Cobb County libraries take
new shape in era of COVID-19
By Ryan Kolakowski
Libraries are an entrenched staple and public service in Cobb
County, but the county’s 16 public libraries have been forced to
adapt in the era of COVID-19.
When the coronavirus swept across the United States in
March 2020, libraries joined the many public spaces that closed
their doors in order to mitigate the spread of the virus. The pandemic
also shuttered the 2020 Cobb County Library Book Sale,
initially scheduled for mid-March. With typical library service
— book and media checkouts, computers and internet access
— shuttered due to the pandemic, libraries pivoted to promote
virtual learning materials.
Throughout 2020, Cobb County’s public libraries offered
several virtual events like the Page Turners Book Group, the
School Age Book Chat, the iCraft Preschool Craft Program, the
Role Playing Game Club and more. Libraries also hosted virtual
storytime events, virtual photos challenges, virtual music events
and virtual summer camps. Even as libraries began to reopen
their doors to patrons, many clubs and other meetings continue
to meet online into August.
Some of the summer camps available to Cobb’s kids included
the East Cobb Code Ninjas, a virtual program teaching the fundamentals
of block coding to kids between the ages of seven and
10. The Virtual Girls Who Code Club, a free program that meets
on Saturday afternoons from August to December, aims to close
the gender gap in technology.
When students returned to school in August, Cobb County’s
libraries offered a variety of services and learning resources. In
the Cobb County School District and Marietta City Schools,
134 FACTBOOK 2021
students started the academic year online only due to the pandemic,
and the library offered resources to help ease the transition
to a virtual classroom.
Through Cobb’s libraries, students can check out books in
person or access free digital resources online. The library offers
eBooks, eAudiobooks, comics, newspapers, magazines, video
streaming, databases and other virtual resources. Through the
library website, www.cobbcat.org, families can access age-specific
resources and websites for elementary school, middle school
and high school students. The library also promotes websites
that may be helpful to parents and teachers.
Students can also use the library to access “free, one-to-one,
on demand tutoring with TutorATL.” The tutoring service
provides tutoring to metro Atlanta students, and it has expert
teachers in more than 50 subjects.
Cobb County reopened book drops at public libraries on
May 26, 2020, the first phase of library reopenings. More than a
month later, seven of Cobb County’s public libraries reopened
for limited in-person services on Monday, July 6, 2020. Other
libraries reopened for curbside pickup service in August.
At the time of library reopenings in summer of 2020, staff
screened all guests with a temperature check and strongly
encouraged the wearing of masks and face coverings. Upon
reopening, patrons could browse and check out material, pick
up holds, use public computers, complete the Census and more.
However, they could not lounge in seating areas or use study
and meeting rooms.
Cline Graham of east Cobb searches for a book at Mountain View Regional
Library. The library was one of seven in Cobb County to reopen to visitors
Monday. - Shannon Ballew
EDUCATION
Amy Albers restocks books at Mountain View Regional Library in east Cobb.
- Shannon Ballew
/www.cobbcat.org