NYPL Connect: Help Thank Our Staff on Library Workers Day
I hope you are safe and well.
As the current necessary isolation continues, perhaps you, like me, are thinking back to our time together only a few short weeks ago: the bustle of the branches, the crowds at exhibitions and events, researchers digging through our collections. While I always appreciated these moments, I can honestly say, looking back from our current situation, we did not know how lucky we were. I know we all look forward to the day we can return to some semblance of life as we knew it, but as that day is still uncertain, my hope is that the programs and services that the Library continues to offer remotely provide some help or comfort.
Today is National Library Workers Day, and I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge The New York Public Library staff members who continue to work hard to support our communities while our physical locations must be closed. Whether they are conducting online storytimes, offering virtual career counseling or classes, answering online reference questions, providing book recommendations, making e-books and databases available to the public, maintaining our buildings, protecting our collections, or participating in a variety of other remote services, our librarians and staff members continue to be the dedicated public servants that they have always been, doing everything possible to support our City and help New Yorkers cope with this crisis. On behalf of New Yorkers who continue to share how much these services mean to them, I thank our staff for all of their efforts.
If you’d like to share a kind note about our staff, or about libraries and how they support you in times both good and challenging, we encourage you to share your thoughts online. We hope you’ll take a moment to connect with us and share your stories. I know I look forward to seeing them.
I also want to send a huge thank you to all of the essential workers at the Library and across our City who are keeping us all safe, healthy, and moving forward: without their heroic actions, our librarians and staff wouldn’t be able to do their work. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Yours,
Tony
Anthony W. Marx
President, The New York Public Library
P.S. When you have a few moments, please go online and take the Census. It takes less than 10 minutes and it helps write our City's story for the next 10 years. With so much at stake, the Library is partnering with the City's Census team to help ensure an accurate count and New York's fair share of critical resources. So please participate! There are no citizenship questions, and you do NOT need the code that was mailed to you—so if you're not home, you don't need to wait. Take it today. The Library has put together some resources to help, and thank you!
In the Spotlight
What Do Libraries Mean to You?
During this period of uncertainty, NYC libraries are doing all they can to support New Yorkers and keep our city strong—by lending e-books, providing up-to-date information, offering online classes and storytimes, and supporting remote learning, job search, and an accurate Census count. Show your love for libraries and library staff members this Library Workers Day with a digital sticky note.
Take the Census with NYPL
All it takes is less than 10 minutes to support the City for the next 10 years by completing the 2020 Census. Data from the Census helps allocate federal funds over the next decade for crucial infrastructure, including emergency services. For the first time ever, you can take the Census online—libraries are here to help.
Spring Staff Picks Are Here
Our expert librarians have been voraciously reading e-books and they're ready to recommend their favorites in our latest installment of Staff Picks—more than 100 titles that we’re excited about. Highlights include cookbooks for adults, fun trivia for teens, and mysteries for kids. Check them out now.
Last Chance to Join NYPL and WNYC's April Book Club
The Library is partnering with WNYC’s All of It to bring New Yorkers together with a new monthly book club series. April’s pick is Deacon King Kong by James McBride. It’s your last chance to grab the novel, which you can check out on the Library’s free e-reader, SimplyE, before our live stream conversation and audience Q&A on Thursday, April 30, so don’t miss out!
Resources for Kids & Teens
Book an Appointment for One-on-One College Counseling
If you need help preparing to apply for college, The New York Public Library offers resources and programs to help teens on their path to higher education. Now you can sign up to chat one-on-one with a College and Career Pathways librarian online and get personalized guidance on what your next steps should be. For grades 9–12.
Teaching American History With NYPL Digital Collections: Reconstruction
Our experts have put together a curated group of documentary resources to help teach students about Reconstruction that can be tailored to many different levels and classrooms. For grades 6–12.
At-Home Storytime Guides
Conduct your own storytimes wherever you are with our At-Home Storytime guides! Our librarians have created these guides to be adaptable for most homes by combining common household materials with virtual pre-recorded storytimes and songs. For grades Pre-K–2.
Don’t Miss: NYPL’s Learn at Home Calendars
To help support distance learning, our children’s librarians will create monthly guides to help kids of all ages make the most of the Library’s digital resources and encourage them to keep learning—even outside of the classroom. See what your child can discover using our online tools. For grades Pre-K–12.
More Digital Resources
Sign Up for TechConnect Virtual Classes
The Library’s TechConnect classes are now online to better serve you. TechConnect helps people of all ages develop confidence in their computer skills and grow more comfortable in today's digital world. Find classes on protecting your privacy online, shopping safely on the web, and navigating the basics of coding in HTML and CSS to build your own website.
Remote Resources for College Students
The New York Public Library supports students across New York City as well as New York state with the resources to successfully conduct research in the humanities and social sciences. Use this librarian-curated guide to find details about all of the remote databases and digital collections available to you anytime, anywhere.
New & Noteworthy
Coloring Pages in Honor of Poetry Month
Whether you like to color inside the lines or out, take a break with some Poetry Month–themed coloring from our Digital Collections. Print these out to play with at home, or download them and use a photo editor to add your special flair to them.
#PocketPoems 2020: NYPL's Celebration of National Poetry Month
For National Poetry Month and Poem in Your Pocket Day, The New York Public Library asked poets to respond to items in our Digital Collections in verse. We’ll be posting at least one new poem a day for the month of April to celebrate.
Stay-at-Home Books to Fuel a Hobby or Project
NYPL staffers are using these books to help with self-improvements, home projects, cooking, crafting, and much more.
NYPL Researcher Spotlight
Researcher Dirk Smillie shares the NYPL remote resources that are helping him work from home on his biography of Harry Guggenheim.