While patrons are not allowed to visit libraries to check out materials, North County libraries have been making their resources accessible online.
Cushman Library Director Karen Stinchfield said she regularly shares reading resources and activities online to keep children and families busy at home.
One recurring event is “Books with Beth,” held Wednesdays at 4 p.m. with Library Assistant Beth DeMarco. Then, every Saturday at 3 p.m. in April and May, Stinchfield will be posting a “Preschool Stories with Stinchy” video.
Children can join Stinchfield for a digital story reading, learn a sentence in sign language, listen and sing along to songs, and learn a craft activity. For families that can’t be on the computer at 3 p.m., the videos are available anytime under the ‘Groups’ tab of the library’s Facebook page.
“Our Facebook page is loaded with resources for entertainment and education, including several ‘groups’ I have created, which I look at as ‘virtual rooms,’” Stinchfield said. “We have help for homeschooling parents, which is full of educational support from students pre-K to college.”
Among the groups are “Story Time Circle,” which includes videos of people reading picture books. “The Crafty Corner” is full of craft projects for all ages. “Come Color with Us” features links to free coloring pages, and “Yoga” is home to yoga sessions.
The Dickinson Memorial Library has created a schedule of online activities for families to follow at home.
Weekly events are being held virtually on the library’s Facebook page. Families can tune in at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays for “Live Storytime with Dana.” By noon on Wednesdays and Fridays, the library will post a pre-recorded read-aloud with Programming Librarian Matt Atwood.
“Virtual Afterschool” is a weekly program shared on Facebook at 2 p.m. on Thursdays. The event, a transformation of “Kids Fridays,” is temporarily being held on Thursdays throughout April.
Warwick
Similarly, Ivan Ussach of the Warwick Free Public Library has continued to share links to educational and entertaining resources for students and families.
Leyden
Head Librarian Karin Parks of the Robertson Memorial Library has shared read-along videos and other materials on Facebook.