It's National Library Workers Day, and even though you may not be able to visit your local library in person right now, library staff across the country are hard at work making sure that you have services and resources you need right now. #nationallibraryworkersday 1/16

Library workers are providing you with access to ebooks, audio book downloads, and streaming video. They‘re ensuring access to valuable databases chock full of reliable, vetted information sources. They’re making sure you can get to online magazines and newspapers. 2/16

Library workers are online, answering your questions, helping you find information, connecting you with resources, and offering their expertise. 3/16

Library workers are connecting people with the local services they need to survive right now. They’re assisting people who need help filing for unemployment, revising their resumes, and searching for job opportunities. 4/16

Library workers are helping students, teachers, university professors, and parents keep our education system going. They’re facilitating workshops, providing course resources, supporting classes, getting students and educators connected, & making tutoring services available. 5/16

Library workers are using Zoom, MS Teams, YouTube, Facebook, and tons of other platforms to reach their communities for consultations, storytimes, online events, educational programs, and cultural experiences. They’re keeping us connected, learning, and growing. 6/16

Library workers are working to preserve the history of this moment by compiling stories, photos, writing, and other artifacts from the current health crisis, keeping the memories of this time safe and available for future generations. 7/16

Library workers are making damn sure that the memory of the human experience and people lost during this time are never forgotten. 8/16

Library workers are doing a ton of invisible labor right now to keep their communities strong, connected, educated, and supported. I am probably missing a bunch of things as I type this out, so please add the things I’m missing to the thread. 9/16

The number one thing you can do right now to support libraries and library workers right now is to reach out to your local library to see what they have to offer. I can guarantee it’s more than you might think. 10/16

Just because you can’t pick up the latest best seller right now doesn’t mean that your library isn’t offering something of value to you. 11/16

In fact, some of the most valuable services and resources libraries offer are alive and well even when the building is closed. They’re giving you benefits you didn’t even realize and making your community stronger every day. 12/16

The next thing you can do is remember the efforts of these library workers when it comes to the next chance to vote to support libraries. Keep libraries funded. Support them with your votes when the time comes. 13/16

Finally, if you know a library worker in any type of library, reach out to them this week. Let them know that their work is valued and that their safety is important. #nationallibraryweek 14/16

Tell them you learned something today about the services libraries offer, even when the building is closed. Assure them that you will vote for them and support their future funding. Trust me, it will mean a lot. 15/16

Happy National Library Workers Day to my friends and colleagues out there working so hard to keep services flowing to their communities right now. You are so important. 16/16
#nationallibraryweek #nationallibraryworkersday

I knew I was forgetting things... as soon as I sent this thread, I remembered how many library colleagues are using their makerspace resources to create PPE for local healthcare workers!

It's also incredibly inspiring to see how the University Interlibrary Loan community has come together to try and support one another's institutions.