2020 has definitely been a weird year. One good thing that has come out of 2020 are some new library services and initiatives.
Here are some of the new services and initiatives that my library started in 2020 (probably not all of them!):
- Call-a-Story: Remember when libraries had a Dial-a-Story service? This is the same thing … but no one dials anymore. Call the phone number and you can listen to stories in English and Spanish.
- Curbside Pickup: This is a popular one that many libraries have started this year. Pretty simple concept: put a book on hold. When it’s available, you drive to the curbside pickup parking spots, call the number on the sign, and we’ll bring your items out to you.
- Browsing Just for You: This is a personal book browsing service (think StitchFix, but for libraries). Fill out a form and tell us what you like, and we will pick your next reads!
- Book Bundles: Just what the title says – these are bundles of books, grouped by genre or theme. Instant bunch of books!
- TSCPL@Home: Our bookmobile service isn’t running right now (how do you socially distance on a bookmobile?). So we have started a home delivery service. We have done this for years as part of our outreach services to older adults. But this time around, it’s for anyone with a library card.
Lots of fun new services! Here’s my question – why did it have to take a global pandemic for us to start these things? To me, they seem like convenient services that people would have been interested in last year… oh well. Better late than never!
What new services have you started this year? I’d love to hear more!