Since June I have been participating in the COVID-19 Reimagining Youth Librarianship project. Now is not only an opportunity but the absolute necessary time to rethink how we meet the needs of and remain significant within our communities.
Here is an article about the project from facilitators Linda Braun and Mega Subramaniam: https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=covid-19-is-an-opportunity-to-rethink-youth-librarianship-reimagining-libraries
From the work of the group over the last few months has come the following: https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=wake-up-libraries-curbside-pickup-is-not-the-answer-reimagining-public-libraries-youth-services
Are we asking ourselves who in the community does our current decisions serve and how do we know what we are thinking is actually true? 9/3/20 article from the Reimagining Libraries group: The Right and Wrong Way to Make Decisions in a Crisis.
The Harwood Institute agrees–we NEED to step forward, have these conversations, build a shared responsibility within our communities, and help build sustainable change.
Rethinking Our Role to Better Serve the Community During and Beyond Times of Crisis by Beth Yoke, Chief Strategy Officer, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County