, and producing their own storytimes, as well as copyright law, so we could play them live on our Facebook page. Many parents have commented that their children love seeing their favorite storytellers continue to engage with them virtually.
For parents and daycare providers who want to provide the storytime experience at home, we developed Storytime-to-Go Kits. These take-home reading and activity kits are for children ages 3 to 7 and contain five books, a beginning and ending song, a rhyming activity, and a list of theme-related books.
Coming soon, is the Teen Treasure Trove, specially selected books on a popular theme for tweens and teens, packaged with a fun craft, puzzle, or other activity designed to keep teens reading and occupied.
Our on-line resources have been a lifeline to our library users, with thousands of books, movies, and music available in ebook, and downloadable audio through our Hoopla and Overdrive (Libby) services. We re-subscribed to HelpNow for Homework, which provides free homework help and online tutoring. Our TumbleBook Library features animated talking books for kids and has its own mobile app for entertainment on the go.
We were also relieved that we had moved our Summer Reading Challenge to an on-line platform a few years ago, so everyone could continue to participate in this beloved Library challenge from the safety and comfort of home.
So, to allow our community to share the love, we invite our customers ages 4+ to join us as we celebrate “Love My Library.” Love can be celebrated and expressed in many ways. Check out a cookbook and learn to make a special dish for your mom or dad. Try a new craft to create and create a work of art to give to someone. Write a thank you note.
Then, write us a letter to tell us why you love the library or why you love reading.
You can tell us about your favorite book, or something you learned from a book! Or send in a drawing, photo, or craft that shows why you love the library!
Winners will be selected at random to win your very own library mouse! Parts of your letters, pictures, and works of art might appear on the LNKLibraries social media pages!
This promotion runs from February 14-April 10, 2021.
Send your letter to:
Library Mouse, Lincoln City Libraries, 136, s. 14th Street
Or email a.huffman@lincolnlibraries.org
For more information about any of our services visit lincolnlibraries.org or our Facebook page.
