Information Today, Inc. Corporate Site KMWorld CRM Media Streaming Media Faulkner Speech Technology Unisphere/DBTA
PRIVACY/COOKIES POLICY
Other ITI Websites
American Library Directory Boardwalk Empire Database Trends and Applications DestinationCRM Faulkner Information Services Fulltext Sources Online InfoToday Europe KMWorld Literary Market Place Plexus Publishing Smart Customer Service Speech Technology Streaming Media Streaming Media Europe Streaming Media Producer Unisphere Research



News & Events > NewsBreaks
Back Index Forward
Twitter RSS Feed
 



A Double Helping of Challenges During the Pandemic
by
Posted On September 22, 2020
When libraries started closing their doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most jumped into the fray of continuing to offer their services as best as they could. They expanded access to ebooks and audiobooks and provided streaming access to movies. Book discussions were held via Zoom instead of in rooms. Libraries strived to serve their patrons as well as they ever did, with one hand tied behind their back—even if it was a library that had both hands tied.

UPPER DUBLIN PUBLIC LIBRARY

Upper Dublin Township is a suburban community north of Philadelphia. Its population is around 25,500, and it is unusually prosperous in its county, with an average annual income of more than $100,000. The township is the location of multiple national and regional corporate headquarters.

The Upper Dublin Public Library (UDPL) is a very popular part of the community, with 110,000-plus items and a circulation of more than 340,000 annually. Of that total, 300,000 are physical books, and the rest are ebooks and audiobooks. The library’s e-reading materials are provided by OverDrive and Libby, and streaming materials such as movies and music are offered through hoopla. Another online offering, Ancestry, proved to be popular while people were home.

Thanks to a 2019 $1 million grant from the governor’s office and a substantial budget provided by the township, UDPL planned a move to a larger facility nearby. The new facility is a two-story multipurpose building that includes municipal and community services. Library staffers had begun the process of moving to the new location when the pandemic hit.

At the time, the staff included about 15 full-time equivalent (FTE) paid employees and two FTE volunteers. Due to the pandemic, most part-time workers were furloughed and some full-time workers were as well. In spite of the staff reduction and the complications of working in a pandemic, the employees managed to get all of the materials moved.

A CHAT WITH THE DIRECTOR

Cheri Fiory, UDPL’s director, worked for years to get a larger facility for the library. When I spoke to her in mid-August, her energy and enthusiasm came through clearly, even in a phone interview. Looking through UDPL’s social media, I noted that it has an energetic presence on the web, with daily memes, quotes, and library announcements. Since March, the library has had a large increase in virtual programming—mainly driven by Zoom. Fiory said that a virtual trivia night drew more people than would have attended an in-person event. She provided me with statistics that tell of a booming enterprise, even in the worst of times. Children’s and adult programs were often remotely attended by more than 100 patrons. The summer reading club had hundreds of enrollees.

In April 2020, UDPL had an all-time record circulation of electronic materials. Also in that month, the library began using its 3D printers to create PPE for local medical personnel and first responders. As of this writing, UDPL has opened its book drop, but it is not lending books yet. The last book has been delivered to the new building, and staff training sessions are being held there. Fiory mentioned that the original plan for the building included a drive-through window to pick up and return books outside of library hours. The plan was dropped since there was a question about the extra staffing required. Once the pandemic hit, the staffers realized that even after the doors opened, some at-risk patrons may not want to enter the building, so the drive-through window was restored.

CONCLUSION

Libraries have always had to adjust to changing conditions. When I got my first library job in 1966, copy machines were the most advanced technology. We have progressed to a very different point, but still, the adjustments have been gradual. Then, all at once this year, libraries had to take stock to determine what they are about and what they can do for their communities. UDPL’s story will stand as an inspiration, showing what leadership and thoughtful planning can do in the worst of times. Fiory told me that she hopes to resume in-person service this fall. A meme posted to the library’s Facebook page sums it up best: “If it weren’t for the dark, we would not see the stars.”


Terry Ballard is the author of three books and more than 100 articles about library automation. In addition to several writing awards, Ballard was given the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019 and appears in the 2020 edition of Who’s Who in America. Further information can be found at terryballard.org, and he can be reached at terryballard@gmail.com.

Email Terry Ballard

Related Articles

6/2/2020Closing and Reopening: COVID-19's Impact on Law Library Services
1/30/2020COVID-19 NEWS: Elsevier Introduces Coronavirus Resource
3/5/2020COVID-19 NEWS: EveryLibrary Provides a List of Coronavirus Resources
3/10/2020COVID-19 NEWS: CDC's 'Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Summary'
3/10/2020COVID-19 NEWS: FDA's 'Coronavirus (COVID-19) Supply Chain Update'
3/10/2020COVID-19 NEWS: EveryLibrary's 'Libraries and Accurate Information About the Coronavirus'
3/10/2020COVID-19 NEWS: HBR's 'How Coronavirus Could Impact the Global Supply Chain by Mid-March'
3/10/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'CDC Warns Against Long Plane Trips and Cruises as Coronavirus Cases Mount'
3/10/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'APA Applauds Congress for Funding Efforts to Fight Coronavirus'
3/10/2020COVID-19 NEWS: PW's 'As the New Coronavirus Spreads, Conferences Suffer'
3/10/2020COVID-19 NEWS: PR Daily's 'How Brand Managers Should Address COVID-19'
3/10/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'Cancellation of ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo'
3/17/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'ALA Executive Director Tracie Hall Releases Statement on COVID-19'
3/17/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'PBS Responds to Coronavirus Pandemic With Programming and Online Content to Keep Americans Informed and Support Families and Educators'
3/17/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'Coronavirus-Impacted Libraries Get Unlimited Access to Ebook Central Holdings'
3/17/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'Resources From Gale on COVID-19'
3/17/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'ASIS&T Authors Examine the Role of Information During a Global Health Crisis'
3/17/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'Elsevier Gives Full Access to Its Content on Its COVID-19 Information Center for PubMed Central …'
3/17/2020COVID-19 NEWS: OverDrive's 'No Cost and Low-Cost Ebook and Audiobook Collections for Your Community'
3/17/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'Working From Home: Your Common Challenges and How to Tackle Them'
3/17/2020COVID-19 NEWS: '9 Strategies for Working Remotely During the Coronavirus'
3/17/2020COVID-19 NEWS: ByWater Solutions' 'Preparing for Library Closures'
3/17/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'JoVE Offers Free Access to Extensive STEM Education Video Library to Aid Remote Teaching & Learning …'
3/17/2020COVID-19 NEWS: ITI's Computers in Libraries Is Postponed
3/19/2020COVID-19 NEWS: Academic Libraries Compile Lists of Companies Offering Free Resources
3/19/2020COVID-19 NEWS: ARL's 'The Contribution Research Libraries Are Making'
3/19/2020COVID-19 NEWS: PR Daily's 'Why COVID-19 Should Prompt Questions About Cybersecurity'
3/24/2020An Internet Pioneer Delivers an Orwellian Warning in a Timely New Book
3/24/2020COVID-19 NEWS: EdSurge's 'How Librarians Continue Their Work Digitally Even as Coronavirus Closes Libraries'
3/24/2020COVID-19 NEWS: American Libraries' 'Fighting Fake News in the Pandemic'
3/24/2020COVID-19 NEWS: ACS's 'Can Soap Really "Kill" the Coronavirus?'
3/24/2020COVID-19 NEWS: IFLA's 'COVID-19 and the Global Library Field'
3/26/2020COVID-19 NEWS: CCC Helps Educators Use No-Cost Materials
3/26/2020COVID-19 NEWS: Instructions for 3D-Printed Masks
3/26/2020COVID-19 NEWS: Internet Archive Creates a National Emergency Library of Non-Waitlisted Titles
3/31/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'Your Facebook Page Is Your New Public Library Branch'
3/31/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'Now Is the Time for Open Access Policies—Here's Why'
3/31/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'FCC: Closed Schools, Libraries Can Still Get E-Rate Funding'
3/31/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'Smartphone Data Reveal Which Americans Are Social Distancing (and Not)'
3/31/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'Coronavirus Will End Tech Conferences and Events as We Know Them'
3/31/2020How Libraries Are Responding to a Global Pandemic
3/31/2020Coronavirus Reshapes Law While Reshaping Society
4/2/2020COVID-19 NEWS: Internet Archive's National Emergency Library Draws Backlash
4/2/2020COVID-19 NEWS: OCLC Launches Resource Page for Libraries
4/2/2020COVID-19 NEWS: ProQuest Unveils Coronavirus Research Database for Its Customers
4/2/2020COVID-19 NEWS: EBSCO Creates Portal for Healthcare Info Pros
4/7/2020Celebrating Sunshine Week During the COVID-19 Crisis
4/7/2020COVID-19 NEWS: Internet Archive Defends the Launch of Its National Emergency Library
4/7/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'COVID-19 Information Overload Leads to Simple but Unhelpful Choices'
4/14/2020COVID-19 NEWS: IGI Global's 'What Is the Role of Libraries During the COVID-19 Pandemic?'
4/14/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'Q&A: What Do People Ask a Librarian in a Pandemic? L.A. Library's InfoNow Has the Answer'
4/14/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'Public Libraries Launch, Expand Services During COVID-19 Pandemic'
4/14/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'How Effective Is Quarantine Alone or in Combination With Other Public Health Measures ... ?'
4/14/2020COVID-19 NEWS: CRP's 'The Psychological Fight of Our Lives'
4/16/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'Most Libraries Are Closed. Some Librarians Still Have to Go In.'
4/16/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'IMLS Announces New Stimulus Funding for Communities Across America'
4/16/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'EveryLibrary Creates Fund to Help Library Workers in Need Because of COVID-19 Shutdowns'
4/16/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'Library of Congress Cancels Public Events Until July 1'
4/21/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'WHO COVID-19 Database Launches New Search Interface'
4/21/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'Libraries Brace for Budget Cuts'
4/21/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'Verizon Will Buy Video Conferencing Company BlueJeans'
4/23/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'Stanford Law School Creates Free Database of COVID-19 Legal Memos'
4/23/2020COVID-19 NEWS: APA Announces More Free Resources
4/23/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'Startling Digital Divides in Distance Learning Emerge'
4/23/2020COVID-19 NEWS: European 'Commission Launches Data Sharing Platform for Researchers'
4/30/2020COVID-19 NEWS: Library Resources From SLA and IFLA
4/30/2020COVID-19 NEWS: CCC Plans a May 5 Virtual Town Hall About Building Digital Resiliency
4/30/2020COVID-19 NEWS: ReadCube Implements COVID-19 Research Pass Program for Free Content Access
5/5/2020Going Virtual: Libraries See Challenges and Opportunities in the Pandemic
5/5/2020COVID-19 NEWS: Megaputer Launches Geo-Map for Tracking Cases
5/7/2020COVID-19 NEWS: Mendeley Group Offers Studies on the Sex and Gender Dimensions of the Virus
5/12/2020'The "New Normal" Agenda for Librarianship' by R. David Lankes
5/12/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'BiblioCommons Launches New Features to Support Libraries in an Online-Only Environment'
5/14/2020COVID-19 NEWS: ALA Spearheads a Request to Congress for Library Funding
5/14/2020COVID-19 NEWS: Thomson Reuters and NAMLE Teach How to Spot Misinformation
5/19/2020Zooming In During the Pandemic: Work Life Online
5/19/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'Reopening Libraries in New Zealand: Slow and Steady Wins the Race'
5/19/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'Libraries Around the World Prepare for a New Normal'
5/19/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'FlatWorld Announces Textbooks Will Include COVID-19 Updates for Fall Semester'
5/19/2020COVID-19 NEWS: Inside Higher Ed's 'What It's Gonna Take'
5/19/2020COVID-19 NEWS: Inside Higher Ed's 'Open-Access Publishing and the Coronavirus'
5/28/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'More Harm Than Good? Twitter Struggles to Label Misleading COVID-19 Tweets'
6/2/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'Exact Editions Freezes Institutional Subscription Prices for 2020/2021'
6/16/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'Temporary National Emergency Library to Close 2 Weeks Early …'
6/16/2020COVID-19 NEWS: Academic Libraries Will Be 'Changed, Changed Utterly'
6/16/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'Libraries Are Needed More Than Ever. But Many Aren't Sure How to Reopen …'
6/18/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'Libraries Get Creative About Reopening as Budget Cuts Loom'
6/23/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'Research Shows Virus Undetectable on Five Highly Circulated Library Materials After Three Days'
6/30/2020University Students Create a Good-News Website
7/7/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'The Black Lives Matter Protests Have Taught Us More About the Coronavirus'
7/9/2020COVID-19 NEWS: Wiley's COVID-19 Research Update
7/9/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'COVID-19 to Accelerate Transition to Open Access Publishing'
7/9/2020Calls for Equity and Diversity at ALA Virtual
7/21/2020ALA President Goes on Virtual Tour of U.S. Libraries
7/28/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'Contact Tracing: How Ireland Built Its App and What It's Doing Next'
7/30/2020COVID-19 NEWS: APA Releases Latest Survey Results About Stress in America
8/4/2020COVID-19 NEWS: SirsiDynix Webinar Covers Coping With Isolation
8/11/2020COVID-19 NEWS: 'Penguin Random House Extends Temporary E-Book, Digital Audio Terms for Libraries'
1/6/2022hoopla Introduces BingePass for Unlimited Access to New Streaming Platforms


Comments Add A Comment

              Back to top