May 4, 2020
I hope this note finds you and yours well and finding new ways to successfully navigate this complex time. Please, if there is any way that we can be of support, do not hesitate to be in touch.
Two notes from me and then a really important note from the school’s outstanding librarians.
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Thank you to those of you who have joined me in the mornings for coffee and spirited conversation. From time to time I have had to miss these events and have not had a good way to inform you that I could not host the conversation on a particular morning. Going forward we will list these gatherings on the LREI@home calendar on the LREI@home Resource Page on LREI Connect. Hope to see you soon.
- I hope you can join me for a second community conversation on Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m. You can find a link to this conversation on the LREI@home resource page. I will share some thoughts about LREI@home and our planning for the coming months and will answer questions. If you have a question feel free to email me before Wednesday. If you like, you can simply respond to this communication.
May the Fourth Be With You,
Dear Families,
Greetings from your LREI Librarians! While we miss seeing all of you in the library, we have loved connecting with you and your children online through read alouds, storytimes, research classes, the parent book club, and reader’s advisory interviews.
Speaking of reader’s advisory, we have noticed that many families are looking for new reading material as we continue to navigate these extraordinary times. We want to highlight some online sources where you and your children can find your next great read.
Between LREI and the three public library systems of NYC (BPL, QPL, and NYPL — which covers Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island), a wealth of e- and audiobooks are available to each of you! The LREI collection (focused on grades 7 & up) is accessible via browser or through the free SORA app. All you need is a library ID number, which you will find printed on student ID cards, or that you can get by asking any member of our library team. Meanwhile, to access the vast collections of our public library systems, you just need a library card — and happily, all three systems have e-cards available for e-access! You can find more details about getting and using a digital library card on our enrichment guide.
All of these options allow for download to a computer or mobile device, and ebooks can also be sent to a Kindle or loaded onto any other simple e-reader like a Nook or a Kobo. If you haven’t yet dipped a toe into the waters of e-reading and want to discuss devices or anything else, Karyn has tested a number of different devices and would be happy to talk you through the options, and can also help with any questions related to accessing the LREI e-library on SORA.
Many additional digital book sources that are usually “subscription-only” have eliminated their fees for the duration of the quarantine. Books on these services are available in both audio and e-formats. Epic is currently offering a free month of access for families. They have over 40,000 titles and a great selection for ages 12 & under. Abdo has a large collection of non-fiction, also for ages 12 & under, and includes a selection of titles in Spanish as well. Junior Library Guild has opened up its vetted collection across all ages through May 31 and has an excellent high school collection in addition to materials for lower and middle school.
If you prefer print and you’re interested in purchasing books, this is a great time to support independent bookshops! Like your stalwart librarians, these bookshops are still available to you even though you might not be able to visit them physically. Bookshop is a one-stop shop for getting books delivered and for supporting independent bookshops (your local shop will profit from your purchase), and if you need to find out which indie bookstore is your local, Indiebound can connect you to these stores and help you find the print, audio and e-books you’re looking for.
Whether you are interested in getting or renewing a library card, checking out e- or audiobooks to a personal device, purchasing a physical book online, or just seeking guidance on what to read next, the LREI library team is here for you! You can email any of us with questions or to set up a Zoom appointment regarding any of these matters, we are eager to help.
Finally, stay tuned for the summer reading lists, which will be coming your way soon!