Services to help libraries during and after COVID-19

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Services to help public libraries maintain social distance

All of us have been touched by this pandemic in several different ways. Our daily lives, behaviors, and the way we interact with each other has changed. While the world is practicing social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19, cities are shut down and many businesses are closed.

Unfortunately, public libraries around the world are also closing. As a free public space anyone can visit without the expectation of making a purchase, gatherings are very common, which is unsafe both for visitors and staff in this time. For many libraries the decision to close their doors to the public was very hard, they are accustomed to being the safe place where everyone is welcome. Though they have closed their physical facilities, many are still trying to serve their members in different ways. For a run-down of several libraries’ initiatives during social distancing check out one of our previous posts.

In these hard times, technology has become more essential, allowing us to communicate, to work and to be entertained. Today´s post is about two different services that can help preserve social distancing at public libraries, therefore protecting librarians and library visitors: Princh and Make Way for Books.

Many #libraries across the world have been closed due to #COVIDー19. If your library is still closed, when will it be open again approximately?

Interested in seeing the different responses from libraries/#librarians from different locations. @LibrariesEU #library

— Princh (@PrinchApp) April 21, 2020

Princh

Printing is a common and attractive service offered by most libraries, and since it is typically a paid service, steps should be taken to minimize the risks associated with handling of payments. In general, the extend of interaction between staff and visitors that takes place to facilitate the use of the print service should be minimized – Princh can help you do that.

Princh offers a self-service, mobile printing solution developed specifically for public libraries, which can help protect both staff and visitors by:

• Reducing physical interaction
• Eliminating manual over-the-counter payments
• Reducing the use of public computers

Our solution allows library visitors to serve themselves by easily printing and paying from their own devices (phones, tablets and laptops) without the need to interact with library staff. They also have access to multiple options for payment: Bank cards, PayPal or mobile apps.

The Princh App is available for free on both Android and iOS devices, and will help visitors to effortlessly locate a library using our ‘Find a Printer’ map. This feature will let them know the library’s opening hours and the printing prices you set.

Best of all, Princh is installed and ready to use in just 15 minutes.

Are you a fan of audio books?
Ulverscroft is offering free access to their Ulibrary collection of eAudio books until 31st June! For more information https://t.co/sgtcKgWhFu#AudioBooks #PublicLibrary #Ulverscroft pic.twitter.com/Ch8R5tJywg

— Broken Hill City Library (@BHCityLibrary) April 20, 2020

Princh COVID-19 initiatives to support libraries

In Sweden, libraries have so far remained open throughout the COVID-19 crisis. This has required timely and diligent adaptation by staff to the situation at hand. Princh recognizes the extensive successful work done by these libraries and since we see an opportunity to help minimize the risk to staff and visitors, we are currently offering Swedish libraries to implement and use our mobile Printing solution free of charge until September.

We are looking into extending this initiative to libraries in other countries and would appreciate YOUR INPUT and feedback. Specifically, we would like to hear from if you think that this might be useful and helpful for your library or other libraries in your country. Please send your input and feedback by filling out this form.

For information about how Princh has helped libraries around the world improve and automate their printing services you can have a look at some of our customer stories here

Make Way for Books

Creating regular reading habits early in life can bring many benefits to children as they grow and they are more likely to enjoy reading later in life. Check out our previous post “The Library & Early Age Reading Habits” to find out more about why it’s important to encourage kids to read.

There are several creative and fun ways to help children develop good reading habits and Make Way for Books can help!

Many libraries offer Storytime and other activities for children and their families at their physical facilities. Due to COVID-19, it is not possible to do this right now. Make Way for Books is a free App created to ensure that families with children up to 5 years old have access to free, effective, and bilingual literacy. With the app, families can download free books organized by children’s age group, they can also find educational videos, activities and tips on how to connect books to simple activities that will build children’s skills and help them get ready for school.

You can download the Make Way for Books app for Android devices here or for Apple devices here.

Since gatherings are not recommended at this time, Make Way for Books has created a free bilingual online Storytime livestream for young children and families, where they read books, sing songs with movement, and share tips. To join Make Way for Books Online Storytime, click here.

For more information about Make Way for Books and how they have been collaborating with libraries, read our previous post “Make Way for Books at Your Library”.

Join us for “Mondays with @MichelleObama!” In this weekly read-along series, she’ll read 4 of her favorite children’s books (one book every Monday). It begins Mon. @ 12pm ET with “The Gruffalo” on @PBSKIDS & @PenguinRandomHouse Facebook pages! #ReadTogetherBeTogether #pbskidsread pic.twitter.com/JrJ3n13pBu

— PBS KIDS (@PBSKIDS) April 17, 2020

It´s Time to Adapt

All of us have been facing changes in our personal and professional lives, but it is important to adapt to these weird times we are living in. Technology and online resources are playing an even more important role in our daily lives facilitating ways to allow professionals to keep doing their job in the safest way.

Library services

Public libraries play a very important part in the communities they serve, and we hope that, with suggestions like Princh and Make Way for Books, they can still fulfill this vital role and not be forced to close completely in this uncertain time.

Look out for part two of this post with even more suggestions, coming next week!

In case you’re curious about what a digital library does: today we are printing masks for medical staff dealing with #COVID19. Fiat lux. pic.twitter.com/aCtGmfMHdk

— Cascadian (@liber8er) March 21, 2020

We will be back next week with another interesting article from the library world!

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