(15 Jul 2020) Strong libraries are essential to the recovery of communities devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. To help guide communities, library workers and library supporters along the path to recovery, the American Library Association (ALA) today launched a curated, online repository of tools, guides and resources.
The ALA COVID-19 Recovery website includes everything from the latest information on safely reopening libraries to funding opportunities available on the local, state and federal level. It will be updated often and replace the existing COVID-19 Response page that has served the community through the pandemic thus far.
The online resource center is arranged into four sections: Advocacy & Policy; Education; Data & Research; and Guidance Content & Protocol.
The advocacy section offers information on federal recovery and corporate and philanthropic programs. It also contains valuable tips on how to engage local boards and Friends groups and make the case for your library to local decision makers.
The education section includes on-demand webinars with topics ranging from legal issues revolving around reopening to operating in the “new normal” following the pandemic.
The data and research section has links to the Public Library Association (PLA) library survey featuring diverse responses to the pandemic, as well as related research results from the field.
The guidance section shares state-by-state guidelines for library re-openings and resources to support libraries as they open back up.
ALA Executive Director Tracie D. Hall said, “We are launching the beginning of what we hope will be a growing resource for the field because we know that library workers and users have questions about what comes next and how libraries can help shape the answers. This collection of actionable guidance is designed to help our members and the sector as a whole access and share timely information, models, and strategies no matter where they are in their recovery plans. Libraries have a vital role to play in national recovery and resilience, and ALA remains committed to helping support them.”
For more information, visit http://www.ala.org/tools/covid-19-recovery.
Source: ALA news
