Aug. 31, 2021

The library began turning on a dime in March 2020, when its classes and readings and so forth had to go digital if they were to reach outside the lockdown.

Hannah Terrell this morning shared with Forum participants some of what that’s meant for an institution, once focused on circulating literature and magazines on paper, that now is a long-hours educator serving individuals all over the Internet.

Terrell emphasized that the Beatties Ford Road building is open to visitors, with certain restrictions. She noted other things: upcoming events, including a November fund-raiser; its new head librarian; and the plans to let residents say goodbye to the North Tryon main branch that will close this fall. During the roughly three years before a replacement building opens, some but perhaps not all of the main library’s physical collection will circulate to the branches. And, of course, the digital archives will remain available.

Terrell is regional branch manager for the Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library on Beatties Ford Road. Explaining the Living Archives Project was Christina Heggins, project manager for an effort to save for later generations writings, materials and taped interviews about the impact of COVID-19.

Below is a video of this morning’s presentation. Below the video are slides shown during the presentation. The slides in a PDF file may be downloaded here.