Aging in (Third) Place | Philadelphia Autism Project | Computational Thinking FOR KIDS | Makerspace DESIGN PublicLibraries A PUBLICATION OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION JULY / AUGUST 2020 INTERESTED IN LIBRARY SOCIAL WORK TOPICS? JOIN THE PLA SOCIAL WORK INTEREST GROUP fullpageconnect.ala.org ad page C02 JULY / AUGUST 2020 VOLUME 59 NUMBER 4 Contents PUBLICLIBRARIESONLINE.ORG ISSN 0163-5506 Columns FEATURES 2 16 22 FROM THE EDITOR The Wired Library Aging in (Third) Place KATHLEEN M. HUGHES Public Computer and with Public Libraries Internet Access in the NICOLE DALMER, MERIDITH GRIFFIN, 3 Time of COVID-19 KAITLIN WYNIA BALUK, AND JAMES GILLETT FROM THE PRESIDENT NICK TANZI Reimagining the Library for a New World 19 32 MICHELLE JESKE THE BIG IDEA Cooking with May the ZOOM Be with Confidence 6 You! Partnering to Support PLA NEWS KEVIN KING Teenagers and Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum 9 66 MI-YEET WONG, CAITY RIETZEN, By the Book ELIZABETH FITZGERALD, CLAIRE EDISJ MATTERS RICHARDSON, DISHA UPPAL, AND Reimagining the Library Community Voice LINDSAY SHEA as Third Place A Conversation with Cyns Nelson CHRISTINA FULLER-GREGORY CATHARINE HAKALA-AUSPERK 44 Making the 12 72 Connection BEST PRACTICES info-graphic Computational Thinking and Libraries and Virtual Third Libraries Respond Early Learning for Young Spaces after COVID-19 to COVID-19 Children and Their Families KRISTA RIGGS KATHLEEN CAMPANA, CLAUDIA HAINES, JACQUELINE KOCIUBUK, AND PAULA LANGSAM 58 Design Thinking in Public Library Extras Makerspaces STACEY FORSYTH, KATHRYN PENZKOVER, PHYLLIS DAVIS, AND IAN MATTY 4 ADVERTISER INDEX 11 Public libraries online ON THE COVER: ARTWORK BY Elle Maxwell/ADOBE STOCK EDITORIAL EDITOR: Kathleen M. Hughes From the Editor CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Catherine Hakala-Ausperk, Kevin King, Krista Riggs, Nick Tanzi Kathleen M. Hughes / [email protected] ADVISORY COMMITTEE Kimberly Knight, Chesapeake (VA) Public Library (chair); Keturah Cappadonia, Southern Tier Library System (NY); Mary Ellen Icaza, Stark County (OH) Public Library; Theresa Jehlik, Omaha (NE) Public Library; James Jones, Broward County (FL) Library; Kathleen is currently reading A Bookshop in Berlin Melanie Lyttle, Madison (WI) Public Library; Theresa Mayer, King by Françoise Frenkel. County (WA) Library System; Alison McCarty, Jacksonville (FL) Public Library; Holly Okuhara, Weber County (UT) Library System; Kristine Springer, St. Joseph County (IN) Public Library; Allison Stevens, Calhoun County (AR) Library PLA PRESIDENT: Michelle Jeske, Denver City Librarian, Public Library Transformation [email protected] PUBLIC LIBRARIES (ISSN 0163-5506) is published bimonthly by the American Library Association (ALA), 225 N. Michigan Ave., s I write this, the COVID-19 pandemic rages on Suite 1300, Chicago, IL 60601-7616. It is the official publication of and social unrest continues to shine a spotlight on the Public Library Association, a division of ALA. Subscription price: to members of PLA, $25 a year, included in membership dues; Apolice brutality and racial inequality. Most librar- to nonmembers: US $65; Canada $75; all other countries $75. Single ies are currently providing services to their patrons in a copies, $10. Periodicals postage paid at Chicago, IL, and at additional mailing offices. limited capacity, while dedicated to meeting the needs of POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES, their communities in safe yet innovative ways. 225 N. MICHIGAN AVE., SUITE 1300, CHICAGO, IL 60601-7616. While it may not be a physical possibility right now, SUBSCRIPTIONS some of the articles in this issue focus on the library as Nonmember subscriptions, orders, changes of address, and inquiries third place. You’ll find considerations for transforming the should be sent to Public Libraries, Subscription Department, American Library Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1300, library into a new third place that ensures we aren’t leaving Chicago, IL 60601-7616; 1-800-545-2433, press 5; fax: (312) 944-2641; anyone behind (EDISJ Matters, p. 9); ideas for library as a [email protected]. virtual third place in Best Practices (p. 12); and shifting the ADVERTISING For advertising information, visit www.ala.org/pla/publications/ conversation about the library as third place to the library advertise or e-mail Matt McLaughlin, [email protected]. as an integral part of the social infrastructure in the feature PRODUCTION & DESIGN “Aging in (Third) Place with Public Libraries” (p. 22). ALA Production Services We also dive into a few exciting initiatives and ideas in MANUSCRIPTS our other feature articles. Take a look at “Cooking with See www.pla.org for submission instructions. For queries/questions, contact Kathleen Hughes, [email protected]. Confidence: Partnering to Support Teenagers and Young INDEXING/ABSTRACTING Adults on the Autism Spectrum” (p. 32); “Making the Con- Public Libraries is indexed in Library Literature and Current Index nection: Computational Thinking and Early Learning for to Journals in Education (CIJE), in addition to a number of online services. Contents are abstracted in Library and Information Science Young Children and Their Families” (p. 44); and “Design Abstracts. Thinking in Public Library Makerspaces” (p. 58). Public Libraries is indexed, abstracted, and available in full text through EBSCOhost. For more information, contact EBSCO at The main theme that emerges from this issue, while also 1-800-653-2726. reflecting on the current zeitgeist, is one of transformation. Public Libraries is also available from ProQuest Information and As PLA President Michelle Jeske points out in her column Learning. For more information, call 1-800-521-0600, ext. 2888, or visit www.il.proquest.com. (p. 3), these times are actually an opportunity for libraries. © 2020 by the American Library Association Jeske says, “The opportunity is here to transform ourselves All materials in this journal are subject to copyright by the and our libraries to truly work with—not for—our commu- American Library Association and may be photocopied for the noncommercial purpose of scientific or educational advancement nities. Together, we can dream of and work toward a better granted by Sections 107 and 108 and just society.” of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. For other reprinting, I sincerely hope this issue of Public Libraries leaves you photocopying, or translating, address requests to the ALA feeling hopeful and excited about the possibilities and Office of Rights and Permissions, opportunities that exist for public libraries as we navigate 225 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1300, Chicago, IL 60601-7616. these unprecedented challenges together. PL 2 PUBLIC LIBRARIES VOLUME 59 NUMBER 4 FROM THE PRESIDENT FROM FROM THE PRESIDENT Reimagining the Library for a New World Michelle Jeske / [email protected] Michelle is Denver City Librarian, Denver (CO) Public Library. Michelle is currently reading Intimations by Zadie Smith. ust a few months ago, before them). This has been nec- jobs in the financial fallout. Too some of us participated essary and tumultuous. many Black people have suffered Jin PLA’s excellent confer- Library staff are reeling from all far too long in a white suprema- ence in Nashville. Shortly after of this and more. There is so much cist culture. Too many people of that, a devastating tornado hit uncertainty, almost an unbearable color have been oppressed by our Nashville, and before we knew amount of pain, and it is natural to racist policies and systems. All of it, COVID-19 had hit most of our wonder where all this is leading. this and more is why we are chal- communities. Personally, I had to How will our nation heal? How lenged in this moment to grow, quickly transition from the high will our cities, towns, and counties act, and change. of introducing Samantha Bee as recover? How will our community We have talked about transfor- our closing conference speaker members survive? How will our mation in libraries but how far to the low of leading my library library staff persevere? How will have we really gone? We have the team in an historic shutdown in we come together when we often opportunity to seize this moment response to this pandemic. stand so divided? These questions as individuals and as libraries. On the heels of that, my library, could be asked of all the crises we While opening back up is import- like many across the nation, is are facing—health, financial, cul- ant and challenging, there is facing staggering budget cuts at a tural, and political. more to discuss than how and time when our community needs This is certainly an historic when to do curbside pickup. PLA us more than ever. Now, just as moment on multiple levels and can assist with this. As it turns we’re preparing to phase in our we have the opportunity to step out, the first goal listed in PLA’s in-person services, our commu- up as individuals and libraries to Strategic Plan is “Transforma- nity members have taken to the meet the challenge. I say that tion: PLA advances public librar- streets for weeks protesting the fully recognizing how difficult ies’ transformation from a library horrific killings of George Floyd, this moment is. Too many people focus to a community focus, to Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna have lost their lives to this virus. meet the specific needs of people Taylor (and many that came Too many people have lost their and communities.” PUBLIC LIBRARIES JULY / AUGUST 2020 3 From the President / Reimagining the Library for a New World I have more questions than Unemployment has hit people of anti-racism? It’s not enough to answers and I’m sure you have color the hardest. We’re also see- make a statement. We must take many you could add. How will ing increasing racist sentiments action. What does that look like in we pivot our services and and actions, aimed particularly your library, in your community? resources to meet the changed toward Asian communities. At the I’m asking myself these same needs of our community? What same time, we continue to see questions.