LibGuides: Children's Services Roundtable: COVID-19

Weekly Youth Services Chats

Youth services staff are invited to weekly afternoon and morning chats to ask questions, share information and ideas, and support one another as we navigate the uncertainties of library services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chats take place Mondays at 3pm and Wednesdays at 10:30am during public library closures.

Supporting Children and Families During Phased Reopening

Seeing People Wearing Masks Social Story
Social story developed by Autism Little Learners to help children prepare for seeing people wearing masks. Available in English and Spanish.
Wearing a Mask Social Story
Social story developed by Autism Little Learners to prepare children for wearing a mask. Also available as a narrated story for social media and as coloring pages. Available in English, Portuguese, Spanish, IsiXhosa, and Vietnamese.
Putting A Mask On My Toys Social Story and Activities
Social story, activity, and coloring pages developed by Autism Little Learners to help familiarize children with wearing a mask. Available in English.

Virtual Storytimes

Pausing to Talk About Copyright and Virtual Storytimes
ALSC blog post, May 2, 2020.
Streaming Story Times
A brief how-to from Library Journal.
UPDATED SLJ COVID-19 Publisher Information Directory
From School Library Journal, a round-up of publisher guidelines and requirements for reading books online during COVID-19 school and library closures.
UPDATED Publisher Guidelines on Fair Use for Online Storytimes & Read-Alouds during COVID-19 School Closures
From author Kate Messner, round-up of publisher guidelines and requirements.
Copyright and Streaming Storytime
Information and resources from the Michigan State Library.
Online Story Time & Coronavirus: It’s Fair Use, Folks
Discussion with Carrie Russell, copyright specialist in ALA’s Public Policy and Advocacy Office.
Keeping Online Storytimes Engaging
Blog post by Stories by Hand.
Music Help for Streaming Storytime!
Recommendations and resources from Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy.

Streaming Storytime Webinars

Massachusetts Library System Webinar
April 10, 2020 webinar on streaming storytimes. Includes information about using Instagram and Facebook, as well as copyright and statistics.
Colorado State Library Webinar
April 10 2020 webinar Virtual Storytimes: Filming Before, During and After COVID-19.
Arizona State Library
April 7, 2020 webinar Virtual Storytime for Beginners.

Best Practices for Cleaning Toys and Manipulatives

Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfection Frequency Table
Document from NAEYC outlining when and how to clean early childhood environments.
Green Cleaning Toolkit for Early Care and Education
From the EPA, includes information about when to clean vs. sanitize vs. disinfect and how to select appropriate non-toxic cleaning products. Also provides recommendations on when to use bleach and the dilution ratio.
Cleaners, Sanitizers & Disinfectants
From the American Academy of Pediatrics, offers guidelines for cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing objects and surfaces.
Best Practices for Cleaning Play and Learn Spaces
ALSC blog post providing an overview of cleaning toys and children’s areas.

Guidance on non-toxic cleaning products:

Virtual Programming

Transitioning to Virtual Programming: You Already Know the Basics!
ALSC blog post, April 19, 2020.
What If Accessibility is a Right, Not a Request?
From the Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy, recommendations and considerations for created accessible virtual programs.
Virtual Programming and Patron Privacy
ALSC blog, April 28, 2020
Virtual Storytimes – Standing Out in a Sea of Online Programs
ALSC blog post, April 13, 2020.
Providing Virtual Programming in a Health Crisis
April 14, 2020 webinar from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine. Focuses on providing health programming for all ages at little cost and without extensive technology.
Digital Services Virtual Chat - YouTube for Library Programs
Stephanie Shea, Digital Services Coordinator at Providence Community Library, leads a webinar discussion on using YouTube as a platform to deliver library programming and content to patrons. This webinar is part of the Digital Services Virtual Chat series, an informal discussion group hosted jointly by the Rhode Island Office of Information Services and Ocean State Libraries.
ALA Live Stream Tips and Execution Steps
Tips for creating high quality video recordings and live-streaming events.
Video Making: 8 Tips for Beginners
8 tips for teachers, librarians, and small business. How to make videos during coronavirus.

How To Run a Virtual Book Club with Middle Schoolers
Ready to Go Book Display: Online Displays
Google Lit Trips
Pair your book group book with a Google Lit Trip. Lit Trips are downloadable files that mark the journeys of characters from famous literature on the surface of Google Earth.

Providence Public Library Virtual Scavenger Hunt
GooseChase App
Create and run scavenger hunt missions.
Rainbow Hunt/Bear Hunt
Where on Google Earth is Carmen Sandiego?
Learn how to use latitude and longitudinal lines in Google Earth and join Carmen Sandiego on her capers around the globe.
Sierra Club Google Earth (Month) Scavenger Hunt
Send youth on a virtual scavenger hung through Google Earth. Use the Sierra Club's scavenger hunt as is, or use it as a model to create your own.

Virtual Programming Data Collection Guidelines
Guidelines for collecting data for the Public Library Annual Survey.
Virtual Program Tracker
Template for collecting virtual program data.
YouTube Stats
Directions for obtaining statistics to report on PLAS.

Handling Materials

Mitigating COVID-19 When Managing Paper-Based, Circulating, and Other Types of Collections
IMLS Webinar with the CDC: March 30, 2020

Mental Health and Self Care

Putting the Self back in Self-Care: Wellness in the time of COVID-19
National Network of Libraries of Medicine webinar scheduled for April 28, 2020.
COVID-19 Resource and Information Guide
Extensive guide from the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Care for Your Coronavirus Anxiety
Resources for anxiety and your mental health in a global climate of uncertainty.

Rhode Island Resources

Adults seeking mental or behavioral health support should call BH Link at 414-LINK(5465).
For services for children, call Kids Link 855-543-5465.
People with moderate to severe opioid use disorder (OUD) can access telehealth service for initiation of buprenorphine treatment 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call Rhode Island’s Buprenorphine Hotline 401-606-5456.