Unlike many essential services, such as medical services and grocery stores, libraries do not fall into this classification during events such as the present coronavirus pandemic.
However, libraries have long played a role as pivotal community spaces in times of crisis.
Libraries are neutral spaces, where your nationality, financial or educational status have no bearing on access.
According to a 2010 report from the American Library Association, when the U.S. recession hit in the late 2000s, there was a surge of library patronage as millions of people were drawn by free resources and much-needed job-seeking programs.
In today’s pandemic situation, libraries from Madrid to Paris to Sydney to Airdrie have closed the doors of their brick and mortar operations and are pointing patrons to their virtual doors, which, to the surprise of some, have always been open.
Airdrie Public Library (APL), for instance, has launched into full-on “we’re open online” mode, promoting existing services from eBooks, eAudiobooks, online newspapers and magazine, movies and music, to portals that provide parents with house-bound school-aged children access to Alberta Education’s K-12 programs of study.
We’re also launching video productions of some of our favourite programs, like Babytime, Sing, Read and Rhyme, and Toddler Time, with more to come for all ages.
Like many Canadian libraries, APL continues to provide an online community space that allows for the pursuit of educational and entertainment resources for children, youth and adults.
And, like many libraries across the country, we continue to offer free Internet access for those who can’t afford it by simply parking near the brick and mortar building and logging on.
During a crisis, libraries play a vital role in connecting people to accurate and reliable information by sharing resources and knowledge that link to official municipal and provincial websites.
Libraries have always been a port in the unpredictable storms that affect civilization, and even more so now, as Albertans self-isolate and practise social distancing, APL provides an important online community space for learning, entertainment, and staying connected.
