• Should Public Libraries isolate material upon return? Briefing (November 27, 2020) – Vaughan Public Libraries
• COVID-19 School Library Brief For School Boards In Ontario – Ontario School Library Association
  This brief provides guidance on circulating school library materials. Updated November 2020.
• Pick-Up and Delivery Services: Guidance for Public Libraries  (May, 2020) – The Federation of Ontario Public Libraries (FOPL), Ontario Library Service – North (OLS-N), and Southern Ontario Library Services (SOLS)
  This document provided some early guidance and options for Public Libraries as they develop their local procedures for curbside pick-up.
• The REopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums (REALM) Project, is continuing to study the presence of the virus SARS-CoV-2 on library materials.

• Sample #1 OPLA COVID-19 Public library response framework (Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Grey, Shutdown) (December 2020)
• Sample #2 – Perth and District Union Public Library COVID-19 Safety and Service Plan (February 2021)

• Learn: Read Aloud Canadian Books Program – The Association of Canadian Publishers (ACP) and Access Copyright
  The Read Aloud Canadian Books Program will allow, on a temporary basis, a waiver of licence fees related to the reading of all or part of select in-print books from participating publishers and authors, and the posting of the video recording online.
• Fair Dealing Guidance for Canadian Libraries During the Time of COVID-19 – Canadian Federation of Library Associations
  The Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA) has issued a guidance document to support libraries in considering copyright as they provide services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read alouds and Resources for Readers

• Learn: Online Reading Resources list (April 2, 2020). A list of online book and educational resources available for free. Created by OLA member Lynn Goodwin.
• Watch: Bibliovideo: The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC)
  A YouTube channel dedicated to Canadian children’s books called Bibliovideo. Bibliovideo features videos and links to resources in French and English about Canadian books for children and youth.

Other Activities for Students and Libraries

• Listen: Sound and Music Resources
• Listen: I Value Canadian Stories Podcast from VoicEd Radio Featuring Canadian authors in discussion with retired educator Stephen Hurley and other Canadian teachers talking about what sparks their imagination and tips for students exploring their writing abilities
• Listen: First Chapter Fridays Podcast from VoicEd Radio Educator Tanya Polasek reads the first chapter of a Canadian Young Adult book each Friday to engage her students in and outside her classroom.
• Watch: CFE Virtual Forum Series – Ryerson University’s Centre for Free Expression
  A weekly, free webinar series on civil liberties, free expression, smart cities and more. Archived sessions will be available.

• Wellness Together Canada: Mental Health and Substance Use Support Portal  – Government of Canada
  Wellness Together Canada provides tools and resources to help get Canadians back on track. These include modules for addressing low mood, worry, substance use, social isolation and relationship issues.
• COVID-19: Mental Health Resources – Librarianship.ca
  A list of resources to help manage your mental health and to respond to anxiety during the COVID-19 crisis.
• Manage Anxiety & Stress – Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  Resources and advice on managing anxiety and stress related to the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• Talking to Children about COVID-19 – Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  Guidance for parents, family members, school staff, and other trusted adults to help children make sense of what they hear about COVID-19 and ways they can avoid getting and spreading the disease.
• COVID-19 Mental Health Resources for Kids and Teens – Kids Help Phone
  Mental health resources for kids and teens
• Mental Health Tips – MIND UK
  Multilingual, downloadable mental health tips for managing anxiety and stress related to the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

• COVID-19 School Library Brief For School Boards In Ontario – Ontario School Library Association
  This brief provides guidance on circulating school library materials. Updated November 2020.
• Statement on the Role of School Libraries During the Pandemic (September 23, 2020) – Canadian School Libraries(CSL)
• COVID-19 Crisis Teacher Diary – 49th Kids for Teachers
  A blog series that takes a look at how teachers are coping with the pandemic
• Education Resources in the Pandemic – People for Education
  People for Education is regularly updating this page with articles, papers and reports from education experts on innovative approaches to education policy, planning, equity and access.

• Ontario Public Services Health and Safety Association: Guidance During COVID-19 For Library Employers (July 17, 2020), Federation of Ontario Public Libraries (FOPL)
• Pick-Up and Delivery Services: Guidance for Public Libraries  (May, 2020) Federation of Ontario Public Libraries (FOPL), Ontario Library Service – North (OLS-N), and Southern Ontario Library Services (SOLS)
  This document provides guidance and options for Public Libraries as they develop their local procedures for curbside pick-up.
• Annual Institute on the Library as Place Conversation Series – Ontario Library Association
  The Annual Institute on Library as Place cannot take place in person during summer 2020 as planned, so OLA is pulling together a series of conversations and virtual events. Materials will be provided after these events.
• COVID-19 Resources for Public Libraries – Southern Ontario Library Services (SOLS)
  Resources intended to help library staff and Boards developing response plans and to use in public service.
• Options on How to Hold Upcoming Library Board Meetings – OLBA
  This matrix outlines options for holding board meetings during this time.
• Virtual messaging and programming ideas for library physical closures – Federation of Ontario Public Libraries (FOPL)
• Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Resources for Libraries  – Librarianship.ca
  For nation-wide updates and resources on libraries managing the coronavirus.
• What Public Libraries Need To Know About the Coronavirus – Library Journal
  Library Journal has created a list or resources to help educate the public about viruses and infectious diseases in general, as well as databases, which include helpful information for education about COVID-19. This resource is working to supply authoritative information for patrons of libraries, to prevent the spread of misinformation, and help educate patrons so they can be a partner in the overall health and safety of the library.
• Stay Informed: Federation of Ontario Public Libraries Updates

Ontario Public Library Response to COVID-19 (2020)
This survey report summarizes Ontario Public Libraries’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020.

• Full report
• Large font graphics
• Full survey responses

Ontario School Library Responses to COVID-19 (2020)

This slide deck summarizes the findings from OSLA’s Ontario School Library Response to COVID-19 Survey in spring 2020.

Examples of Public Libraries responding to COVID-19:

• Responses from Public Libraries compiled by Southern Ontario Library Services (SOLS)
• COVID-19 Innovations in Ontario’s Public Libraries. Compiled by Federation of Ontario Public Libraries (FOPL)
• Canadian Libraries Respond to COVID-19 – compiled by Librarianship.ca

Learn About COVID-19

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)  – Government of Canada
  Find daily updates and news on the Coronavirus disease in Canada.
• The 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)  – Government of Ontario
  Find daily updates and news on the Coronavirus disease in Ontario.
• Community-based measures to mitigate the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Canada  – The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
  Guidance for federal/provincial/territorial (F/P/T) public health authorities (PHA) on the use of public health measures (PHM) to reduce and delay transmission of COVID-19 in the community, in collaboration with Canadian public health experts has developed this.
• COVID-19: Keeping safe during the pandemic – Workplace Safety and Prevention Services

Shareable Resources

• COVID-19 Public Resources – Public Health Ontario
  A collection of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) fact sheets on self-isolation and self monitoring
• Clean Hands and Covering Coughs – Thunder Bay District Health Unit
  This website contains multilingual posters on keeping hands clean (hand hygiene) and covering coughs and sneezes (respiratory etiquette) to prevent the spread of infections
• Hand Hygiene – City of Toronto
  This website has multiple resources on hand hygiene that includes posters on hand washing, hand sanitizer use, and coughing. These posters are available in multiple languages and can be downloaded or printed for use by patrons and staff.