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.

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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

Feeling a little bored at home? With SelectTV, you should never run out of content to enjoy. This huge online library gives you access to a vast range of TV shows, movies, live channels, and radio stations from around the world. A two-year subscription of SelectTV is now just $32.99via 9to5Toys Specials with a free HD aerial included.

With so many streaming services now available, you may find yourself skipping between different apps to find your favorite series.

With SelectTV, you can search across over 100 platforms through one easy-to-use viewing guide. As featured by USA Today and The Huffington Post, this platform gives you unlimited access to 250,000 TV shows and 10,000 movies. You can also enjoy 1,500 live channels, and listen to 500,000 radio stations.

Still not enough? SelectTV helps you find the best deals on pay-per-view content, adding another 450,000 TV shows and 90,000 movies to your possible viewing list.

SelectTV works on computers, phones, tablets, and any TV with Chromecast. Along with streaming content, you can play online games and use the supplied antenna to watch over-the-air broadcasts.

Order now for $32.99 to get a two-year subscription and the free antenna. You can upgrade to five years for $59.99.

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Access to the largest online entertainment library with SelectTV for $33 - 9to5Toys

Local libraries in La Salle, Bureau, Putnam and Livingston counties received more than $175,000 in grant money.

In total, the Secretary of State's Office awarded $15.4 million to 638 public libraries statewide for the Fiscal Year 2020 Illinois Public LIbrary Per Capita and Equalization Aid Grants.

Ottawa's Reddick Library received $30,377.50; Streator $17,137; La Salle $12,011.25; Peru $12,868.75; Spring Valley $6,947; Marseilles $6,367.50; Princeton $9,575; Oglesby $5,113.75 and Utica $3,737.50.

Due to resource disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, our public libraries have never been more important and these funds will help them continue to serve the public with valuable resources, said Secretary of State Jess White, who also is the state's librarian, in a press statement. Libraries have remained committed by providing drive-up WiFi access, significantly increasing the use of eBook collections and implementing curbside services.

Some of the services public libraries provide with the grant money include the following:

Expand WiFi access to include drive-up accessibility

Access to curbside services

Large print material for patrons

Books, magazines, newspapers, CDs and DVDs

Audiobooks and eBooks

Home visit book delivery service

New computers, iPads and printers

Spanish and dual language materials

Expanded access to online resources

Adult programming

Newsletters, postcards and other promotional materials

Per Capita Grant funding is authorized under Illinois library law for public libraries, which allows resources for expenses, such as materials, personnel, equipment, electronic access, telecommunications and technology. Equalization Aid Grants help qualifying public libraries with a low library tax base ensuring a minimum level of funding for library services.

Ottawa: $30,377.50

Streator: $17,137

Peru: $12,868.75

La Salle: $12,011.25

Somonauk: $11,733.75

Sandwich: $10,200

Princeton: $9,575

Mendota: $9,215

Hennepin: $7,507.50

Spring Valley: $6,947

Marseilles: $6,367.50

Sheridan: $5,963.75

Oglesby: $5,113.75

Newark: $3,935

Utica: $3,737.50

Earlville: $3,476.25

Minonk: $2,597.50

LaMoille: $2,290

Flanagan: $2,042.50

Ladd: $1,985

Tiskilwa: $1,858.75

Toluca: $1,767.50

Wyanet: $1,705

Wenona: $1,320

Ohio: $1,181.25

Sheffield: $1,157.50

Lostant: $1,140

Buda: $672.50

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More than $175000 awarded to local libraries through annual grant program - MyWebTimes.com

Alamance County Public Libraries are offering internet access to neighborhoods in Burlington with limited or no access in partnership with the Alamance-Burlington School System, Morrow Town Task Force and Burlington Housing Authority.

North Carolina public schools were online for the remainder of the year and Alamance County libraries were also closed as a result of Gov. Roy Coopers Stay-at-Home order leaving many residents without internet access or a way to obtain it. The service is still running over the summer.

Alamance County Public Libraries Outreach Services Programs goal was to provide internet access to the community, something they deem crucial.

The mobile cafe van was created in August of 2018 to provide Pop-Up Internet Service to residents in isolated parts of Alamance County with mobile library stops.

With the Outreach program, we work with community groups, go to events and promote the library in general, Outreach Coordinator Mary Beth Adams said. We learned that many people in the community did not have access to the internet.

According to Adams, the mobile cafe van provides access with an antenna that offers a 300-foot radius of Wi-Fi connectivity.

Elon alumna Donna Vanhook 07 is a community organizer with the Morrow Town Task Force. She works closely with a number of different organizations and helps connect people like Adams to others to better serve members of the community.

The service was not in operation because of the pandemic, and I heard of students who did not have internet access to do their schoolwork, Vanhook said.

Vanhooks previous involvement with other community organizations aimed at bettering local residents prompted her to pursue communication with the libraries. She said that her role involved discussing a plan for how to get students internet access to complete their studies.

Monday: Crump Village, 1-3pm and 3:30-5:30pm Tuesday: Maplebrook Apartments, 1-3pm and 3:30-5:30pm Wednesday: Pate Homes, 1-3pm and Beaumont Apartments, 3:30-5:30pm Thursday: Woodrail Apartments, 1-3pm and Tucker Street Apartments, 3:30-5:30pm Friday: Earl Gerow Homes, 1-3pm and Misty Springs Mobile Home Park, 3:30-5:30pm

The service was already available; it was just about coordinating times and places, Vanhook said. The coordination was all completed virtually in just a few days.

Vanhook said a test run was done the Friday before Easter Monday to ensure people would be able to use this service from inside their homes.

I was very pleased with how quickly things came together and how people benefited from the service, Vanhook said. I think that this service has relieved some anxiety in both parents and students.

The coronavirus has forced people to work and study from home and the Alamance-Burlington School System wanted to help their students adapt by providing devices and hotspots.

There are not enough devices for everyone, Adams said. We are so happy to be able to step in and have the mobile cafe [be] the library in the community.

Adams said their service is important because of its purpose to provide internet access to community members without it. Some people lack access because of location, while for others it's a result of their personal circumstances.

Adams said some families may share one computer; therefore, they are serving an even greater number of people.

We are connecting around 30 to 40 people each day at two different spots, Adams said. Sometimes in the same apartment complex and other times, in two separate ones.

The mobile cafe van has benefited many community members but has also shed light on the number of residents who have limited or no access to the internet.

The mobile cafe did address the digital divide, Vanhook said. There is a presumption that most young people have access to the internet, but that is not the case.

Prior to the outbreak of the coronavirus, the mobile cafe van offered users the opportunity to pick out books, but that service is currently suspended to keep residents safe.

Kids want to look at every book, but we are then worrying about germs, Adams said.

On their Facebook page, the Alamance County Public Libraries encouraged people in the neighborhoods utilizing their internet service to stay indoors or sit outside, following rules of social distancing from others.

The difference in what we have done before and what we do now is that now we just provide internet access, parking it and turning on our router, Adams said. We dont have the table out. We feel it's safer.

Adams said that only offering internet access has kept residents from congregating in small areas and has limited the spread of germs altogether.

When we decided to do this, and just offer internet access, the most important thing was to provide for the students, Adams said.

The mobile cafe runs Monday through Friday, alternating stops each week.

One week we will do the four northern stops and the next we will do the four southern stops, Adams said. We are seeing people every other week.

Alamance libraries felt residents in East Burlington had somewhere to go when schools and libraries were open, but they now plan to include those apartment complexes in future routes.

We know were not hitting every place, Adams said. We are trying to keep in contact with the Morrow Town Task Force and Burlington Housing Authority to see what we can do and how we can [reach] those who need it.

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Local libraries offer free Internet access in Burlington - Elon News Network

Contact: Sid Salter

Frances Coleman (Submitted photo)

STARKVILLE, Miss.After a career that spanned over a half-century and witnessed the services and offerings of Mississippi State University Libraries evolve from traditional to digital to virtual, MSU Dean of Libraries Frances N. Coleman is retiring from the university on June 30, MSU Executive Vice President and Provost David R. Shaw announced today [June 15].

Shaw said MSU College of Arts and Sciences Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Thomas P. Anderson will serve as interim MSU Dean of Libraries while a national search for a permanent dean is conducted.

Coleman, responsible for the university library system that includes Mitchell Memorial Library and branch libraries at MSUs College of Veterinary Medicine, School of Architecture (Starkville and Jackson campuses) and MSU-Meridian, led unprecedented expansions of facilities, technologies and programming throughout the system.

Dean Coleman provided visionary leadership for our MSU Libraries that not only improved library services on our campuses, but in libraries across Mississippi. My mother was a small-town librarian, and she and all her colleagues knew and respected Frances Coleman, said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. On her watch, our libraries became larger, stronger, more technologically accessible, and more sophisticated in terms of our museums and special collections. In short, Frances has left indelible fingerprints on our library system, and I am profoundly grateful for the outstanding work she has done for our university.

Shaw echoed Keenums praise for Colemans five decades of leadership.

Over the course of her life and work here at Mississippi State, Dean Coleman has paved the way for women moving into positions of substantial leadership. The personal and professional esteem in which she is held by colleagues across the country, and particularly in our state, is indicative of her many accomplishments, Shaw said. It is an honor to have served with her to advance Mississippi State.

Coleman joined the MSU faculty in 1969. She earned an MSU Bachelor of Science degree in education and a Master of Library Science from George Peabody College for Teachers at Vanderbilt University. She completed additional graduate studies at MSU and at the University of Mississippi.

Prior to her career in higher education, Coleman was a classroom teacher and school librarian in the Dyer County, Tennessee School System. She also worked in the banking field in Dyersburg and Memphis, Tennessee, and in Starkville.

She is a past president or chair of the Mississippi Business and Professional Women, the Southeastern Library Association, and the Mississippi Library Association. Coleman was active throughout her career in numerous research library organizations.

In the Starkville community, Coleman has served in key leadership roles in Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Starkville Chamber of Commerce, Starkville Arts Council, Starkville Rotary Club, and the United Way. In 2003, she was honored for lifetime achievement serving Mississippi libraries by the Mississippi Legislature, received the G.V. Sonny Montgomery Excellence in Leadership Award in 2009 from the Montgomery Foundation Board of Directors, and in 2010 received the John Y. Simon Award of Merit from the Ulysses S. Grant Association.

Coleman played a pivotal role in the successful 2008 transfer of the Ulysses S. Grant Collection from the Morris Library at Southern Illinois University, where it had been housed since 1964. With the relocation to MSUs Mitchell Memorial Library, she became a member of the USGA board of directors.

The relocation of the Grant Collection ultimately led to the establishment at MSU of one of only six presidential libraries on U.S. university campuses. On Nov. 30, 2017, state and national leaders heralded the opening of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library and the prestigious Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolnianaa recent donation that is considered the largest privately owned Abraham Lincoln collection in America.

Leaders in education, history, libraries and governmentincluding the Librarian of Congress and the Archivist of the United Statespraised the 21,000-square-foot addition. The facility contains a state-of-the-art museum chronicling Grants life and his significance in American history. With hundreds of thousands of historical documents and items housed on-site, the new addition positioned MSU as a leading destination for research on the Civil War and two presidents who shaped the course of American history.

Dean Colemans legacy will be that of a dedicated administrator who gave her all to advance Mississippi State University and to exhibit grace, charm, and sincere hospitality in using the librarys formidable assets to bring new friends to the university, said Keenum.

For more on MSU Libraries, visit http://lib.msstate.edu.

MSU is Mississippis leading university, available online at http://www.msstate.edu.

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Legendary MSU Dean Frances Coleman retires after a 51-year career that transformed the university's libraries and collections - Mississippi State...