In any normal year, when kids go back to school, libraries shift from summer library programming to offering more face-to-face meet-ups and small groups.  But, 2020 is not a normal year.  Not by a longshot.  Since March, the librarians at the Great Bend Public Library have been hard at work, both from home and on site, researching and learning how to create remote programming for patrons. 

“Being flexible is key. We’ve all had to readjust,” Amy Mahill, GBPL Youth Services Manager and Assistant Director said. “Let me tell you that my librarians have just stepped up really well.” 

Pivoting and responding to pandemic precautions has been a big learning curve, but today’s librarians are of a different ilk than the stereotypical minders of shelves of books from decades past.  While prior to March they may not have been considered as such, they’ve proven just how essential they are. 

“We had no idea how long the shutdown would last,”  Mahill said.  “Our goal hasn’t changed. We want people to know what’s happening out there, and we’re going to keep researching new ways patrons can get the information they need.  

“When we had our stay at home time we started to think about what we needed to do because we had to revamp summer,” she said. “Then when we came back, we realized that we have to look at what the future is telling us. We’ve been researching what other libraries have been doing. I’ve been attending a lot of meetings with different libraries around the country, to see what we need to do and what we can do with what funds we have.”

A big part included becoming familiar with internet based programs.  Librarians all over the country met in virtual meeting spaces to share what they were finding with one another.  Countless hours went into learning the ins and outs of numerous programs, as well as how they interacted with other programs. A few made the cut.  The fall programming at the Great Bend Public Library will include something for kids of every age.  

Storytime returns online

Starting with the library’s youngest patrons, a key objective is advocating for early literacy. Mahill surveyed parents who had previously been active in preschool storytimes at the library.  The majority agreed they were not yet ready to return to face-to-face story times. Mayhill was determined they would do their best to recreate the Tuesday morning experience they had become familiar with in order to keep regulars engaged, and hopefully even attract some new participants. 

Beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 8, parents of preschoolers can visit the GBPL Facebook page for storytime.  A video of Mayhill reading a story, along with songs, finger plays, puppets, and more will be available.  Make and take activity kits will also be available for parents to pick up at the library and take home to do with their kids.  

Sounds simple, but a lot more goes into producing a virtual experience than the typical in-person gathering. While most of the program will remain available indefinitely, storytime videos are different, because the length of time they will be available to the public depends on what permissions the library receives from the book publishers.  Permission has to be granted before Mayhill can videotape a telling in order to avoid copyright infringement.  Some publishers allow videos to stay up for two days, some for a week. And some publishers only allow a telling over Facebook live.

Each publisher has to be approached differently as well, Amy said.  Some make a standard form available online, while others require more effort.    

“We created a few videos during the summer library program ,” she said. “We did a video every Tuesday. Thankfully they (the publishers)  extended their permissions through December, which is great for libraries and teachers.”  

Each storytime will be videotaped at a different location, Mayhill said. 

“The first one is with fish, so I’m going to go out by the river bank,” she said. “Others will be at the Barton County Historical Society Museum, the post office, the fire station and different places around town. That way we can introduce the kids to nearby places, encourage them to get out and about and see different things.”

The effort to encourage families to read one thousand books before kindergarten continues. For families that sign up, when they reach each hundred book milestone, they get a prize. When they’ve read their 1,000th book, the library will give them a book of their choice, Mahill said.  

“We request permission to post pictures of those kids to mark their achievement,” she said. It’s fun for the kids, and there is an app parents can track progress with, or they can just keep track on sheets that the library provides. “ Either way, we just want them to get in their parents’ laps and read those books. The more words they hear the better their vocabulary, and the greater their enjoyment of reading over their lifetime.”   

Bitmoji room, coding and STEAM activities for school aged kids

Programming with big groups is out for the time being, so Halee Huddleston, the Teen Services librarian and Jessica Ney, the Youth Services Assistant other children’s librarians, have put together “Learning in the Library with Miss Jess.”  It’s an internet program that takes place on the Bitmoji platform, in a Bitmoji “room” which can be accessed through links on the library’s website or Facebook page. 

 Mayill demonstrated how clicking on different objects in the Bitmoji room launched video links, book reviews, quizzes, games and other informational links.  In order to make sure the room is safe for kids, Jess had to learn how to avoid having links take users to inappropriate content.  Networking with other librarians, she found another online application program, “View Pure,” which “purifies” the link.  

It removes ads, and when the video stops it doesn’t go on to another sometimes inappropriate video.  Only the video you select plays. It’s a program that is free to use, and one the librarians have been becoming more familiar with over the summer, she said. 

“We’re trying out new stuff, learning the ins and outs of using it,” she said.   

Each Bitmoji room has a theme, and a new one will be released every Wednesday, which kids can access anytime. 

 Every Thursday, we’ll be putting out information on STEAM activities to do at home with things found around the house.  STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, art and math. 

The activities encourage them to take a break from their computers, and go and do something a little different.

“We’re also  still continuing our code club,” Mayhill said. “We’re not meeting in person, but we’re still meeting online and we have a great online coding system going which anybody can sign up for. It’s free, and our link is on our website.” 

With so much focus on remote activities, Mayhill stresses kids are still welcome to visit the library. Even though groups are not meeting in person, kids can still access the computers in the library, providing a place where they can safely do their homework or just study.  

Teens’ virtual meeting space

Teens have some new ways to gather online this year.  One exciting option is “Discord.” 

It’s an online community for teens to hang out in a safe environment. It’s where the writing and anime clubs will meet. Teens can access Discord at any time, and visit and hang out and talk about things that are on their minds.  

They will need to register for the program, which they can do by following the appropriate link on the library website (It will be available after Labor Day.).  There, they sign up, and then get a code they can use to enter Discord. Once they are signed up, they can receive texts that let them know what is happening there each week.  

There will also be make and take activities designed to help teen distress.  They can pick up from the library and do at home.

Finally, with so many teens engaging with the Instagram platform, a focus on activities on that app are also being designed, Mayhill said.  

Many of these programs are only accessible for those with access to the internet, and that fact isn’t lost on the librarians. Ironically, prior to COVID-19, they were urging kids of all ages to unplug from the internet and get out and experience other aspects of life. Now, they are looking for grants that could provide more hotspots to provide access.  The library offers free wi-fi access on site, and there are computers they can use if they don’t have access at home or through the school.   

“We want to be here for the whole community,” she said.  

Book bundles for families and daycare

We want to remind families and parents that they can still come in and get books. One thing we’ve been doing since we reopened is providing curbside pick up of book bundles for those who don’t feel comfortable coming into the library.  Basically, patrons of the library contact a librarian through email or Facebook messenger, telling us they are ready for a book bundle.  

“All we need to know is a child’s age, and if there is a reading level or a specific interest,” she said. “Then, a librarian will put together a bundle with 10 to 15 books, and we check them all out to that person, and deliver to them at the curb so they don’t even need to come in.  Several families have been taking advantage of this service.” 

Librarians will continue to do outreach to daycares, but instead of going in and reading to the kids, they are taking our book bundles to them. Daycares can get a bag of books each month for teachers to read in class.  They also provide packets of enrichment activities for families to use at home in the evenings and weekends. This first one, it’ll just be it’s a calendar, full of activities that the families can do together at home. A coloring sheet goes with it.