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Ten Tips for Re-Opening the Library Space

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Ten Tips for Re-Opening the Library Space

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Knowledge Quest
By Deah Hester 10/07/2020

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Ten Tips for Re-Opening the Library Space _ Knowledge Quest

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Publisher Read Aloud Permissions and Requirements

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Publisher Read Aloud Permissions and Requirements

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UPDATED 10/13/20

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Article updated September 6 to include additional publisher revised policies

With remote learning looking like the state of play this fall, publishers have extended permissions for read alouds of their titles.

To help educators and librarians engaged in online learning and storytimes held via Zoom and other virtual means, many publishers relaxed copyright restriction on their works at the start of the pandemic. (See "Publishers Adapt Policies To Help Educators ")

"With the uncertainty of what this upcoming school year will bring-either home-learning, in-classroom or a combination of both-and the number of requests to extend our Story Time Temp Permissions having increased over the past few weeks, we decided to announce the extension of the program through the end of 2020," wrote Skip Dye, SVP, Library Sales and Digital Strategy & SVP, Sales Operations, Penguin Random House, in a note accompanying PRH's announcement.

Included below are updates from Boyds Mills Kane, Enchanted Lion, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Sourcebooks, and TeachingBooks. These are included in SLJ's full COVID-19 Publisher Information Directory.

Publishers with updates or special policies or offerings related to remote learning can contact SLJ for inclusion in the Directory. Email us at sljupdates@mediasourceinc.com.

August House

Permission for Recording and Posting Read-aloud Stories from August House

August House, Inc. is committed to sharing stories from the world's great oral traditions. During this challenging time of the Covid-19 pandemic, August House, Inc. is supporting classroom teachers, families, educators and librarians who wish to use our stories in a variety of ways. As a result, August House, Inc. grants permission to teachers, families, educators, after school care providers
and librarians who would like to record and post online read-aloud versions of our titles for educational and non-commercial purposes.
Please follow these basic guidelines:

At the beginning of your recording, please note that you are reading/recording the book with permission from August House, Inc.

Read-aloud recordings can be shared on any site or social media platform where there is no user or subscriber fee including: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, public or independent school sites and any public or school library sites.

Please tag your recording with @augusthouse after you post on a social media site.

After you post your recording, please email us your name, the title, your institution and the name of the social media platform or site to: steve@augusthouse.com.

You can also access lesson plans aligned with the common core standards for our picture books, along with additional reading lists and learning resources at: https://www.augusthouse.com/learning-resources

By posting your read-aloud recording, you are agreeing to these terms of usage by August House, Inc.
This agreement to record and post recordings of our stories will run until December 31, 2020. At that
time, if you wish to extend the use and availability of your recording on social media platforms or
other web sites, please contact: steve@augusthouse.com for permission.

Bloomsbury

Support for Classroom Read-Aloud Videos and Read-Aloud Live Events

During these challenging times, Bloomsbury wishes to support parents, teachers and children while schools and public libraries are closed as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bloomsbury is therefore permitting teachers, authors, librarians and booksellers to create and share story time, read-aloud videos and live events temporarily, according to the below guidelines.

PLEASE NOTE:

These permissions are granted only in respect of teachers and educators providing distance learning to students in a virtual classroom setting, and to authors, booksellers and librarians who wish to provide a live reading aloud experience to young people who would normally visit a library or bookshop in person.

Permission is granted only for free use of the readings, and you may not charge in respect of any of the activities mentioned below without formal agreement from Bloomsbury.

Bloomsbury grants the permissions set out below until December 31, 2020.

In every case where a Bloomsbury book is read out loud we request that the title of the book and the name of the author and/or illustrator are announced at the beginning of each read aloud video or live event.

For Teachers and Educators - Story Time or Read Aloud Videos

Story time or classroom read-aloud videos in which a Bloomsbury book is read aloud (and, in the case of picture books, displayed) may be created and posted solely to closed educational platforms or to another closed network or platform where access is restricted to pupils of the teacher or educator.

If a teacher or educator plans to share a story time video by recording a video, uploading it to a YouTube channel, and posting a link to that YouTube video inside a closed educational platform, that YouTube video must be designated as "Unlisted" (not "Public") when uploading.

These story time and classroom read-aloud videos may be hosted on the educational or other closed platform and/or or YouTube (as an "Unlisted" file - see above) until the end of the current school year, after which they must be deleted from the relevant platform unless this permission is extended by formal agreement with Bloomsbury.

For Bookshops, Public Libraries and Bloomsbury Authors- Live Streaming:

Live events in which a Bloomsbury book is read out loud (and, in the case of picture books, displayed) may be streamed live, in real time, on social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook Live, Twitter, and Instagram. Because these platforms automatically archive live events, when your event has finished, please immediately delete the link associated with the event and the recording of the event from your account.

REQUIRED NOTIFICATIONS:

Bloomsbury requests that all educators, authors, librarians and booksellers notify us via email to childrensmarketing@bloomsbury.com when you post or stream a story time or read-aloud video or live event and provide the following information:

Boyds Mills Kane

Update: June 1, 2020

Guidelines for Online Reading During the Coronavirus

How to share BMK books with students

* These guidelines are for all educators and librarians, wherever you reside.

A silver lining of the challenges we are currently facing is the heartwarming and absolutely unsurprising commitment we are seeing by authors, illustrators, teachers, librarians, and all other educators to make sure kids continue to have access to great books while schools are closed.

Here are our guidelines for reading Boyds Mills & Kane books online during this time:

Please note at the beginning of your recording that you are reading with permission from Boyds Mills & Kane.

You may post your recording on either a closed (e.g., through a password-protected school platform or a private YouTube channel accessible only by students/educators) or open platform.

If you post on a closed platform, please delete or disable access to your recording after September 7, 2020. If your recording is available on an open platform, it must be taken down after two weeks.

If you are an educator, please email your name and title to us at marketing@bmkbooks.com. We'd love to hear how you're using our books during this time!

By posting any recording, you agree to all terms outlined above. Boyds Mills & Kane may adjust these terms in the future, as the situation evolves.

Candlewick

Candlewick Press is operating in accordance with the newest COVID-19-related guidelines from the governor of Massachusetts. The majority of staff continue to work remotely, and Candlewick Press wants to assure you that we are taking every step possible to maintain business continuity while ensuring the safety and well-being of our staff. We understand that it's a time of uncertainty, and our thoughts are with all who have been impacted. Times like this remind us how thankful we are to be part of such a resilient community and how truly grateful we are for each and every one of our partners and readers. We thank you for your continued business.

For specific inquiries, please use the following email addresses:

COVID 19 online reading permission requests:

Candlewick Press is committed to the authors and illustrators who create our books and to the readers who love them. We value the art of storytelling and are keenly aware of the power of stories to connect and comfort us. During this difficult time, we want to ensure our authors' and illustrators' works are protected without being prohibitive. Please note, to avoid unrestricted sharing and possible copyright infringement for any of our titles, it is our policy not to permit any posted recorded video readings showcasing the entirety of our books on large, open, public platforms online such as YouTube, Facebook, etc. Live readings are permissible on open platforms; please see below.

Below are guidelines we ask you to follow, and by posting a reading, you are agreeing to these terms, which will remain in effect until your school, library, or venue reopens in full. Please note that many Candlewick Press books are available in audio and/or video formats. You may wish to seek out those versions of the books to meet your needs instead of making your own.

Live Readings:

Live readings of Candlewick Press books that are not recorded do not require permission from Candlewick Press. Librarians, teachers, parents, caregivers, members of the clergy, and staff of museums, bookstores, and nonprofits can, through virtual means, read any Candlewick Press title live to their patrons, students, and children. However, these readings cannot be archived or saved. If possible, we ask that live videos are posted only through your school or group's private platform or within a closed group with access limited to your student/patron community. Please note at the beginning of your live reading that you are reading with permission from Candlewick Press and give credit to the author and/or illustrator.

Recorded Readings:

Teachers, librarians, and those who intend to make recordings may share these readings only on private, closed platforms accessible solely to your students or patrons. These readings should not be archived or saved on public social media channels, websites, YouTube, etc.

Prior to posting your reading, please email onlinereadings@candlewick.com with your name, your city and state, the name of your school/library/institution, the name of the private and closed platform you will use to share the reading, and the title and author/illustrator of the book(s) you intend to read. Please note that we receive a high number of these requests and will do our best to respond as promptly as possible.

Authors and Illustrators:

Authors and illustrators can read their own books, as long as they've received permission from a co-creator. These readings can be live or posted for a limited time on such outlets as Instagram Stories, Snapchat, etc. For more recorded readings, or readings shared on closed, private platforms which will be posted for more than 24 hours, please contact onlinereadings@candlewick.com

Crabtree Publishing

Crabtree Publishing Company is dedicated to supporting our education community as we navigate uncertain service challenges. We realize that librarians, teachers, home-educators and parents are actively looking to provide reading resources for their students and community in an effort to keep them learning and reading. Virtual sharing through story time and online read-alouds provide that solution.

At this time, Crabtree is granting open permission to those individuals wishing to use our books in a virtual online setting to extend learning and engagement through read-alouds. We commend those individuals who have committed their efforts to furthering the education of their students and community during this time of uncertainty. It's wonderful to see individuals coming together, in a virtual manner, to enrich their communities, with the love of books and reading!

Teachers, librarians,home-educators and parents may use any Crabtree Publishing title in a read-along for non-commercial use until June 30, 2021 as follows:

At the beginning of the recording/live video, please indicate that you are reading with permission from Crabtree Publishing and reference the author.

Video live streams may include displaying the book as part of the reading.

Teachers, librarians, parents, caregivers, and clergy are granted permission to read any Crabtree Publishing title to their patrons, students, and children through virtual means(public or private platforms). Refer to conditions of recorded use below.

Recordings of video or live-stream read-alouds through public or private platforms (ie Facebook Live, Instagram, Zoom, Youtube Live and other such means) are allowed under the condition the recordings of these events are removed from your archives by June 30, 2020.

Please email permissions@crabtreebooks.com to notify us when you post a stream or recording using Crabtree Publishing books and include the following information:
- Name and address of library, school, institution, individual
- Title and author of book that is read
- Link or social media platform on which the video or live event is posted

We would love to see our books featured in your read-alongs so kindly tag Crabtree Publishing when referencing these recordings on social media!

Twitter: @CrabtreePub
Facebook: @CrabtreePublishing
Instagram: @CrabtreePublishing

By participating in a read-along recording using Crabtree Publishing books, you agree to the above terms,which are in effect until June 30, 2020. Should you have additional questions, please email permissions@crabtreebooks.com

Note: Usage is limited to individuals within Canada and the United States.

Disney Publishing Worldwide

EXTENDED THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2020!

The below permission license from DPW is limited to our Disney Press imprint and does not include Disney-Hyperion. The copyright for most of our Disney-Hyperion titles live with each author, so please check their website and/or social media posts. Mo Willems has granted permission here, Ryan T. Higgins has granted permission here, and Rick Riordan has granted permission here.

Back in February, DPW sold a number of titles to Hachette Book Group. Please double check the copyright of titles online and then send your requests (if applicable) to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

We are doing our best to keep up with the large volume of requests so we ask that you not email us to confirm any of the permissions we have listed here. If you do have other questions please send them to childrens.marketing@disney.com.

With the increase in school closures, and many schools transitioning to remote learning, Disney Publishing Worldwide has received numerous requests from teachers across the country asking for permission to post readings of books online for their students to access. We support the efforts of educators and librarians who wish to provide remote learning at this time. Our permission is limited to Disney Press titles. If you are not sure which category a book falls into, please reach out to us at the following address: childrens.marketing@disney.com.

We ask that if you read a Disney Press book online for your students that you follow a few short guidelines:

Please note that other organizations interested in posting videos of your Disney Press title reading will need to contact childrens.marketing@disney.com who will evaluate their request.

Thank you for all you are doing.

Enchanted Lion

Enchanted Lion is glad to support the creative efforts of educators and others who are providing remote learning in this environment. Should you choose to share our books online with your students/community, please follow these guidelines when doing so:

Please note at the beginning of the video that you are reading with permission of Enchanted Lion Books, and note title, author, and illustrator of the book.

Please only post your video through your school's private platform or through another group or platform with limited access for your students only.

Please delete/disable access by 8/30 for summer reading.

Please send an email to enchantedlion.community@gmail.com with your name, school, city, state, the title and author/illustrator of the book(s) you would like to read online, as well as a follow-up email with a link to your video once you've read it.

By posting a reading, you are agreeing to abide by the above guidelines.

Booksellers and librarians who are doing similar readings and/or live events should also follow the above guidelines.

Please note: No bookseller/librarian event may be archived or saved on the social media platform used.

All other organizations should contact us at enchantedlion.community@gmail.com .

Otherwise, please tag @Enchantedlion in any Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook posts!

Free Spirit Publishing

Dear Educators, Librarians, and Booksellers:

We appreciate your work on behalf of children at this crucial time. The terms listed here are meant to be your guide in using Free Spirit books to support distance learning. Further down are our standard permissions guidelines.

Requests for live, unrecorded readings:

Free Spirit Publishing is pleased to grant permission for one-time live readings of our books.

If you are hosting a virtual read-aloud with a Free Spirit book, you must:

Host only live readings rather than uploading recordings

Credit Free Spirit as publisher

Name freespirit.com as the URL where viewers can find the book

Delete videos on platforms that auto-archive live videos

Please email us at permissions@freespirit.com with the following information: your name, your organization/school and its location (city and state or country), the title and author/illustrator of the Free Spirit book you will be reading online, and the platform and date of the reading.

Thank you for your interest and commitment to supporting the social emotional and academic needs of all kids! We would love to follow along via social media. Please tag us at:

Facebook: FreeSpiritPublishing
Instagram:@FreeSpiritPublishing
Twitter:@FreeSpiritBooks

Requests for recorded readings:
Please be aware that we cannot grant permission for recorded readings of Free Spirit books to be posted online. See below for additional permissions information and contact us at permissions@freespirit.com if you have further questions.

Access Free Spirit Books on Epic
Access select Free Spirit titles for free on Epic, the leading digital library for kids 12 & under. The brand new service, Epic Free, offers every student 2 hours of free weekly reading. Families only need an invitation from their teacher to get started. Click here for full details.

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HarperCollins

PERMISSION FOR ONLINE READINGS 2020

Due to school, college, library, and bookstore closings, the General Books Group of HarperCollins Publishers has new policies in place to help educators, librarians, authors, and booksellers reach out to readers and students.

Terms for US only.

For information about new policies and resources from our Children's Division, please visit HarperAtHome.

The terms below are valid in the United States for books published by the General Books Group (adult trade books) of HarperCollins Publishers.

If you are an educator or librarian who would like to read a HarperCollins book online: We are granting permission to educators and librarians to read HarperCollins titles online, on video, through December 31, 2020.

These virtual readings may be streamed live via digital platforms, or if recorded, posted to closed educational platforms. If a closed platform is unavailable, recorded videos of readings may be uploaded to YouTube as long as they are marked "Unlisted." We ask that any educators or librarians performing or posting readings please do the following, as conditions of this grant of permission:

1. At the beginning of the reading, state it is "with permission of HarperCollins Publishers."

2. Send their name, school or library, city and state, and the title and author/illustrator of the book they intend to read online to academic@harpercollins.com.

3. Tag @HarperCollins in social media posts connected with their reading.

4. Delete uploaded videos or, in the event the applicable platform does not permit deletion, disable access to uploaded videos by December 31, 2020.

This permission grant is to best serve the community of readers out there who need us right now.

If you are a bookseller who would like to stream a live online reading of a HarperCollins book: We are granting permission to booksellers to stream live readings of HarperCollins titles online through December 31, 2020. For clarity, we are not granting booksellers permission to post recorded readings of our titles online. We ask that any booksellers performing live readings please do the following, as conditions of this grant of permission:

1. At the beginning of the reading, state it is "with permission of HarperCollins Publishers."

2. Send your name, city and state, and the title and author/illustrator of the book you intend to read online to academic@harpercollins.com.

3. Tag @Harpercollins in social media posts connected with your reading.

4. Delete any archival copies of the reading that the applicable digital platform may have stored.

If you are an author who would like to do a recorded or live reading of your HarperCollins book: We are granting you permission to read your HarperCollins titles online through December 31, 2020. These virtual readings may be streamed live via digital platforms, or if recorded, posted in closed educational platforms. If a closed platform is unavailable, recorded videos of readings may be uploaded to YouTube as long as they are marked "Unlisted." We ask that you work with your editorial and marketing contact so we can amplify appropriately. This permission grant is to best serve the community of readers out there who need us right now.

If you receive a request from a bookseller, educator or librarian, please refer them to the instructors listed above.

Just Us Books

Resources and Guidelines to Support At-Home and Remote Learning

To help support children, parents and families, educators, librarians and the greater community during this challenging time, Just Us Books has expanded read along permissions and resources for at-home and remote learning. If you are an educator or librarian who would like to use our books as part of an online read along or other online instruction, we please follow the guidelines posted here.

Lee & Low

During this critical time, we realize the absolute importance of continued learning in ways that do not put our students at risk. Normally there are companies licensed to professionally produce audio and video recordings of our titles; under the current circumstances, time does not permit professional production to take place.

For this reason, Lee & Low is granting permission to allow educators and librarians to do virtual read alouds of our titles for non-commercial purposes only. Here are our guidelines for reading Lee & Low titles online during this time:

Please note at the beginning of your recording that you are reading with permission from Lee & Low Books.

Recordings should only be posted/shared on closed platforms such as a private YouTube channel or password-protected school platform.

Story time or read-aloud events featuring our books may be streamed live through platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube Live. However, please make sure recordings of these events do not remain in your archives for more than 24 hours after the event has concluded.

Please tag @LEEandLOW when discussing any recordings featuring our books on social media

Please encourage readers to access the book through a digital lending platform (e.g. Sora/Overdrive, Epic!, Follett TitleWave, or MackinVIA) whenever possible.

Reporting: Please use this form to notify us when you post a stream or recording using our books.

By posting a reading, you agree to the above terms which are in effect until December 31, 2020. For other questions, or if your permission request does not fit the above guidelines, please email hehrlich[at]leeandlow.com.

Little Brown

With the majority of schools and libraries continuing to operate by remote learning this fall, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers has extended the permissions for teachers, librarians, and booksellers to post readings of books online for students to access through the remainder of the calendar year. We are in awe of your efforts to adapt to the changing needs of your students and communities, and we want to support you. We ask that if you read an LBYR book online to your students or library patrons that you follow a few short guidelines:

Please note at the onset of the video that you are reading with permission from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

Please only post your video through your school, library, or bookstore's private platform or through another closed group or platform with limited access for only your students or patrons.

Please delete your video or disable access by December 31, 2020, as this is a limited-time permission.

Please send your name, school, library, or bookstore, city, and state, as well as the title and author/illustrator of the book(s) you intend to read online to childrenspublicity@hbgusa.com.

By posting a reading, you are agreeing to abide by the above terms.

Please tag our social media handles in any posts affiliated with your readings-we'd love to see them!

Thank you for all of your incredible work to support students and families during an uncertain time.

Macmillan

With many schools around the country closed, and more closing daily, Macmillan wants to support teachers, librarians and parents as they work to keep their students and children engaged with reading and learning via virtual classrooms and other forms of remote learning.

Using Our Content in Media

During this emergency (through December 31, 2020), we have no objection to (1) teachers and librarians live streaming or posting videos reading our children's books to their students, provided it is done on a noncommercial basis, and (2) authors live streaming or posting videos reading their children's books, provided it is done on a noncommercial basis.

Oni Press

Read Aloud Guidelines The love of literacy and sharing stories has always been important to us. We realize that now more than ever, we need stories to inspire, uplift, and help us experience a world outside our own. We are granting temporary permission for libraries, schools, bookshops, and comic stores to record reading aloud our titles, and titles previously published under the "Lion Forge" name, provided the following conditions are met:

Prior to recording, please email marketing@onipress.com with the below information:

Title of the book you intend to read

Name and address of your school, library, store or organization

Contact information for the individual who will be reading the book

The location of where the recording will be hosted, with a link if possible.

At the beginning of your video please state that the reading of this book is done "with the permission of Oni Press".

Your introduction to the book should include the full title of the book and the full list of creators, as there are many individuals whose work makes comics and graphic novels possible. (You need not read Oni Press staff names)

If possible, please include the Oni Press logo at the beginning of your video and at the end. A copy of the Oni Press logo can be found here.

If possible, and if appropriate, please link to the OniPress.com website or the book's listing in the Oni Press store. Videos should not be live streamed to any social media, but should instead be hosted on a private server or closed educational platform, with limited access for students, patrons, or customers.

Reading live via Zoom in a closed setting such as a classroom or bookclub is permitted. If you do not have access to a closed platform, then you may post the video to YouTube provided the video is non-public, with the setting as "private" or "unlisted." Instructions on how to do so can be found here.

All recordings should be disabled/deleted by December 31, 2020 unless you have received written permission from Oni Press stating otherwise. If you have any questions regarding these guidelines, please contact marketing@onipress.com

If you are a librarian or educator who would like to receive more Oni Press news, resources, activities, and discussion guides, please ask to be added to our Forging Connections Newsletter so we can keep in touch! And follow along on social media @OniPress.

Peachtree

Permissions:

We want to do everything we can to help kids and parents, educators, librarians, and booksellers cope with the extraordinary situation we find ourselves in now while protecting the hard work of our authors and illustrators. Peachtree Publishing Company, Inc. is happy to share a resource page full of free downloadable teacher's guides and activity sheets.

We would be happy to allow you to read our titles to your audiences, but we do need your help to protect our creators' copyrights. We ask you to follow these guidelines:

We would also love to follow along with your read-aloud, so please tag us on social media in any posts affiliated with it!

Thank you for everything you are doing to help kids and families during this difficult time.

Penguin Random House

PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE

LICENSE EXTENDED TO DECEMBER 31st, 2020

In order to encourage reading and classroom read-aloud experiences, and to support schools and public libraries forced to close by the escalating COVID-19 outbreak, Penguin Random House is permitting teachers, librarians and booksellers to create and share story time and read-aloud videos and live events, according to the following guidelines which have been extended to December 31, 2020. This Open License is not meant to grant permission for the posting of any pre-recorded audiobook product.

For Teachers and Educators providing distance learning to students in a virtual classroom setting:

Story time or classroom read-aloud videos in which a Penguin Random House book is read aloud and the book is displayed (for picture books) may be created and posted to closed educational platforms such as Google Classroom, Schoology, Edmodo and Discovery Education, in order to replicate the read-aloud book experience that would otherwise be available to educators in the classroom.

If a Teacher or Educator plans to share a story time video by recording a video, uploading it to a YouTube channel, and posting a link to that YouTube video inside a closed educational platform, that YouTube video must be designated as "Unlisted" (not "Public") when uploading. See screenshot for how to choose "Unlisted" while uploading on YouTube.

These story time and classroom read-aloud videos may be hosted on the educational platform and/or YouTube (as an "Unlisted" file) until the end of the current school year, after which we request that they be removed from the educational platform and/or from YouTube, unless this permission is extended for the next school semester.

For Booksellers, Librarians and other readers who wish to provide a story time reading or other read-aloud experience to young people:

Story time or read-aloud live events in which a Penguin Random House book is read out loud and the book is displayed (for picture books) may be streamed live, in real time, on social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook Live, Twitter, and Instagram.

These story time or read-aloud live events may not be maintained in the archive of the social media platform and appropriate measures should be taken to ensure that videos of the live events are not retained. Because these platforms automatically archive live events by default, when your event has concluded, please locate the recorded live video in your account (YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) and delete it. See screenshot for how to delete a live video from YouTube after it has concluded.

Reporting requirements - We ask that all educators, librarians, booksellers and other readers to please complete this form. As an Open License, permission will be deemed granted upon submission of the required information on the form, and your compliance with the above guidelines. If you have any questions, please email StoryTimeTempPermission@penguinrandomhouse.com.

Scholastic

As COVID-19 continues to impact schools and libraries, we remain sensitive to the needs of children to continue their learning and to reap the many benefits that literature brings them, especially during these challenging times. Only a short while ago, we were hopeful that schools would re-open and students would return to in person learning this Fall. But we all know too well that this is no longer a certainty and many schools will, at best, have some hybrid form of in-person and remote learning, while some schools may not re-open for in person classes at all. We continue to marvel at the educators, librarians and others across the country who remain committed to bringing the wonders of reading and literature to students by posting readings of books online for students to access, despite the ongoing challenges COVID-19 has thrown in their path. We want to support these efforts and have decided to reinstate our Read Aloud Permission Policy, which will remain in effect through December 31, 2020.

Guidelines for Teachers and Educators:

1. We ask that you post your reading through your school's platform or another closed group or platform with limited access for your students, such as your school's or district's network, Edmodo, Google Classroom, or similar service. However, we recognize this may not be possible, in which case you may post your video on YouTube, provided the video is posted as "unlisted" (not public) and you only share a link to the video with your students. Click here for instructions on how to upload a video to YouTube as unlisted.

2. At the beginning of your video, please state that you are presenting your reading "with permission from Scholastic."

3. Please delete your video or disable access by the end of this current school semester, but no later than December 31, 2020, unless we announce an extension to this policy.

4. Please complete the Permission Form available here.

By posting a reading, you are agreeing to abide by the above terms.

Finally, we would love to follow along with your read-aloud, so please tag Scholastic's social media handles in any posts affiliated with it!

Twitter: @Scholastic
Instagram: @ScholasticInc
Facebook: @Scholastic
YouTube: @Scholastic

Guidelines for Booksellers and Librarians

1. A live "story time" or other reading event may be livestreamed, in real time, on platforms such as Facebook Live, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter, provided they are not retained by the platform after the live event is over. These platforms automatically archive livestreamed events, so you will have to go in to your account with the platform and delete the video when the live event is over. For example, click here for instructions on how to delete a "live video" from your YouTube account.

2. At the beginning of your video, please state that you are presenting your reading "with permission from Scholastic."

3. Please complete the Permission Form available here.

By posting a reading, you are agreeing to abide by the above terms.

Finally, we would love to keep up with your read-aloud activity, so please tag Scholastic's social media handles in any posts related to your read-alouds!

Simon & Schuster

Summer 2020 Update: We are pleased to announce that we have extended these guidelines through December 31, 2020.

Simon & Schuster Online Book Readings - Spring 2020 (COVID‑19) Guidelines

Dear Educators, Librarians, and Booksellers:

Simon & Schuster is pleased to provide resources and support as you navigate distance learning and bookselling in the weeks ahead. Please visit The Book Pantry website for reading group and teaching guides, author studies, and more at SimonandSchusterPublishing.com/TheBookPantry

In addition, we will permit you to livestream and post readings of Simon & Schuster books online for your students and customers, subject to the following. By posting a reading, you are agreeing to these terms:

1. At the beginning of your video, please state that you are reading the book "with permission from Simon & Schuster."

2. We ask that you post your reading within the confines of your school, library, or store's platform or another closed group with limited access for your students and customers. However, for Ready-to-Reads, picture books, and any other younger formats, if this is not possible, you may post it through a public platform, such as YouTube.

3. For these younger formats, it is fine to read the entire book. For chapter books and novels, the readings should be limited to a few chapters.

4. Since this is a way to deal with the current extraordinary situation, your video should be deleted or access disabled by no later than December 31, 2020.

5. If you are an educator or librarian, email us at Education.Library@SimonandSchuster.com with your name, school, city, and state, and the title and author/illustrator of the book you intend to read online and the date. If you are a bookseller, email us at ChildrensPublicity@SimonandSchuster.com with your name, store, location, and the title and author/illustrator of the book you intend to read online and the date.

6. Finally, we would love to follow along with your read-aloud, so educators and librarians, please tag Simon & Schuster Education & Library's social media in your posts!

Twitter: @SSEdLib Instagram: @SSEdLib Facebook: @SSEdLib

Any recordings that Simon & Schuster Children's authors have made and posted may be used in the same way during this period of time.

Sourcebooks

As of 5/7/2020, we have extended our online storytime and reading requests policy to 12/31/2020 (previously 6/30/2020)

Sourcebooks' mission is to reach as many people as possible through books that will enlighten their lives. At the core of that mission is the unfaltering belief that Books. Change. Lives. In the face of the escalating COVID-19 outbreak, we are proud to continue that mission and support our community of teachers, librarians, and booksellers by permitting them to create and share story time and read-aloud videos and live stream events, according to the following guidelines:

Teachers and Educators

For Teachers and Educators who are looking to record and post content to replicate the classroom story time experience, we are happy to grant permission to temporarily create and post readings of Sourcebooks titles to closed educational platforms such as Google Classroom, Schoology, Edmodo, and Discovery Education until the end of the school year, upon which the videos should be removed from the relevant platforms.

Please note, all videos uploaded to YouTube for the purpose of sharing a link on a closed educational platform must be designated as "Unlisted" (or not "Public") when they are uploaded to YouTube to ensure a closed system.

Teachers and Educators may read and live stream Sourcebooks titles on YouTube, Facebook Live, Instagram Live, Twitter, or other live streaming platforms that are available to a closed school network. Live streams cannot be available to the public or recorded or permanently archived on any social media platforms. Live streams may be available for a 24-hour period after their initial recording. Please keep in mind that most social media platforms automatically archive live streams. After the 24-hour period has ended, all efforts must be made to ensure that all potential recordings and archives are deleted.

Reading and Reporting guidelines must be followed for all video posts and live streams.

Librarians and Booksellers

Librarians and Booksellers may include Sourcebooks titles in live reading events on YouTube, Facebook Live, Instagram Live, Twitter, or other live streaming platforms provided that said live events are not recorded or posted.

Live streaming events that include Sourcebooks titles cannot be recorded or permanently archived on any social media platforms. Live streams may be available for a 24-hour period after their initial recording. Please keep in mind that most social media platforms automatically archive live streams. After the 24-hour period has ended, all efforts must be made to ensure that all potential recordings and archives are deleted.

Reading and Reporting guidelines must be followed for all video posts and live streams.

Reading and Reporting Requirements

Start your reading with "Read by permission from Sourcebooks" and please be sure to read the name of the author and illustrator

Please notify us via the google form below for any reading you hold. If you hold multiple events/read-alouds, submit each time you are holding a storytime with one of our books. Information needed includes:

Name and address of the library, school, or store

Title, author and ISBN of the book that is read

Contact information for the individual responsible for the reading

The educational or social media platform on which the video or live event is posted or held and a link to that video or live event
https://forms.gle/gtPo3yEXVMXjHUpt5
Videos must be taken down by 12/31/2020, unless permission to extend the term has been obtained from Sourcebooks.

For any questions, please email permissions@sourcebooks.com.

TeachingBooks

Open through September 15, you can freely invite your students and families to delve into the world of children's and young adult books. Encourage them to experience read-along performances of favorite titles that are translatable into 100+ languages. Invite them to virtual storytime with 1,000+ complete book readings. And with our new reader's advisory, insightful interviews with thousands of authors, and discussion questions for most books, virtual book clubs are well equipped, too.

TeachingBooks is currently licensed by more than 50,000 schools and libraries, offering readers of all ages this vast, professionally curated collection of resources about children's and young adult books. Please enjoy and share throughout your community the open-access link: TeachingBooks.net/HomeEdition.

If you wish a more customized approach to seamless access during this unprecedented time, please see the "Open Access and Use" section of the Home Edition kit where you can request buttons and links to post on your websites, social media, or anywhere your students look. Or for school communities, set up access for your institution through Clever or ClassLink by asking your technology director to reach out to us, and we'll get back to you asap -- ray@TeachingBooks.net.

On behalf of all of us at TeachingBooks, we wish you and your community our very best. Freely reach out if we can be of any assistance deepening connections to authors and books.

Kathy Ishizuka

Kathy Ishizuka is editor in chief of School Library Journal.

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With Remote Learning Still the Norm, Publishers Extend Permissions for Read Alouds UPDATED

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Article updated September 6 to include additional publisher revised policies With remote learning looking like the state of play this fall, publishers have extended permissions for read alouds of their titles. To help educators and librarians engaged in online learning and storytimes held via Zoom and other virtual means, many publishers relaxed copyright restriction on their works at the start of the pandemic.

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Research Shows Virus Undetectable on Five Highly Circulated Library Materials After Three Days

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Research Shows Virus Undetectable on Five Highly Circulated Library Materials After Three Days

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Institute of Museum and Library Services
June 22, 2020

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Institute of Museum and Library Services

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Research Shows Virus Undetectable on Five Highly Circulated Library Materials After Three Days

Findings are Part of REALM Project to Produce Science-Based Information to Help Mitigate Exposure to Virus
Washington, DC- In the first phase of a project to disseminate and develop science-based information about how materials can be handled to mitigate exposure to staff and visitors, scientists have found that the virus SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 is not detectable on five common library materials after three days.

The findings are part of the REopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums (REALM) Project designed to generate scientific information to support the handling of core museum, library, and archival materials as these institutions begin to resume operations and reopen to the public. The first phase of the research is focusing on commonly found and frequently handled materials, especially in U.S. public libraries.

Over the past few weeks, scientists at Battelle tested the virus on a variety of surfaces, in environments with standard temperature and relative humidity conditions typically found in air-conditioned office space. Materials tested in phase one included the cover of hardcover books (buckram cloth), the cover of softback books, plain paper pages inside a closed book, mylar protective book cover jackets, and plastic DVD cases. Battelle tests found the virus undetectable after one day on the covers of hardback and softback books as well as the DVD case. The virus was undetectable on the paper inside of a book and mylar book jackets after three days. "It's below the limit of detection on our viability assay," said Battelle Principal Research Scientist Will Richter.

Lab testing of physical items followed literature reviews conducted by Battelle to help define the scope of the project's research and the information needs of libraries, archives, and museums. Last week, the REALM Project released " Systematic Literature Review of SARS-CoV-2: Spread, Environmental Attenuation, Prevention, and Decontamination," prepared by Battelle. This is an in-depth review of published literature on virus transmission, attenuation, and decontamination methods that can inform discussion and decisions about operations in archives, libraries, and museums.

"Scientific research is essential to answer questions about the spread of the coronavirus on materials that are ever-present in our nation's libraries, archives, and museums," said IMLS Director Crosby Kemper. "We recognized the need to test specific items and surfaces as these organizations are now reopening, asking: How can we mitigate risk to staff? How should patrons and visitors handle books, touchable exhibits, or DVD cases? Our aim was to equip America's libraries, archives, and museums with information to help them do what they do best: continue serving their communities. I am so pleased and hopeful that this critical work will be reaching the people who need it."

"Results from this ongoing research project will help libraries, archives and museums plan with greater confidence at a difficult time," said Skip Prichard, OCLC President and CEO. "Although there are various sources of general information about handling materials in the time of COVID-19, this project is designed specifically to test materials and provide useful science-based information to these institutions. Equipped with this critical information, they will be better able to determine measures they can take to mitigate exposure to staff and the communities they serve."

"Any library worker would agree that people make good decisions when their decisions are based on facts and evidence," said Nate Hill, Executive Director, Metropolitan New York Library Council and member of the REALM Project Steering Committee. "The output of the REALM Project, both the systematic literature review and the lab test results, give library workers the information they need to make practical, informed decisions as they reopen their spaces and resume their services."

Battelle will be initiating lab testing on an additional five materials this month, with results expected by the end of July. Examples of public library reopening plans are being collected, curated, and shared to the website this week. The research reports will inform development of toolkit resources, content, and programming that will help translate the findings for real-world applications in museums, libraries, and archives.

"As museums across the country draft their reopening plans, we know that our exhibitions and galleries contain a vast variety of materials that are not addressed in state and federal public health guidelines," said Carole Charnow, President and Chief Executive Officer, Boston Children's Museum and member of the REALM Operations Working Group. "Therefore, we need up to date, science-based information specific to museums. For those of us that are hands-on, interactive institutions, this is especially critical. The REALM Project is providing the invaluable evidence-based information museum professionals need in order to ensure the highest possible standards of safety for our staff and visitors."

The REALM Project is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the primary source of federal funding for museums and libraries; and OCLC, a nonprofit library technology and research organization; in partnership with Battelle, a not-for-profit global scientific research and development organization.

Project updates are posted at oc.lc/realm-project as they become available. Those interested can also sign up through the project website to receive timely email updates when new information is released.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America's museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Our vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Media Contacts:
About Battelle
Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries. For more information, visit www.battelle.org.

About OCLC
OCLC is a nonprofit global library cooperative providing shared technology services, original research and community programs so that libraries can better fuel learning, research and innovation. Through OCLC, member libraries cooperatively produce and maintain WorldCat, a comprehensive global network of data about library collections and services. Libraries gain efficiencies through OCLC's WorldShare, a complete set of library management applications and services built on an open, cloud-based platform. It is through collaboration and sharing of the world's collected knowledge that libraries can help people find answers they need to solve problems. Together as OCLC, member libraries, staff and partners make breakthroughs possible.

IMLS: Erica Jaros at ejaros@imls.gov or (202) 330-7864
OCLC: Bob Murphy at murphyb@oclc.org or (614) 761-5136
Battelle: T.R. Massey at masseytr@battelle.org or (614) 424-5544; (614) 202-7553 mobile

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Research Shows Virus Undetectable on Five Highly Circulated Library Materials After Three Days

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Research Shows Virus Undetectable on Five Highly Circulated Library Materials After Three Days Findings are Part of REALM Project to Produce Science-Based Information to Help Mitigate Exposure to Virus Washington, DC- In the first phase of a project to disseminate and develop science-based information about how materials can be handled to mitigate exposure to staff and visitors, scientists have found that the virus SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 is not detectable on five common library materials after three days.

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CDC Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting

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CDC Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting

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Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting _ CDC

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School Library Journal
May 31, 2020

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In a new series of articles and virtual sessions, the authors will guide a conversation about the future of public libraries, culminating in a practical plan to reenvision youth services.

filo/Getty Images

The past few months have been full of adjustments for every person in the world. For many young people, the adjustments take shape along a spectrum.

On one end of the spectrum, youth attend school via instructionally sound virtual learning, live in a family environment filled with social-emotional and learning support, connect with their peers via unlimited digital means, experience an increase in quality family time, and have access to the necessities of life such as water, clean air, sanitation, and healthy food. On the other end, youth experience mediocre distance learning, toxic environments lacking social-emotional support, limited broadband access to connect with teachers and peers, and are left to scramble for the basics of a quality life.

These physical, intellectual, and social inequities vary widely from one young person to another. The existence of these inequities is not new to public library staff. What has changed is that library staff is seeing these disparities more clearly in their communities every day, and there is an uncertainty of what the future holds for learning, economic advancement, and civic engagement.

As the COVID-19 crisis began to unfold, many public libraries rushed to support young people. Some focused on providing resources via ebooks and curbside pick-up, others worked with community organizations to provide much-needed services like childcare and wifi, and some launched virtual opportunities such as gaming parties and escape rooms. In creating these pandemic era services, libraries did not have much time to think about the big picture; they reacted and provided what they could.

Reopening, and beyond

Now many library staff are asking important and timely questions. What do we do next and how can we be thoughtful about those next steps? What will it be like when we partially reopen? What will it be like when we fully reopen? How do we handle it if this happens again? Of course, there are state and county opening guidelines provided for community organizations such as public libraries, however, almost all of these guidelines focus on opening hours, space use, measures of physical distancing, handling and sanitizing materials, etc. (ALA, 2020a; ALA, 2020b; IMLS, 2020). In other words, almost all of the focus is on physical and operational "stuff."

Admittedly, this "stuff" is part of what makes the library function as a brick-and-mortar space. However, what's missing is the people that the library serves-the vibrant communities that libraries help to build through their programs and services. As David Lankes states, "To say we are about community and only be a source of ebooks in a pandemic is hypocrisy. Yes, our fellow citizens need ebooks, but they need compassion, connection, and community dedicated to their full well-being."

We agree with Lankes and are certain that connection and compassion need to be at the center of work now and when libraries reopen. To achieve this connection and compassion, library staff need to ask themselves the following:

● What does your local community need now?
● What are the best practices to engage with local communities compassionately during and after a crisis?
● What are the failed practices that we can learn from?
● What are the bests of the "old normal" that should be kept, and what norms of the "new normal" should be created?
● How can we restructure library management and staffing, so it is flexible enough to hold the demands of a crisis and when the local community is not in crisis?
● How do we collect data and stories of how we are engaging with our communities now when we ourselves are constantly handling personal adjustments?
● How can we communicate to our funders how we are fulfilling immediate needs that the community is facing?

The potential list of questions is endless...but the short answer to each is: "We don't know." Period.

Want to redesign library services? Join us.

We, the authors of this new SLJ article series, are on the hunt for solutions to help local communities thrive in a pandemic and post-pandemic world. We are in an unprecedented time, with the opportunity to respond to the specific needs of local communities, in particular the youth that we serve. These solutions need to organically emerge from each of us committed to serving young people's changing needs.

This is the launch of a series of articles and virtual engagement opportunities that will help the library community answer the above questions. Our intention is to co-produce-with you-a document containing a series of phases toward a new vision for youth librarianship. We will facilitate weekly virtual Zoom sessions where we listen, co-create, and crowdsource challenges, solutions, and best practices-on one hand providing pointers to serve your local communities, and on the other, stewarding the national narrative on the role of public libraries in this moment of need. What we learn via these virtual sessions will be synthesized in the next article and will serve as a guide for our upcoming live sessions.

Join us in co-creating these phases of "reopening" for libraries that focus on the needs of local communities and the youth we serve. If you are interested in joining us in this quest, please complete this short interest form .
Dr. Mega Subramaniam is an associate professor at the College of Information Studies, University of Maryland. Linda W. Braun is a learning consultant for LEO.

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COVID-19 Is an Opportunity to Rethink Youth Librarianship | Reimagining Libraries

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In a new series of articles and virtual sessions, the authors will guide a conversation about the future of public libraries, culminating in a practical plan to reenvision youth services. filo/Getty Images The past few months have been full of adjustments for every person in the world.

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CDE Stronger Together - Guidance for Returning to Schools

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CDE Stronger Together - Guidance for Returning to Schools

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CDE Released June 8, 2020

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COVID-19 CA Government
Statewide Governance

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AASL
July 2020

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ALA Resources for Libraries

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A pandemic is an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population. ( Merriam-Webster Online). This page provides information about preparing for a pandemic, including library-specific policy suggestions and more universal resources on pandemic education, prevention and preparation. Some of the resources are specific to seasonal influenza outbreaks and the 2019/2020 COVID-19 pandemic, but can be used more universally to help educate and inform decisions on pandemic prevention and preparedness.

News

Below are news items from ALA and other sources regarding Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). News items will be added as they are released.

ALA News and official ALA statements:

New ALA Resource, Free Webinar Spotlight Changes to the 2020 Census in Response to COVID-19 (ALA News, June 23, 2020)

Library Associations Underscore Importance of IMLS COVID-19 Efforts (ALA News, April 28, 2020)

National Library Week, April 19-25, 2020, Celebrates Libraries' Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic (ALA News, April 15, 2020)

American Library Association cancels 2020 Annual Conference due to COVID-19 (ALA News, March 24, 2020)

American Library Association recommends libraries leave WiFi open during closures while continuing to follow any applicable local, state and federal health and safety guidelines

ALA Executive Board recommends closing libraries to public (ALA News, March 17, 2020)

ALA Statement on COVID-19 (American Libraries, March 13, 2020)

View all ALA press releases related to COVID-19
From American Libraries:
View all American Libraries content related to COVID-19
From the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Board of Directors:

From the Association of Library Service to Children (ALSC):

From the ALA Office of Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services (ODLOS):

From ALA Publishing:

From Programming Librarian, a website of the ALA Public Programs Office:
View all Programming Librarian content related to COVID-19
From the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA):

From the Association of Research Libraries (ARL):

From the REopening Archives, Libraries and Museums (REALM) research project:

Library responses to COVID-19

From Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe (2010-2011 ACRL President) and Christine Wolff-Eisenberg (Ithaka S+ R):

From the Public Library Association:

Crowdsourced resources:

Topics to include in an individual library policy

Below are some topics to include in an individual library policy on illness and/or pandemic prevention and preparedness - after ensuring (if necessary) that they are consistent with the policies of the library's governing body:

Criteria for closing the library

Employee policies for sick leave, payroll and banking/financial issues, working from home

Mandated documentation of procedures or cross training so others can take over for sick employees.

Policies for social distancing -- that is, removing a number of chairs so people aren't sitting close to each other, or limiting the number of people who can come in at any one time, or taking out coat racks, and similar things that keep people and their belongings separate from each other.

Criteria for suspending story times and other library programs.

Provision of masks and gloves along with the training of staff in their removal and disposal.

Standards for the cleaning of bathrooms, railings and door knobs, telephones, keyboards, counters, and cleaning of workstations/offices of employees who go home sick, emptying of wastebaskets, etc.

Setting a schedule for seeing to the critical needs of the facility if the library is closed for an extended time (boiler and building checks by custodians, book drop, payroll and banking considerations).

Communications plan for reaching staff and for communicating with the public

Means for continuing to provide information services for the public, such as digital reference, online materials access and expansion of other online resources

Accommodation of the needs of people in the community who rely on library resources

Education of the public in advance of an epidemic

Professional development/training resources

Resources from ALA

Recording: ALA Connect Live: COVID-19 and the Library Community Response from 4.23.20

From the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL):

From the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee:

From the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS):

From the Association of Specialized Government and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASGCLA):

A COVID-19 Resources page, including a section of resources specifically for children and teens

From the ALA Chapter Relations Office (CRO):

From the Public Library Association (PLA):

A PLA Resources on COVID-19 webpage, with information for public librarians to consider at their libraries, communities and families respond to the COVID-19 crisis

From the Public Policy and Advocacy office (PPA):

Federal resources

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) offers many resources on the prevention, treatment and national impact of influenza and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), including:

From the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) provides a self-paced course on setting up a Continuity of Operations Plan, as well as multiple resources on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) provides Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic, with information on ways influenza can spread and steps every employer can take to reduce the risk of exposure to pandemic influenza in their workplace,

A U.S. Department of Education COVID-19 resource page includes guidance specific to elementary, secondary, and higher education settings.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) resource page, with a listing of fast facts and frequently asked questions.

From the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO):

State and local resources

From the CDC:

Some other helpful resources from state and local agencies:

Additional resources

Resources on disinfecting books, practicing good hygiene and keeping workspaces clean and disinfected:

The REopening Archives, Libraries and Museums (REALM) project - from OCLC, IMLS and Batelle - conducted research on how materials can be handled to mitigate exposure to staff and visitors. Results of this study, published June 22, 2020, found that the virus SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 is not detectable on five common library materials after three days.

American Libraries has published an article, How to Sanitize Collections in a Pandemic (March 27, 2020), which provides advice from several conservators on the proper way to disinfect circulating materials

The Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) has provided recommendations on Disinfecting Books and Other Collections on their website.

The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT) hosted a Facebook live video on March 23 - now archived and available for asynchronous viewing on their website - entitled Covid-19 Basics: Disinfecting Cultural Resources. A few helpful resources cited in this presentation:

Library Journal published an article, IMLS, CDC: On Staff Safety, Handling Paper In COVID-19 Pandemic (April 8, 2020), summarizing the March 30 webinar from the IMLS and CDC, "Mitigating COVID-19 When Managing Paper-Based, Circulating, and Other Types of Collections" (recording linked above)

The CDC has a page offering Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers, which includes advice on keeping workspaces clean and how to guide employees towards practicing good respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene. They also offer properties of an ideal disinfectant.

The ALSC Blog offers Best Practices for Cleaning Play and Learn Spaces in libraries - with advice that could be applied to all frequently-touched surfaces during an outbreak of influenza or other viruses

NPR offers a somewhat lighthearted look at proper hand-washing technique with their article "How to Do a Really Good Job Washing Your Hands"

Mental health resources to help with pandemic-related fears and anxiety:

From the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), a continually updated page of downloadable translated language resources to help libraries communicate with their communities

PSA/Promotional resources:

Resources for children and young adults:

Resources for older adults:

Resources from the World Health Organization (WHO):

Resources from the Mayo Clinic:

From Unicef:

The Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering has a global map of COVID-19 cases, updated in near real-time and with data available for download.

Further reading:
Page updated June 30, 2020
Image byFelipe Esquivel Reed used under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

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A pandemic is an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population. (Merriam-Webster Online). This page provides information about preparing for a pandemic, including library-specific policy suggestions and more universal resources on pandemic education, prevention and preparation.

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Institute of Museum and Library Services; CDC Guidelines 

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Institute of Museum and Library Services; CDC Guidelines 

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Disinfecting Returned Library Books
School Library Journal
May 2020

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Study shows the novel coronavirus can only survive on paper for a few hours. An IMLS webinar with CDC officials called the material "a low concern."

Before schools closed in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, many librarians allowed students to check out stacks of books for the forced break. They wanted their kids to have something to read. Now, these school librarians are worried about the returns, not only how to process such a large volume, but, most importantly, how to disinfect those books. At public libraries that either remain open or are closed by still having books returned, there is an urgent need to understand the proper precautions. The same is true in states that have closed schools for the remainder of the year and are asking students to return books now. For others, the issue isn't as pressing but they want a plan.

A study, published in March in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that the virus "remained active on plastic and stainless steel surfaces for two to three days under the conditions in this experiment. It remained infectious for up to 24 hours on cardboard." A study published in The Lancet on April 2 showed "no infectious virus could be recovered from printing and tissue papers after a 3-hour incubation."

This data can inform appropriate action, including wiping down cardboard and plastic-covered books with disinfectant wipes and leaving returned books to "quarantine" until the danger of transmission has passed.

To help address librarians' concerns, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) hosted a webinar on Monday, March 30, "Mitigating COVID-19 When Managing Paper-Based, Circulating, and Other Types of Collections." It was presented in coordination with the U.S. Department of Education, National Archives and Records Administration, Smithsonian Institution, and Library of Congress, and moderated by IMLS Director Crosby Kemper, the hourlong webinar featured speakers David Berendes, an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch, and Catherine Rasberry, health scientist in CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health.

"You don't have to really worry about finding ways to disinfect those materials," Berendes said. "The virus, if it's present, would be present in very low quantities and would die off pretty quickly."

"For us to have been concerned about transmission from any paper-based material, the individual would have had to cough or sneeze directly on the object," he explained.

"We're pretty sure that, with some regularity, people are sneezing onto our books," responded Kemper.

In that case, Berendes recommended leaving books untouched for a 24-hour period before handling them.

Of the many concerns library workers should have about the materials they handle, however, paper is fairly low on the list, he said.

"We would just emphasize that the staff practice good hand hygiene after touching the books. For DVDs or other materials that are more easily cleaned...those are pretty easily wipeable with alcohol wipes."

Materials in Braille usually have plastic coatings that can be wiped down with alcohol-based cleaners.

Kara Yorio, SLJ's news editor, contributed to this report. Lisa Peet is Library Journal's news editor.

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IMLS, CDC Offer Guidance for Disinfecting Returned Library Books

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Study shows the novel coronavirus can only survive on paper for a few hours. An IMLS webinar with CDC officials called the material "a low concern." Before schools closed in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, many librarians allowed students to check out stacks of books for the forced break.

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School Library RETURN TO CAMPUS Planning Tool

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School Library RETURN TO CAMPUS Planning Tool

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Google Drive form (copy and use)
ISTE guidelines

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Library Reopening Plan & COVID Response (Copy/Add to Drive/Revise/Share/Use)

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Pandemic Resources for School Librarians

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Pandemic Resources for School Librarians

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AASL
July 2020