|
Welcome to Your New Home Library
|
|
|
Education and Entertainment, 24/7 - RPL has you covered! As we continue to self-isolate, electronic resources are becoming more important for work, fun, and mental health. Parents need resources for their little learners, teens need creative outlets and stories, and everyone needs to blow off steam or learn new skills. It's a stressful time, but Richmond Public Library has your back!
We have always provided free access to quality content of all kinds, and the current global situation doesn't change what we do for our patrons. As librarians, we are eager to find new ways to give everyone the best content available, no matter what you're looking for. Below, you will find resources and information gathered by the librarians from across the Richmond Public Library system, and crafted for different age groups. We've also included a clickable table of contents, so you can skip to a section that interests you most.
|
Don't worry, the e-card is here to save the day! By clicking this link or the images to the right, you will have access to all of our digital holdings (except for a few subscriptions which are unfortunately on-site only). Answer a few questions and you will instantly be given access to a treasure trove of materials, enough to keep you busy, entertained, and enlightened for as long as this shutdown lasts (and then some)!
|
|
|
Richmond Public Library- Our libraries closed on March 14, and will remain closed until further notice.
- All meeting and study rooms, as well as events and classes, are closed through June 10, 2020.
- We are asking borrowers to hold on to their checked out materials for the time being; due dates are extended to May 15, 2020.
- Anything that's on our hold shelves will be there when we reopen for you! You may continue to place holds on materials, but items won't yet be pulled.
- At this time, book donations are not being accepted.
- Since March 23, RPL has a live chat reference service! Patrons can ask questions 24/7 via text or email, and can also chat with a librarian in real-time during weekdays from 10am to 6pm. There is a Spanish language option as well!
For up-to-date information on RPL, please visit our website at rvalibrary.org
|
Fun And Educational Things For Kids (And Parents, Too) Undoubtedly, your social media feeds and email inboxes are overflowing with information about various websites and apps that could be helpful to use while kids are out of school. Some are educational, some are informative, some are just plain fun! At first, we were thrilled to know we had access to so much; but then we were overwhelmed because there was SO MUCH. With so much happening at once, it can be a real task figuring out what to click and what to pass on. That’s why we have been whittling down the available resources to the ones we think are top notch and could be most helpful during this time.
|
|
|
Distance Learning resources for parents, teachers, and caregivers from the SmithsonianThe Smithsonian is committed to supporting teachers and their students around the globe as they face unprecedented new learning challenges. Here, on the Learning Lab, you have access to millions of digital resources from across the Smithsonian's museums, research centers, libraries, archives, and more. You will also find pre-packaged collections that contain lessons, activities, and recommended resources made by Smithsonian museum educators as well as thousands of classroom teachers.
|
Storytime Shorts with your favorite RPL Children's Librarians!Missing your favorite storytimes at your local branch library? Now you can watch our Children's Librarians read a story! We missed storytimes so much that we started recording them and putting them on YouTube for all of our families to watch. Go here to see the list - we will be adding storytimes every Friday morning!
|
|
|
Support for Helpers During the Coronavirus by the Fred Rogers Center Reorganizing daily life is not easy, but we are grateful to watch the world make efforts large and small to protect vulnerable people. Here are resources from the Fred Rogers Center and their partner organizations for those of you looking for ways to create learning opportunities and structure for children. Be sure to follow their social media pages where they share reminders and resources from Mister Rogers about what children may need from the adults in their lives during these uncertain times.
|
If You Wish Upon A Star...Let's be honest, the adults have been going to a lot of cool virtual places lately, but what about kids? Disneyland and Disney World might be closed, but you can still experience their rides online! This list includes favorites such as Space Mountain and It's A Small World, along with new attractions like Frozen Ever After. So skip the line and click on the links now!
|
|
|
Teens, we know you've been social-distancing for a long time (texting, Snapchat, online gaming). You've probably got a wealth of things to keep you busy while you're at home. But, just in case you need some NEW ideas, here are a few of our suggestions Plus, remember to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with all the changing news and great ideas to get creative while we self-isolate.
|
Ever wish that your favorite movies or tv shows turned out differently? You're not alone! Out on the internet, there are a lot of stories written by other fans like you, called fanfiction. While we can't recommend all fanfiction (it is the internet, after all), Wattpad is a website where you can upload fanfiction or original fiction and collaborate with other authors. A lot of actual published authors have started out on this site. And even if you aren't into writing your own fiction, we're pretty sure you'll have tons of fun reading stories written by others.
|
|
|
Death Note. Boruto. Sailor Moon. Bleach. If you're into anime or manga, Viz is the site for you! They have a lot of titles on this site, and many of them are free to read or watch. They do have a subscription option (that costs $2 a month) which allows you to view all the content on the site. But, on a free subscription, you only have to wait a few days to be able to read or watch the latest chapters/episodes!
|
Need more Harry Potter in your life? You're in luck, because Hogwarts is Here! You can join this site and take actual Harry Potter themed classes, like potions or Defense Against the Dark Arts. They even have teachers that will grade your essays and quizzes. And if that's not what you're into, they also have forums where you can roleplay or just chat about Harry Potter and other non-topic things. Interacto Websitus!
|
|
|
It seems like everyone is on Animal Crossing these days! And while we can't get you a Nintendo Switch, we have a different kind of digital animal for you. In Marapets, you create a virtual pet and basically take care of it by playing minigames to earn coins to spend on food/other upgrades. There's a huge world to explore as well, and a giant community that interacts over the trading post (where players can trade or sell various items) and the forums. Log in, pick out your new cuddly friend, and get started!
|
Fresh stuff to read, watch, or listen to on Hoopla and OverDrive!
|
|
Take a Digital Trip, Learn a Skill, Make the Most of Your Social Distancing!
Self-isolation doesn't have to be boring! One of the lessons we're learning in this whole coronavirus outbreak is that there are so many things to learn and do at home. Whether it's taking an online tour of a museum, streaming a concert, or making some art of your own, you can easily distract yourself with these and many other online tools. And make sure to see below for a sampling of our e-book and e-audiobook selections.
|
|
|
¡Hola!Guten Tag! Здравствуйте! However you say "Hello," there are always new ways to learn and new people for us to communicate with. Now that so many people are holding meetings online, we have an amazing opportunity to really learn about the rest of our global community. Through the subscription to Transparent Language Online, you have an opportunity to learn new languages from the comfort of your own couch. By clicking here or the image to the left, you can start learning one of dozens of languages today!
|
While we're all at home, it's easy for us to fall off our routines, especially regarding our physical fitness. Thankfully, Sports Backers' Fitness Warriors has put together a video playlist of workouts, so you can workout with your favorite trainers while you continue to self-isolate. It's a hard fought battle, but we're all trying to avoid gaining those COVID-19lbs!
|
|
|
This one is important: how do you know whether the news story you just saw about ways to prevent COVID-19 is real? There are a lot of stories out there, and who has time to run to the CDC's website or Snopes every 5 minutes? That's where NewsGuard comes in. An extension available for most internet browsers, Newsguard adds little icons next to your Google search results, letting you know at a glance if the information usually presented there is trustworthy. Normally it's a paid service, but until July 1 they are offering it for free, in order to combat fake news.
|
We've digitally toured museums and had virtual concerts, let's take it to the great (online) outdoors! Google Arts and Culture has teamed up with the National Park Service to bring you tours of five gorgeous National Parks: Kenai Fjords, Hawai'i Volcanoes, Carlsbad Caverns, Bryce Canyon, and Dry Tortugas. These parks feature different climates and environments from across the country, including famous desert vistas and snowy terrains. So grab your hiking boots and have a seat while we enjoy some virtual walking through America's finest scenery.
|
|
|
Our Online Services are Always Open! Now is the time to charge that tablet or Kindle like never before.
With all of our branches closed, it can feel like a book lover's nightmare. Never fear, e-books and e-audiobooks are here to rescue you from total self-isolation! Want to browse the collection for yourself? Click the icons below to go directly to our Overdrive (Libby) and Hoopla pages or download the apps to your e-devices.
|
E-Books (Available via OverDrive)
|
|
E-Audiobooks, Movies, & Music (Available via Hoopla)
|
|
E-Audiobooks from RBDigital
|
|
|
|
|
|