The COVID-19 outbreak has affect the supply chains of farm businesses in Bangladesh, but small enterprise Prakritik Krishi Biponon Kendra has quickly adapted. Zakir Hossain reports. This is the second in a series of stories from Voices from the Frontline by ICCCAD and CDKN.

Delowar Jahan had never imagined a scenario like a global pandemic hitting Bangladesh, and the consequent imposition of a country-wide lockdown. My immediate response was to send my family to our village home and work out a plan to maintain the supply chain of [my organic food enterprise] Prakritik Krishi, says Delowar. As the lockdown was being discussed at the government level, along with military deployment to control mass movement, Delowar and his colleagues began making contingency plans, coordinating and discussing potential strategies over the phone.

Initially there was uncertainty about the regulations to come under lockdown, especially regarding the transport systems on which the organisation so heavily depended. The safety of staff members at the Dhaka centre was also an issue, in case an infection broke out and inevitably spread within the premises. As more people were leaving Dhaka for their villages, there was also the possibility of theft at the centre due to lack of security protocols, as well as a potential food crisis looming in the city. Hence, it was decided that all staff members, valuable items, and other logistical matters would be transferred to their farm in Manikganj, a district close to the capital.

The closure of markets and the initial transport bans presented a different set of challenges for farmers across the country. They were facing loss of income due to the lockdown. A farmer from the district of Jhinaidah, Alamgir, told us, Before the pandemic, we would supply vegetables worth Tk. 20,000 to Dhaka every week that was transported by bus. But now we are no longer able to send supplies to Dhaka.

Farmers launch local, collective initiative

To sustain their livelihoods, the local farmers in the area collaborated to launch a collective initiative: a temporary, make-shift vegetable market near the village mosque to serve the local community. The idea was initially opposed by the local administration in fear of breaching social distancing protocols. But the farmers persisted with their efforts with the local government, and it was agreed that community police would be appointed to enforce and monitor social distance measures so that the market could operate.

For the very poor local producers and farmers, Prakritik Krishi created an emergency fund and collected donations from their clients, who were happy to provide support. Mobilising emergency funds is an organisational preparedness practice that Prakritik Krishi had inculcated within their business, which has been in place during past crises to support and sustain farmers. The emergency fund also creates collaboration between farmers through exchange of seeds, providing fertilizer support and basic food supply in addition to cash provision to the farming community in the face of crisis.

Back at the organisation, the first week of lockdown was very challenging for the business, as the Dhaka centre was shut down and 50% of the clients had left the capital. Inspiration struck when Delowars brother, who lives near London in the UK, shared how the emergency food markets were operating there despite the lockdown. My brother helped me realise that like healthcare, food is also a necessity for people right now. That made me rethink the whole situation and come up with a new strategy, he says.

We started providing an online service, and mobilised people at the Manikganj farm. As soon as we heard that food transport was permitted, it was decided that three staff members would travel to Dhaka in a rented vehicle for deliveries. We are now maintaining operational support from Manikganj, and delivering food supplies twice a week to Dhaka, providing weekly food support to a hundred families.

Manikganj was now at the centre of the organisations operations, with farming and logistics both being carried out from there. It was all hands to deck, with everyone engaged in both farming and packaging. This led to a more cost effective approach and efficient monitoring of food production. It has always been the organisations goal to provide to clients directly from the farm: this was now a reality thanks to the pandemic!

Organisational culture of preparing for crises

Even in these uncertain times, the organisation was able to implement a coordinated approach to restart their operations, and that, too, in a cost effective manner. As Delowar mentions, At Prakritik Krishi, we cultivate a culture of preparing for unforeseeable economic crises. As such, we primarily focus on sustaining our farms so that if there is ever a crisis that threatens our livelihoods, we can at least produce our own food for our families and survive. The very idea of sustainability was so deeply ingrained within the organisation, that Delowar and his colleagues were able to innovate on opportunities during the crisis. However, Delowar believes that support from the government and other stakeholders are also essential to sustain food security.

One such business opportunity arose when they observed that as a means of self-sufficiency, people were keen to grow vegetables on their rooftops or balconies during the lockdown. Prakritik Krishi is now distributing and delivering seeds from their farms. We have received positive responses and the demand is increasing, Delowar proudly says of this new initiative that not only diversifies their product range and source of income, but also addresses the current needs of their clients. Delowar adds, It takes 14 days for most leafy vegetables to grow, which is the exact duration of the COVID-19 quarantine. You can grow your own food with nurture and care, and reconnect with nature!

Interviewers perspective

The pandemic has offered a glimpse of renewed hope and increased resilience amongst communities around the world. It has forced us to explore creative methods to sustain our livelihoods and social responsibilities. When left with no choice, we often look towards collaborative methods of sustenance. Bringing together our unique dispositions into a collective response has been our survival instinct since the beginning of civilisation. This is how the local farmers took forward an idea of creating opportunity to sustain their livelihoods, and how Prakritik Krishi was able to not only maintain their supply chain but also achieve their long-standing goal of creating a direct link between their farms and our plates.

About Zakir Hossain and Delowar Jahan

Zakir Hossain is the founder of Farmers Voice (Krisoker Sor). He advocates globally on farmers rights, especially in the areas of climate change, disaster risk reduction and Agenda 2030. Farmers Voice is a small agriculture research institute funded by the local community dedicated to holistic local development, that connects experiential research with policy discourse.

Prakritik Krishi began operations more than a decade ago when a young journalism graduate, Delowar Jahan, decided to follow his curiosity into the methods of farming and took the challenge of creating harmony between agricultural practices and nature, by implementing non-chemical and eco friendly methods of farming.

Prakritik Krishi and Farmers Voice are on the same pathway of the global organic farming movement.

See the rest here:

Bangladeshi farmers respond to COVID-19 with innovation - Bangladesh - ReliefWeb

It is no secret that the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic has brought widespread disruption to the global supply chain stemming disastrous food shortages and rising prices. In the aftershock of the pandemic, it is clear to see that the global economy and infrastructure is more fragile than we realise. Evidently necessary measures need to be put into place to help strengthen the food supply chain in preparation for any future crises.

Since the dawning of COVID-19 many UK fruit and vegetable growers are investigating new growing methods to increase outputs and ensure supermarkets and grocery stores have a consistent accessibility to important resources to provide the population.

National Statistics (2018) show the UK relies on receiving almost half (47%) of the national food supply from overseas nations, with the highest value of imports (11.1B) arriving in the form of fruit and vegetables. Originally, the theory behind such a diverse network was to enhance food security through trading with stable nations thus allowing for a constant source of provisions. However, the sudden impacts of global lockdown have proven otherwise.

The overbearing dependence on imports paired with a surge in demand for fresh produce has proved the importance of local farming. With a lack of labour in the UK, the automation of farming and harvesting seems to be an inevitable and welcome solution.

Brits have always cautiously questioned the sources of supermarket produce, and even more so since the arrival of the pandemic. With the newfound need for contactless delivery and harvesting, Vertical Farming systems seem to be the answer to the issue.

The UK relies on the global food network due to the seasonal temperate climate, counting on nations with optimal growing conditions to keep staple fruit and vegetables on supermarket shelves, however climate is not a problem in the realm of indoor farming.

Vertical farming systems allow growers to produce in a fully controllable climate, safe from the natural elements such as wind rain and frost, meaning the variety of crops now able to be grown in the UK is increased significantly. Additionally, the secure environment results in zero pests and invasive bacteria, which allows the grower to provide organic pesticide free produce, which paired with an automated growth and harvesting system will allow for minimal human contact, something heading the agenda in the current crisis.

Indoor farming systems also address another key UK issue: a dwindling availability in useable farmland. Vertical farming systems can be implemented into disused buildings or on barren land such as barns, car parks and warehouses, provided there is a steady power and water supply. Although it may look smaller than your average outdoor farm, a vertical system can equate to 4-6 X more growth surface than your standard glasshouse or polytunnel area. 1 acre of vertical farm on average produces 4-6 acres depending on the crop density and cycle duration.

Since the arrival of the virus, major cities across the planet have experienced less smog and a reduction in pollution levels. Growing vertically can act as a major contributor too: Although many media outlets have written of indoor farming negatively due to its energy usage, the reduction in other aspects of pollution and waste conservation have not been as widely reported. Its local production and harvesting of crops reduce the amount of food miles, meaning a decrease in the growers contribution to the global carbon footprint. Research has found that vertical farms lower overall CO2emissions by 67-92% when compared with greenhouses.

Vertical Farming systems allow produce to grow with 70-95% less water required for normal plant cultivation. Taking lettuce as an example: open-field production requires 250L/kg of lettuce and greenhouse systems consume 20L/kg. However, vertical systems come in at a minimal 1L/kg of lettuce, with the only water extracted during the growth cycle being that of the plants consumption. Any leftover water is recycled back through the filtering system and re-introduced to the irrigation.

In response to the pandemic thriving nations are realising the benefits of urbanised farming, identifying Vertical Farming technology as a response to the widespread food shortages. Singapore, one of the most affluent Asian countries, have been quick to adopt indoor and rooftop farms with aims to locally produce 30% of the nations food by 2030. Singapore law official Ang Wei Neng has recently stated that during the coronavirus outbreak, "it would be wise for us to think of how to invest in homegrown food" realising that Vertical Farming can act as a safety net in times of drought and crisis.

In a recent study, the University of Sheffield expressed that despite the pressure on land to build homes and roads, there is more than enough urban land available within UK cities to produce an ample, and more importantly, sustainable quota of fresh produce.

Although the world has been slow off the mark to implement an effective amount of Vertical Farming systems, large-scale UK distributors such as Ocado are already including indoor farming into their business models, sharing the feeling that their hyper-automation and promise of diverse locality will soon see the technology embedded into the global food supply chain.

Bridge Vertical Farming partners with Urban Crop Solutions to provide hi-tech automated solutions which include the likes of container farms, research facilities and bespoke vertical farming structures to cater for individual needs.

For more information: Bridge Vertical Farming Keynor Lane Chalk Lane Chichester PO20 7LL 01243 641789 bridge@urbancropsolutions.co.uk http://www.bridgeverticalfarming.co.uk

Continued here:

Vertical Farming: The answer to global food security? - hortidaily.com

The organic sector has voiced concerns over the Governments public money for public goods farming strategy, fearing it is ignoring the value of organic options. The English Organic Forum (EOF), which represents organic farming organisations and businesses, is concerned that whilst the governments proposal has many valid points, it hasnt yet specifically recognised the important role that organic farming can play in delivering public goods or the vital importance of whole farming systems.

It comes as National Trust highlighted the success of organic farming in its recently published Farm Health Check report. The study offered a full health check into the biodiversity, carbon levels and levels of public accessibility at Wimpole Estate Home Farm, the only farm the National Trust manages directly.

The farm, which has been organic for 12 years, has seen a number of achievements, including a doubling in the number of breeding pairs of skylarks and linnets in the last six years, a 150 percent increase in hymenoptera (wasps, bees and ants), and the recording to over 1,100 invertebrate species, including 95 rare and protected species that are vital to pollinating crops and preying on pests. The report also showed a total carbon balance of -2,260 tonnes of CO2 per year achieved through the amount of organic matter in the soil which soaks up carbon, the number of trees and grown out hedges.

The report provides further evidence to support the merits of organic farming, according to Mark Harold, National Trust director of land and nature. This is a story of hope and optimism and the Governments forthcoming environmental land management scheme will be crucial to replicating this across the farming industry, as will the new Agriculture Bill in prioritising government support for this scheme.

Speaking about the importance of the report and the need for the Government to take note, EOF co-chairman Christopher Stopes added: We are delighted with the National Trust results. We can see that the Trust is supportive of sustainable approaches across all farming practices and the results from the farm at Wimpole clearly show that organic fits into that very well. And their publication is timely because the whole farm system approach demonstrated so well at Wimpole has not yet been recognised in the governments proposals.

The Trusts Wimpole estate is a mixed farm with a predominantly arable system that integrates cereals with fertility building clover leys, green manures and livestock. The team, led by farm manager Callum Weir, believes the recent results offer a good indicator of a healthy ecosystem thats a direct result of their holistic approach, proving that nature-friendly farming and a profitable farm business can go hand-in-hand.

It is this whole system approach that brings production, ecology and environment together in a way which optimises food production alongside the delivery of public goods, Stopes said.

Providing a menu of techniques which farmers can choose to take up has merit. However, as Wimpole Farm demonstrates, the whole farm system approach is critical and we are deeply concerned that this is being overlooked by Defra.

Stopes comments are supported by John Pawsey, chair of the NFU Organic Forum, who farms 1,500 hectares in Suffolk: This is an exciting time for all farmers but especially for anyone considering organic farming. The National Trust has shown at Wimpole how organic farming makes commercial and environmental sense. I hope the Government will take note of these impressive results and put in place a framework which allows organic farming to flourish in this country as it has elsewhere in the world.

Read the original here:

National Trust report sheds light on merits of organic farming | News - Speciality Food

Multnomah County Library has announced several plans for this summer, including programs, holiday closures and expanding pickup service for holds while the buildings stay closed during the coronavirus pandemic.

The library has expanded pickup service for holds to several of its more than 20 locations, such as Belmont, Capitol Hill, Gregory Heights, Holgate, Hollywood, Kenton, Rockwood and St. Johns, according to a press release. The library plans to open a few more locations for pickup next week.

Its certainly the service we can safely provide right now, said Chelsea Bailey, spokesperson for the library. Now we feel like we have the staffing and operational setup to expand that service.

People are encouraged to wear a mask and practice social distancing while using library services, according to the release. Holds can be placed either through the online catalog or by calling the library.

Bailey said holds pickup services were only available by appointment to maintain social distancing. She said the library staff went through a daily health screening before coming into work and theyre required to wear gloves and a face mask. Any materials that are returned are quarantined for 72 hours before being put back on shelves.

Bailey said the libraries closed in March along with the rest of businesses around the country. Phone lines went unanswered up until June 7, and library staff began hearing from community members about wanting to be able to check out books still.

We know this is a service the community has been looking for, Bailey said.

Book drop-offs are open at all locations except Sellwood-Moreland Library and Albina Library, according to the release. The Sellwood-Moreland Library will have a drop-off location after the building is re-carpeted and the Albina location is currently being relocated.

There are no overdue fines on any returned items. Bailey said when the libraries closed, they didnt want people who had items still checked out to worry about late fees piling up.

We know this pandemic has had a great toll on a lot of people and we dont want library fines to be a worry for the community, Bailey said.

Multnomah County Library will be closed June 19 in celebration of Juneteenth, according to the release. This comes after Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury declared Juneteenth an annual paid County holiday for all the countys employees. Holds pickup service will continue on June 20, according to the release.

The librarys Summer Reading program will be online this year, according to the release. Children of all ages can log each day they read or listen to a book, do activities related to the reading from June 15 to August 31 and win prizes. Once participants have read for 45 days total, theyve completed the game and will receive a T-shirt, as well as coupons for local entertainment and more.

The library is also offering its reading program for adults called Read 4 Life online. Adults who join can read or listen to four books throughout the summer and earn entries into prize drawings, according to the release.

Bailey said the library began offering an online version of the reading program to teenagers last year. She said in a normal year the reading program had more than 100,000 participants and around 800 volunteers, making it the librarys largest volunteer program. The in-person volunteer program isnt happening this year due to the pandemic, but a small amount of volunteers are helping run the program virtually.

Bailey said shes unsure when the libraries will open back up and that it depends on when the county moves into Phase 1 of reopening amid the pandemic. She said the library was continuing to evaluate whether or not all branches would be able to open in later phases, but they hoped to expand the services theyre providing right now until then.

-- Ty Vinson

tvinson@oregonian.com

503-221-4315; @ty_vinson_

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.

See the original post:
Multnomah County Library continues opening pickup/drop-off locations, starts online reading program - OregonLive

In pockets of Virginia, Illinois, Missouri and Ohio, there are books sitting in quarantine.

They are public library books that have been returned, and then spend at least three days sitting on tables or in big metal carts, carefully labeled with the dates they came in. After that, they can they go back on the shelves.

Libraries around the country are tiptoeing toward reopening, but theyre not just trying to figure out how to safely lend out books. These are community hubs where parents bring their toddlers for story time, where people come to use the computer, where book groups meet. Now all of that has to be rethought.

Its awful because its the opposite of what we normally try to do, said Karen Kleckner Keefe, the executive director of the Hinsdale Public Library just outside of Chicago. We want to be the community living room, we want everyone to stay and get comfortable. And to design service to prevent lingering and talking is so different from everything weve been working toward.

With their doors closed, libraries moved whatever they could online. Book clubs were held on Zoom. The Queens Public Library in New York changed a job-search training session to focus on online networking. Author events became virtual, too, which, while lacking an in-person touch, sometimes meant they could include special guests Jean Becker, who edited a book about Barbara Bush, brought the former first ladys son Neil Bush to a talk she gave for the Kansas City Public Library in April.

Branches around the country have also been offering curbside pickup, where books are left by the front door or dropped in the trunks of waiting cars, along with library catalogs and leaflets about their cleaning protocols. And even when the lights were off, many libraries kept their Wi-Fi humming so people park themselves outside and use it for free.

Were getting 500 visits a day, said Anthony W. Marx, the president of the New York Public Library, which operates branches in Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island. That means people are going out in a dangerous pandemic to sit in front of our libraries.

The New York Public Library said it was hoping to start the process of opening in July with eight branches that will provide grab-and-go pickup service for books.

Joel Jones, deputy director of library services at the Kansas City Public Library, said he was especially concerned with getting vulnerable populations in the door first. He said his system expects to welcome their first visitors this month through referrals from organizations that work with people with mental illness or those experiencing poverty or homelessness.

Theyre also thinking hard about what to do with their furniture, he said. Theyre going to try setting up computers that have two monitors six feet apart, one for a library staff member and another for patrons who needs help printing or navigating the internet. The Kansas City North-East Branch was in the middle of a $4.5 million renovation when the country shut down. On a video conference call a few days later with their architects, Mr. Jones said, the library leadership looked at plans for the furniture and shelving and realized they needed to be redrawn.

Ive been looking at these plans for months, Mr. Jones said. But I looked at it that time and said, This is not going to work.

One thing many librarians have noticed is changes in the reading patterns of their customers. Libby, an e-book lending app for libraries, saw a 51 percent increase in the checkout of e-books after shutdown orders were issued in mid-March. Ramiro Salazar, the president of the Public Library Association and the director of the San Antonio Public Library system, said that before the pandemic, the demand in his system was about 5 to 1 in favor of paper books, but he doesnt expect that to come back.

Updated June 12, 2020

So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was very rare, but she later walked back that statement.

Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus whether its surface transmission or close human contact is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.

A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.

The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nations job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.

Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission.

Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid, says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. When you havent been exercising, you lose muscle mass. Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home.

States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you arent being told to stay at home, its still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.

Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.

If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)

The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people dont need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks dont replace hand washing and social distancing.

If youve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.

Users are being forced to turn to e-books, he said. What we dont know is how many converts well have.

Even in places where libraries have reopened, things look different. Cari Dubiel, a librarian in Twinsburg, Ohio, said that her branch has been open to the public since May 20. But so far, the largest number of simultaneous visitors in the 45,000 square foot building has been roughly 30, she said. Under normal circumstances, their biggest clientele are parents and senior citizens. But young children are not allowed in the library at the moment, and many seniors are staying away. Teenagers were just allowed back in this month.

Her library is, however, allowing access to computers, she said, through hourlong reservation slots where she tries to help people from six feet away and behind a sneeze guard. They have a spray disinfectant for the countertops and wipes for the computers that are used after each visitor, in addition to cleaning surfaces like door and toilet handles every two hours.

We have an opioid support group and a writers group and eight different book groups. Its a very popular meeting place for the community, Ms. Dubiel said. But right now we need to focus on being a utility.

That is the last thing that will likely come back to libraries their function as a gathering place. But some branches are doing what they can to keep that connection alive. Mr. Jones in Kansas City said his librarians have been calling users who are 65 and older, just to say hello.

We call them and see how theyre doing, he said. Thats what you do in a library. A lot of people come in regularly because they just want to talk.

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Libraries Strive to Stay Community Living Rooms as They Reopen - The New York Times

NASHUA, N.H. The Nashua Public Library will announce the title of the 2020 Nashua Reads: One City, One Book selection on Friday, June 26.

Beginning that day, library members can reserve the book to check out for curbside pickup. They can also download electronic copies of the book. Book clubs will be able to reserve multiple copies to check out a few weeks before they discuss the book.

The book will be available as a paperback, e-book, downloadable audiobook, or audiobook on CD.

The goal of the One City, One Book program is to get as many Nashuans as possible to read the same book and talk about it with friends, co-workers and neighbors. Thanks to funding from the Friends of the Nashua Public Library and the Ella Anderson Trust, the books author will hold a virtual event for the library on Oct. 11.

To be sure you are one of the first to hear what the title is, subscribe to This week @ your library, the librarys e-newsletter, by going to nashualibrary.org and clicking Subscribe to our eNewsletter on the Connect menu, or follow the library on Facebook.

For more information, contact Carol Eyman at 603-589-4610 or carol.eyman@nashualibrary.org.

Read more here:
Nashua librarys One City, One Book title to be announced June 26 - Lowell Sun

Editors note: Many events are canceled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We recommend contacting the event host before attending to check.

Butte County Library: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. All in-person services suspended, but branches are accepting returns and offering curbside service for holds and pickups. Call for pickup times. Reserve items in online library accounts, by phone or email. http://www.buttecounty.net/bclibrary/Contact. 552-5652, option 2, LIB-Administration@buttecounty.net. 1108 Sherman Ave.

Gray Lodge Wildlife Area: Sunrise to sunset. 9,100 acres of fields, riparian areas, ponds, waterways; shelter for 300+ species of resident and migrant birds and mammals. Self-guided trail, fishing, exhibits. 3207 Rutherford Road, Gridley. 846-7500.

Faith Lutheran Church: 1 p.m. COVID-19 Phone Prayer Group. To join, email billaugros@gmail.com.

Museum of Northern California Art (monca): Videos of the current exhibition, Unbroken Legacies: Northern California Art Glass are available at monca.org, moncas Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, newsletter at monca.org. Through July 31. 487-7272.

Vitalant Blood Drive: 12-6 p.m. blood donation, 10:45 a.m.-5 p.m. plasma donation, 10:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m. platelet donation, 10:45 a.m.-5:30 a.m. source Plasma Donation. 555 Rio Lindo Ave. Call 877-258-4825 or 893-5433 to confirm todays hours.

Al-Anon: 6:30-7 p.m. Email alanon.nc.d3@gmail.com for a Zoom invitation. zoom.us. 334-6734. northerncaliforniaal-anon.org.

Al-Anon: 7:15-8:30 p.m. Email alanon.nc.d3@gmail.com for a Zoom invitation. zoom.us. 334-6734. northerncaliforniaal-anon.org.

Catalyst Domestic Violence Services: Crisis counselor 24-hour crisis/referral line, 1-800-895-8476. Temporary restraining order help for victims of domestic violence is available for free. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday for appointments, individual counseling 343-7711. catalystdvservices.org.

Iversen Wellness & Recovery Center and Med Clinic: All meetings via Zoom. 10-11 a.m. Tobacco Awareness; 11:30 a.m. Anxiety Support; 1 p.m. Self-Care; 2-3 p.m. WRAP for Quarantine. 408-638-0968. Password: 8793311. Meeting ID: 441-359-7014. Must be 18 or older to join. 897-3311, email iversen@nvcss.org, or nvcss.org/programs/iversen.

HIV and Hepatitis C Testing: Through Stonewall Alliance by appointment. 358 E. Sixth St. Donations accepted. For more information, call 893-3336, email center@stonewallchico.org or visit stonewallchico.com.

Mental Health Peer Support: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Peer support specialists video chat, self-help support groups and resources. Butte County Department of Behavioral Health. Join by phone, computer or other device. Zoom ID: 809274979. Phone: 720-707-2699 or 346-248-7799.

Northern Valley Talk Line: 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. 855-582-5554.

Alcoholics Anonymous: 893-3336. Times, locations or to talk to a recovering alcoholic, 342-5756. aabutte-glenn.org.

Narcotics Anonymous: Noon, Chico NA, Just for Today Daily Meditation; 7 p.m. Speaker meeting. Both at 208 W. Ave., Suite A. Park in back. 6 p.m. Bidwell Group at 1095 East Ave.

Chico Bidwell Group, 1184 East Ave.; 7 p.m. Open, speaker, 2234 Park Ave. Information, 24-hour hotline, 877-669-1669.

Pills Anonymous Chicos Got Hope: 5:30-6:30 p.m. Big Book study/speaker. Discussions based on 12-step recovery program, prescription drug addiction. Newcomers, loved ones and those addicted to other substances welcome. 2341 Floral Ave. Call/text 624-0094.

Disease Society of Americas Northern California Narcotics Anonymous: 7 p.m. Life on Lifes Terms of NA. 1341 W. Fourth St. 877-669-1669.

ARP Addiction Recovery Program: 7-8:30 p.m. General addiction meeting. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 167 Table Mountain Blvd. at Nelson Ave. Enter back/west entrance.

Codependents Anonymous: 7-8:30 p.m. 12-step fellowship; develop healthy, fulfilling relationships. Free. Youth hall, Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship, 1289 Filbert Ave. 893-4940, 228-5481.

Submit calendar listings, corrections or updates by email calendar@chicoer.com, fax 342-3617 or mail Enterprise-Record, P.O. Box 9, Chico, CA, 95927.

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Whats happening Tuesday in the north valley - Chico Enterprise-Record

books-in-black-wooden-book-shelf-159711

(Stock photo | Pexels)

(Stock photo | Pexels)

Students and staff members of SAD 27 can access more than 19,000 online library titles free of charge thanks to the Fort Kent Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization.

FORT KENT, Maine Students and staff members of SAD 27 can access more than 19,000 online library titles free of charge thanks to the Fort Kent Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization.

The ebooks and audiobooks are available through the Maine Infonet Download Library, also known as CloudLibrary.

The interruption in the regular school year due to COVID-19 spurred the PTO into action, Jennifer Levesque, vice president of the PTO said.

Right now so many of the normal activities and events that kids could engage in are just not available to them, Levesque said. Some of the really wonderful things about school have been stripped away and a good chunk of what they are left with is screen time, so this is one of those wonderful and old time ways of entertaining them while they learn about the world and get into other peoples heads and learn their point of view.

Whats nice about audiobooks is that kids can listen to stories they might not read on their own, she added.

The PTO purchased access to the library database with funds that would have otherwise been used for school-related activities if students had remained in school during the spring months.

We had funds we were going to use for activities and events that couldnt happen due to the pandemic so we decided to use this money for something the kids can use right now, Levesque said.

Reading isnt just about learning information, its about learning empathy, Levesque said.

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Parent teacher organization brings online library service to students and staff - fiddleheadfocus.com

CHICAGO Many in the world of scholarship share the conviction that open access will be the engine of transformation leading to more culture, more research, more discovery, and more solutions to small and big problems. Open Praxis, Open Access: Digital Scholarship in Action, published by ALA Editions, brings together librarians, scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and thinkers to take measure of the open access movement. Editors Darren Chase and Dana Haugh meld critical essays, research, and case studies to offer an authoritative exploration of:

Chase isis Library Director and Interim Director of the Teaching, Learning & Technology Center at SUNY Oneonta (New York). His research interests include multimodal composition, somatic learning, scholarly communication, and information literacy. Chase has written and presented widely on many scholarly publishing topics. He spearheaded the development and eventual adoption of the Stony Brook University Open Access Policy, and lead the SUNY Oneonta Open Access Policy Team. Haugh is the Web Services Librarian at Yale University Medical Library where she leads the design and development of the librarys web presences. Her research interests include web design & development, open access, marketing and outreach in libraries, and information literacy.

Many book retailers and distributors are experiencing service disruptions or delays, including Amazon. For speediest service, order direct from the ALA Store. ALA Storepurchases fund advocacy, awareness and accreditation programs for library and information professionals worldwide. ALA Editions | ALA Neal-Schuman publishes resources used by library and information professionals, scholars, students, and educators to improve programs and services, build on best practices, enhance pedagogy, share research, develop leadership, and promote advocacy. ALA authors and developers are leaders in their fields, and their content is published in a variety of print and electronic formats. Contact ALA Editions | ALA Neal-Schuman at editionsmarketing@ala.org.

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Open access digital scholarship in action | News and Press Center - ala.org

The borough's libraries are currently closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

But book lovers can still access a wide range of online services, including e-books and audiobooks, which are available 24/7 to library members.

Since the closure, the borrowing of ebooks and audiobooks has seen a sharp rise, with 5,904 items of this kind being downloaded to date since March compared to just 2,254 in the same period last year.

The number of emagazines downloaded has also shot up, with 5,243 magazines downloaded to date compared to 3,798 in the same period of 2019.

There has also been a large rise in the number of people joining online, with nearly six times more people to date signing up since March, compared to the same period last year.

In addition to the 24/7 online library available, new activities are taking place digitally on Telford & Wrekin Libraries Facebook page, such as the summer reading challenge, bounce and rhyme live sessions and code club.

Amy Jones, Telford & Wrekin Libraries development manager, said: We know this is a time when families and children are spending a longer time at home.

"As such, weve been working hard to ensure there is plenty of choice in our 24/7 online library to get everyone entertained all resources are free to access and we are updating them frequently.

We encourage everyone to join online, if they are not a member yet and to have a look, as theres literally something for every age and interest.

On our Facebook page theres also plenty going on, such as live streams, activities and challenges; even more now with the recent launch of the summer reading challenge.

While we are continuously diversifying our 24/7 online offer, we know there are people that might not be online and that are home even longer, as they are shielding from coronavirus for those in particular, we can deliver, together with our volunteers, free library resources directly to their door.

"They only need to contact us on homelibraryservice@telford.gov.uk."

Councillor Eileen Callear, Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet member for leisure, libraries and culture, added: We want to support people as much as possible at this difficult time. Thats why we are offering free library digital resources for everyone, that can be accessed at any time from the comfort of their home.

Its fantastic to see that our services are so popular.

"The digital library has seen an incredible rise in use since lockdown."

For more details visit http://www.telford.gov.uk/libraries

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Huge rise in use of digital library in Telford and Wrekin during lockdown - shropshirestar.com