By LIZ SAUCHELLI
Valley News Staff Writer
Sunapee School District bus driver Cathy Merrill, left, ferries a cart of books and library materials from Abbott Library director Mindy Atwood, right, to fellow driver Gloria Tijaro, background, in preparation for their fourth week of delivering to patrons around Sunapee, N.H., Wednesday, May 13, 2020. (Valley News - James M. Patterson)
Shortly after Abbott Library closed its doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff members started calling its more than 2,500 patrons.
“We function as a community center. We function as a touchstone, maybe for the stay-at-home mom who doesn’t necessarily see or have adult conversations while their partner is at work,” said Abbott Library director Mindy Atwood, adding that it is also a gathering spot for Sunapee-area seniors. “We asked ourselves, ‘How can we replicate that?’ ”
One staff member spent a half-hour speaking to a young mother, a conversation that would normally take place in person.
“That’s what we do in the library, that’s what we should do on these calls,” Atwood said.
Upper Valley libraries, long an important part of life in the region, have seen their roles as community centers cemented and expanded as stay-at-home orders prevail in the Twin States. Librarians have learned new skills to record virtual story times and hold programs over videoconferencing software. They’ve made sure their free Wi-Fi extends to every corner of their parking lots, fielded questions about applying for unemployment benefits and even helped patrons learn how to use FaceTime so they can keep in touch with their grandchildren.
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