COVID-19

It's what everyone is talking about, right?

And the question now is, what do we do?

Next week is Fully Booked Week. We are busy decorating the story tent. We have our posters displayed. We are talking about our guest story tellers. We are getting everyone excited.

And we are also preparing ourselves for the disappointment in case school is closed.

Yes. We know that is the rumor, and we shouldn't worry about rumors, but this is a rumor that might become reality. So we have two preparations underway. The final countdown towards our biggest event of the year (with three modifications: the book fair vendor has been cancelled, the Thai publishing company is not coming, and the book swap books will be sprayed with a disinfecting mist) is in full swing! And we have had several library team meetings regarding our plans for ways to have online activities for students in the event we are closed.

Oh, just video some stories, you might think. It's not so simple! International copyright law is involved with the public performance/filming of stories. Everyone does it on You-Tube, you might say. Well, many publishing companies also send cease-and-desist letters and can take you to court for copyright violations. Since I am a role model on properly using sources of information, I do not think just posting a few stories is the responsible way to do things. We have other plans.

(Don't worry, there will be some ways we tell some stories. The library team is QUITE inventive and enthusiastic.)

We also will have activities for all our students. We have three different e-book platforms, weekly library lessons to be posted, and we are working with some year levels to collaborate on the projects they plan to assign students. All this involves timing, posting, filming, editing, and praying we are allowed on campus to make it all a bit easier.

Of course, the easiest course of action will be if school continues as normal.

I am, of course, an optimist.

Stay healthy. Wear a mask if it makes you feel better (just don't touch it). And keep washing your hands.