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During COVID-19

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A Note from the Director

Arms Library Director Laurie Wheeler
Photo by The Recorder/Paul Franz

March 28, 2020

A lot of us never thought we’d be in a situation like the spread of COVID-19. It used to seem like something that could only happen elsewhere. It’s real though, and people are adjusting to this time. For me, it’s been a time for thinking (about people and the human state), and a time of doing (helping out safely, with emergency volunteer and library activities.) A number of people are not doing their regular things. There are a lot walkers out, and at all times; there are a lot of people being friendlier, more than usual, from their appropriate distances of course. It’s scary, but there is healing going on, planetwide and personally.

On isolation … I delivered groceries and prescriptions to a friend yesterday; she wiped everything down that I had brought and placed on her porch. Then we talked. Well, I mostly listened, because I am a listener. Soon other neighbors came by the driveway and joined us. All of us kept our safe distances. I think that simply talking made us feel better. At a time when we need to isolate it’s even more important to find ways to be together and help each other.

(A group of librarians, the group leading the Community Read, Braiding Sweetgrass, met on Zoom last week to discuss how we’re handling these times. Each of us is figuring out ways to still interact with our people. We did come to the realization that this is a turning point for libraries and how they offer services. More on that in another note or on the Arms webpage.)

I’ve seen neighborhoods where fliers have been passed out giving the name and number of a resident who is offering to help anybody in their neighborhood. In my neighborhood we are connected virtually.

While we are dealing with the pandemic, you can call the Arms Library just to talk. I am not a great conversationalist, so I can’t promise a sparkling, witty chat, but we can touch base for a few minutes. Call the library at 413-625-0306 on Saturdays 10-12, Mondays 10-12, Wednesdays 10-12. We can just chat, or, I can try to answer questions, look up information online for you, or tell you how to download electronic media.

There is also a Volunteer Support Group, where community members who would like to, and are able to, help out with various community tasks, may do so. Contact Laurie (that’s me) at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Penny at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . We are working with the Town of Shelburne’s Emergency Task Force. As we firm up a list of contacts for the two groups I will post them here. I will also make postings of updates here. In the meantime, check the Town’s website at: https://www.townofshelburne.com/ for municipal updates.

There will be a list of links at armslibrary.org, which will list library, local, news and COVID-19 help resources. Things are so uncertain, food, entertainment, jobs, education, and relief from pressures; we don’t always know where to turn to get badly needed help. Check out the website or, again, call the library during the hours I listed. Check by mid-week, next week.

The Arms is closed until further notice, and all March and though mid-April programs have been cancelled. We can’t determine new dates right now.

The U.S. Census is still going on. The more of us they know are out here in Western Mass., the more Federal funds will come our way!

My very last thought for the day. I miss my people! Everyone who comes through the library is a treasure. I’m not even making that up. I know you’re not mine, exactly, but you are part of our community. And actually, it goes well beyond our library walls. I really love this place and care a lot about you all. I hope you are staying well, and seriously, if there is something I could do to help out, catch me by phone or email at the Arms. 413- 625-0306 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.