By Page H. Gifford
Correspondent
“Libraries across the U.S. have been pressed into action,” according to a Jan. 18 Washington Post article. Library workers were compared with front-line workers handing out supplies of free COVID test kits and ending up exhausted and overwhelmed. Is Fluvanna any different?
Library Director Cyndi Hoffman of the Fluvanna County Public Library has always taken a calm, methodical, and positive approach to activities, programs, and changes at the library and has transformed it into a community within itself; a hub of information, and entertainment. Hoffman has always been willing to be of service to the community and saw giving out test kits as an opportunity to do just that.
“The COVID tests were very popular. They were free as part of a program with the Virginia Department of Health. We started mid-November and had kits through mid-January and we gave out over 3300 kits during that time.” Kits are currently out of stock but Hoffman is hopeful she will get more but is uncertain when that may be.
“The program is still active but there are supply chain issues. We are telling everyone to keep an eye on our web page or Facebook page and we will update those when we get more.”
COVID has been challenging for Hoffman and her staff. Whereas other libraries may have experienced some intense moments with test kits, Hoffman and her staff are always organized and things run smoothly. But she said there have been adjustments in the last year.
“COVID initially changed a lot for the library. Back in March 2020, we had to close to the public for a while – we closed then opened with curbside delivery services the next day. Eventually, we were able to start computers and browsing by appointment.,” she said. This time for her and her staff was perhaps the busiest without people in the library, having to do the work for those who normally peruse the aisles of books themselves.
“We were busier than ever. Lots of phone calls and pulling materials for people in the community. We even had people emailing us things to print and we had delivery curbside and offered new cards over the phone.”
If that were not enough, they started a new program, offering “Grab n Go craft/activity kits for preschool children, kids, teens, and adults and we added the Spice of the Month Club.” In case anyone wonders, the Spice of the Month Club encourages cooking with various spices and learning about them. For example, October was cardamom and the kit includes recipes, ideas, and more regarding cooking with cardamom. This is a great way to use a library’s resources and to learn something new and experiment for all ages now that cooking at home has become popular again.
This meant that not only did they put the kits together but during this time all items had to be cleaned and quarantined before they could be checked out again. She says they are still cleaning and wiping things down more often until we no longer have to quarantine.
“Things are much more like pre-COVID times now – which cycles depending on active cases. We are still limited with in-person programs but hopefully, everything is getting better. We are concentrating on Grab n Go and small in person programs instead of our larger programs,” she said.
Hoffman is trying to return things to normal as much as possible and this year everyone believes that it is more likely to happen.
“We are currently working on the Summer Reading Program and are very excited to hopefully have a more normal summer program with programs and workshops.” She added that the Grab n Go craft kits and Spice of the Month are very popular and are continuing.
Grab n Go kits are available on the 2nd Saturday of the month and Spice of the Month Club is available on the 4th Saturday. They are also planning a Grab n Go Tiny Art Show Kit pick up for ages 10 and older on Wednesday, Feb. 16 starting at 3 p.m.
For more information, contact the Fluvanna County Public Library at (434) 589-1400 or visit their website at https://www2.youseemore.com/fluvanna/.
