Bethlehem Library Notes for Saturday, June 20, 2020

We’re living through a historic moment of the 21st Century. It won’t be long before a new generation will ask, “What was living through the pandemic like?”

The library would like to collect your recent memories of life during quarantine. Write about it, or send images, audio, or video. Tell us about your personal experience and any details that are meaningful to you, even if it’s just one incident. (“Everything still seemed normal to me until I went down the paper-goods aisle in the grocery store, and all the shelves were empty.”) 

You can submit your thoughts and photos using a form on our website (www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/quarantine-memories-archive) or email them directly to: . By submitting your quarantine narrative and any attachments, you hereby grant unrestricted use to Bethlehem Public Library. Your contact information will not be made public.

Here are some questions to get you thinking about your quarantine memories:

— How did the look of your neighborhood change?

— What was the impact on events that you had already planned for?

— How did you keep in touch with people you normally saw on a regular basis?

— Did you lose touch or reconnect with anyone as a result of quarantine?

— If you worked from home, what was that like?

— How easy or difficult was it to manage emotions, and anxiety?

JobNow

JobNow can help you get back to work.

The coronavirus pandemic and stay-at-home order has upended the job market. During this time, we are working hard to bring together the resources our community needs to help them get back to work.

We have recently added JobNow by Brainfuse to our research and database collection (www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/webapps/research.asp). This powerful job tool features up-to-date nationwide and local job search engines, professional résumé critique and proven interview techniques, along with live job coaching from 2 to 10 p.m. daily.

It’s like a personalized career center that uses advanced virtual technology to help job seekers of diverse backgrounds and needs.

In addition to JobNow, the library has compiled a list of local and national employment and training opportunities, as well as unemployment information, to help you take that next step. Visit www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/workforce-development-resources.

Curbside pick-up, returns

You can now arrange a curbside pickup at the library by placing items on hold through our online catalog. When you receive a notification that one or more of your items are ready, you can stop by the library from 2 to 6 p.m. weekdays to pick them up.

Once at the library, give us a call at 518-439-9314 and press 5. A staffer will assist you. Visit www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/curbside-pickup for more information.

You may now drop off your library materials 24/7 using the designated gray sheds in our parking lot. Please note that items will be sequestered for at least 72 hours and will not show up as “returned” in your account right away. There are no fines or late fees at this time.

Summer reading

Sign up at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org for the Summer Reading Challenge for adults, teens, and children. Once you sign up, you can get started checking off your reading milestones right away!