We’ve all learned that dealing with pandemic issues is hard. If there is something you think the Library can help with, contact us at townshendpubliclibrary@gmail.com or leave a phone message at 365-4039.
Below are resources that you and your family might enjoy.
Karen
Staying Healthy
Since washing our hands is our best defense, Buzzfeed’s list of songs for handwashing seems helpful. I know I’m sick of humming happy birthday!
Staying informed
“Don’t believe everything you think,” is one of my favorite Louise Penny’s quotes said by Armand Gamache. It reminds me to calm my thoughts and focus on what’s relevant.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov
World Health Organization https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
World Health Organization is putting aside coronavirus myths. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters
Newsgard offers a list of websites promoting misinformation about COVID-19.
Vermont Department of Health https://www.healthvermont.gov You may also dial 211 on the phone.
Assistance with many needs, including emergency food and shelter from Vermont 211: http://www.vermont211.org/home
The VT Dept. of Labor (VDOL) https://labor.vermont.gov/covid19
Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation is offering weekly Resilience Webinars https://brattleborodevelopment.com/other-resources-and-information/
Websites to check the accuracy of information. Stay informed and don’t spread misinformation.
https://www.snopes.com/ https://www.politifact.com/
The Brattleboro Reformer newspaper is now offering free online access at reformer.com
Finding WiFi Hotspots in VT
The VT Dept. of Public Service has released an interactive Public Wi-Fi Hot Spot Map to help Vermonters connect to publicly available internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The map can be found at https://publicservice.vermont.gov/announcements/public-wifi-hotspots-vermont.
Comcast’s Xfinity Wi-Fi Network available nationally for free - Visit www.xfinity.com/wifi Once at a hotspot, consumers should select the "xfinitywifi" network name in the list of available hotspots and then launch a browser.
AT&T is pledging the same thing for the next 60 days, but they do not have a website to see their WiFi hotspots.
T-Mobile is offering that customers will automatically have unlimited smartphone data for the next 60 days, excluding roaming. No action is required.
Staying sane (Maybe learn something new or have fun while you’re at it!)
Everyone has a story and now is the perfect time to record the history of family and loved ones. Here’s an article that offers suggestions on how to go about it. https://jewishjournal.com/news/california/313594/perserve-family-stories-during-the-pandemic/
Planet Fitness is offering free online "Work-ins" for members and nonmembers alike, on the Planet Fitness YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/user/planetfitnessnh/videos
Help out the National Archives and become a Citizen Archivist. https://www.archives.gov/citizen-archivist
Learn how to become a Citizen Scientist. https://www.citizenscience.gov/about/#
The Vermont Humanities Council has put their "First Wednesday" talks online live at facebook.com/VermontHumanities If you don’t have a Facebook account simply click “Not Now” below the “Create New Account” prompt. You can also watch archived programs at https://www.vermonthumanities.org/programs/digital-programs/
One website has posted a variety of stories to help make these days more enjoyable. Learn relaxation techniques, start a new hobby, visit some stunning libraries, or take a virtual tour of famous landmarks.
The Metropolitan Opera is offering nightly Met Opera Streams. Enjoy!
Harry Potter Escape room online : https://www.raisingedmonton.com/you-can-do-this-digital-harry-potter-themed-escape-room-with-your-kids/
Staying sane with Virtual Fieldtrips!
Museums are responding
Many museums are allowing virtual visits that let you tour the museums and view art online. Some have guided digital experiences and online learning opportunities for kids.
The Smithsonian Institution is providing virtual gallery tours of its museums, educational resources, and webcasts. Choose an exhibit and click “view online” to explore.
You can visit more than 1000 other museums from around the world at this website https://artsandculture.google.com/partner?hl=en It shares the tools of Google Maps software. I took the opportunity to visit the Palace of Versailles. 😊 You can visit one museum a day and still have bunches that you won’t get through before the stay at home orders are lifted! Some of you that aren’t as adventurous on your computer may be challenged to learn new skills to fully enjoy the online exhibits. Be patient with yourself as you learn how to view in full screen mode and zoom in on items. Library staff are happy to help with such techniques!
Oklahoma’s Philbrook Museum is sharing images of the museum and its collections and engaging its community with art related discussions and a concert series on social media.
The New York Botanic Garden is sharing the beauty of spring in the garden through their NYBG at Home that includes virtual garden walks and a plant talk blog. I was surprised by all the flowering shrubs on the spring walk video.
If zoos are more your thing-
The Cincinnati Zoo is producing daily home safari videos for people to get to know the animals that live there.
The San Diego Zoo has live video cams so you can watch your favorite animals.
I’ve long been a fan of the National Arboretum Eagle Cam.
Some more great live animal cams from the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
With children learning from home, there are MANY resources being made available for them. Check them out whether you are young or young at heart!
Junior Library Guild is offering free access to the JLG Digital online reading platform JLG@HOME. They are offering unlimited access to read books online from any device with no limit to the number of users who can access the books.
LivBits Let's Keep Reading has this Google doc schedule listing authors and illustrators who will be holding live reading or interactive sessions. Two of my favorites are Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems, and Draw everyday with Jarrett Krosoczka. Draw, doodle and explore new ways of writing with these talented author/illustrators.
HarperCollins offers daily read-alouds and activities.
Author Kate DiCamillo is offering weekly writing prompts on YouTube.
Penguin Random House has a message about their licensing changes to allow for online read-alouds here.
Scholastic learn-at-home is offering free online resources during the crisis, including 20 days of lessons for grades pre-K to 9 and up to three hours of lessons a day.
NH PBS has a variety of resources to use to teach and learn at home.
Aiden Tyler QuaranTeen is a weekly webcast serial at Junior Library Guild.
Kidlit TV is a wonderful resource to find authors reading their books as well as cand activities.
World Book Day's offers Storytime Online. Watch an array of famous authors and celebrities reading stories online.
Storyline Online has huge selection of popular books read by authors and celebrities.
StoryBlocks website has videos of rhymes and songs in a variety of languages for babies through preschoolers.
Follow Operation Storytime on Twitter where many authors, celebrities, and childhood educators are posting storytime videos under the hashtag #operationstorytime You can also paste the hashtag into your browser window.
Reading Rainbow's Levar Burton will read to children on a live stream from his Twitter account Mondays at noon.