Thread by @JanieH

I was asked by a friend today about what I was doing the last few weeks as she could not understand how I was busy 8+ hours per day with the library closed. Here is a little run down of #librarylife as a #WFH #programminglibrarian /1

The first few days of closure were spent emailing dozens of people (performers, speakers, authors, publicists, community partners) to update them about the cancellation of programs that had been in the works for months. This was pretty depressing. /2

At the same time Senior Staff, of which I am a part, were making plans about how to pivot and make sure we could still serve our community. This meant investigating new software, services and figuring out the best ways to communicate with staff and community members.

The web site needed to be reworked for this new reality, calendars updated, eNewsletters written, training staff on new ways of working. This took countless meetings via videoconferencing. Slack channels were established. Plans made for social media content. /4

Then came the task of examining the budget and each member of senior staff made spreadsheets predicated on four different scenarios for closure so we could figure out the impact and how we may or may not need to cut corners in certain areas depending on a variety of variables. /5

Weekly meetings are held with the entire programming team, plus I have one to one check ins with each member. We are planning a full slate of virtual programs that will launch this week. We have already had online book groups, ESL classes, and launched a virtual scavenger hunt.

We are discussing summer reading and what we will need to change, we have cancelled programs further out than when we first closed so more emails about that. It is Saturday night and I am so uptight about getting everything launched properly that I am working. /7 (I think)

If you are part of #librarytwitter and have people questioning your value as a #WFH employee because our building are closed, feel free to add to this thread or start your own. Let the world know how hard we are working to serve our communities in this crisis. #librarylife

Damn, I need the edit button ... buildings are closed. Also, this the end of the thread. /9

Nope, not the end ...This is just a slice of what I personally have been doing. So many other things happening by others on staff from updating the catalog to keep pace with new eContent for people to borrow to staffing phone lines, chat reference, virtual book displays ... /10

Not to mention the effort across many library departments to both create and provide content for a new site for our town to keep everyone informed: princetoncovid.org

#princetoncovid /11

Also, I forgot to mention earlier, the program team is writing up several grant proposals and this week we did our monthly board report. And, check out our poem of the day project by our YS dept: /12 (ok, now I am done)

Should add, an important way for us all to #ProtectLibraryWorkers is to let the world know how our skill set is of particular value in the current situation. Share your WFH stories, new projects, valued services with local news, on social media, etc. Say it LOUD!

Since this thread is gaining traction, putting in a PSA:

Many hourly library workers are home without any pay so pls donate to the Help a Library Worker Out (HALO fund) for library staff who need help with expenses during this crisis.

everylibraryinstitute.org/halo via
@EveryLibrary