The direction libraries have been taking in the past decade, utilizing new technology and providing online content and activities is proving to very beneficial to communities across Ontario during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
“If this had happened in 1992, the libraries would be closed and there would be nothing for the community,” says Matthew MacDonald, Chief Executive Officer of the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library. “With the Internet and all the online resources, we have been very fortunate in still being able to be a primary resource to our community at no cost.”
One example of an online resource is a service called hoopla, a digital service that allows users to download and stream movies, TV shows, music, eBooks, audiobooks, and comics. Content is available immediately and there are no wait times. Users can download the hoopla app on Apple or Android devices, use their computer, or smart TV products like Apple TV and Android TV to stream on a television.
“It is a fairly new service for us. We launched that in January. Hoopla offers different books, movies and music. It is limited to five titles per month. Many of the titles are multi-use, so anyone can download the same title at the same time. They have best platform for graphic novels online.”
Another popular online service is called Tumblebook.
“Tumblebook Library is an online story database. When I go on with my kids, we listen to the Robert Munsch books read by Robert Munsch himself, which is pretty cool. With the Tumblebooks, they go through the picture books and you can turn the audio on or off. You don’t have to listen to it but it’s an option to have the authors read their books. Or you can just read it with your child yourself. They also have a whole lot of learning activities that accompany each of the stories.”
The additional resources are especially helpful with schools being closed and families looking for activities to do at home.
“It’s great for those parents who are looking for some more educational resources for their kids, especially around literacy. They pair the story up with learning activities which are beneficial.”
Tumblebooks has recently given the Library access to additional materials, including TumbleMath, TeenBookCloud, AudioBook Cloud, and RomanceBook Cloud. These new Tumble platforms are available until the end of August.
“We all need something to do, especially the parents,” says MacDonald. “Having activities to go along with the stories is just awesome. Same with the Tumblebook Math. It pairs stories with math activities which are a great way to learn and it doesn’t cost the parents anything. And they know that it is a reliable source because it is coming through the library.”
One of the reasons the library has been able to expand its online content during this pandemic is the strong partnerships Ontario libraries have with publishers and other related companies.
“Publishers and companies have been fantastic through this,” says MacDonald. “Some have relaxed their licensing, so we were able to add in a few databases, as well as some sites for audiobooks, that we don’t ordinarily have. They have been very helpful and are getting behind libraries and supporting them in this way.”
One of the ways libraries in Ontario get their databases is through larger consortiums that negotiate prices together.
“Another new feature available online is Mango Languages, a language learning database that the library didn’t have before. There are a lot of libraries in Ontario that already had it and we weren’t one of them,” says MacDonald. “They decided to expand it to the entire consortium. So we have benefitted from being part of the larger group.”
The Sault Public Library has many other databases that people would have had access to prior to COVID-19, including local historical photos and oral histories of the community.
“The oral histories section is part of the Living History Algoma collection. We have oral histories from Roberta Bondar and other notable Saultites. Some of less notable Saultites have very interesting stories. There are eighty oral stories so far. It is a great way to learn about the community and our history.”
Another platform available on their website is called Overdrive, which includes popular and classic fiction, non-fiction, videos, and audiobooks that users can download, stream to read, view, or listen on a computer or mobile device. In Overdrive, you can download up to ten titles at a time.
“You download items to your phone and listen to them when you want,” says MacDonald. “I used to listen to them doing chores around the house and when I used to go to the gym.”
For MacDonald, it appears that community members are making use of these online services.
“We know that we’ve had a lot of engagement and people are making use of them,” he says. “From the overall consortium, the use of the Overdrive system alone is up 20 per cent.”
There has also been an increase in application for library cards.
“We have had hundreds of people sign up for new cards,” he says. “We sign them up and mail their card out to them.”
MacDonald hopes the cards will continue to be used once the pandemic is over.
“Once our doors are open again, hopefully, they will come in and use their cards and start checking out our physical materials as well.”
In an effort to make library services as accessible as possible, the Library has even renewed all expired cards.
“Prior to closing the library, we renewed all the expired cards from the past two years. Anything beyond that, we didn’t have records for as they expire after two years of non-use.”
Looking forward, MacDonald notes that the library staff is looking at what additional elements can be offered virtually.
“Our children’s staff is investigating doing online storytimes. Canadian publishers have relaxed some of their copyright restrictions to allow libraries and other organizations to make copies of people reading stories aloud. We are also looking into virtual book chats where we would register people online and then gather using an app like Zoom to discuss books.”
MacDonald emphasizes that library cards are free as long as you are a Sault Ste. Marie resident or you live in one of the nearby communities.
“You get your card and then you can download books, movies and audio. If you are doing research papers, as high school students are still doing, our databases can be used for their papers,” he says.
“We can’t bring people into one room but we can still bring people together.”
Library cards are available to Sault residents by filling out an online form. Residents of Aweres, Goulais and district, Searchmont, Tarbutt and Tarbutt Additional, Laird Township, and MacDonald, Meredith & Aberdeen can get a library card by applying here.