We often refer to libraries as “safe havens.” That is certainly what our colleagues in Texas are now providing for their communities.

While many are still assessing the damage to their own facilities, they’re reaching out to find ways to serve their customers.

                                                              As Hurricane Harvey battered Texas, two Houston libraries were used as temporary shelters for displaced residents.  This week, the library system will reopen 19 of it’s 42 branches to offer customers free Wi-Fi and assistance filling out applications or FEMA forms.  They’ll also provide yoga classes, family-friendly movies, books, games and crafts.  Library archivists will also lend a hand, showing people how to preserve family photos, books, and memorabilia that may have been damaged in the floods.

In neighboring Harris County, library officials set up a pop-up library inside an evacuation shelter.   Librarians held story time for kids, brought a 3D printer to conduct a STEM program, and even provided laptops for people to contact their loved ones.  This week, Harris County has also opened nearly two dozens of its public libraries for emergency relief services.

Libraries are the centers of many communities. And in Galveston, neighbors, staff and volunteers showed up to help clear the water from the Rosenberg Library after the storm.

The response to the disaster also showed how much people can accomplish when they work together. Library staff, volunteers, neighbors, and community members each played a role in helping others recover and restoring important services. Recognizing these contributions can help highlight the value of teamwork and the individuals who step forward when their communities need support. Looking at examples of peer reviews can also offer useful inspiration for acknowledging the efforts and contributions of people working alongside one another.

Whether someone is helping organize emergency services, supporting displaced families, or assisting with the recovery of a damaged facility, their contribution deserves to be noticed. Thoughtful recognition can strengthen morale, encourage continued cooperation, and remind people that their efforts have a meaningful impact on the wider community.

 

So many facilities have been destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Harvey.  As libraries look to rebuild, the Texas Library Association has set up a Disaster Relief Fund.               You can donate here.