New toolkit resources
- Mask policies: While mask-wearing policies continue to vary regionally in the United States, libraries, archives, and museums are navigating how to message, enact, and enforce them. This roundup features articles on topics ranging from legal implications to staff training to disability considerations and includes examples of current (and general customer service-oriented) mask policies.
- Volunteer and docent management: Challenging in the best of times, volunteer management has become even more complex during the pandemic. These resources explore strategies for keeping volunteers engaged and maintaining authentic and meaningful relationships while keeping everyone safe. As populations become more vaccinated, these examples may provide inspiration for continuing volunteer activities and relationships that are not reliant on physical space.
- Communication and signage: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed day-to-day life in unprecedented ways for many people. Employers and employees have played a critical role in helping to prevent further spread of the disease. A crucial aspect of this work lies in how we communicate to our staff and the public. These resources provide examples of relevant communication tools, including signage templates and COVID-19 communication guides.
Vaccines and variants research briefing
A new briefing, prepared by Battelle, looks at research available on vaccines and variants. This research focused on two key questions:
- What implications does SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in the United States have for public health interventions and policies, especially related to indoor environments?
- What differences have been found for SARS-CoV-2 variants (compared to the original strain) in the United States in terms of spread, transmissibility, surface attenuation, and effectiveness of public health interventions?
View the briefing
Webinar recording
The recording of the 15 April REALM webinar, “Understanding COVID-19 Vaccines,” is now available on demand. Panelists including Crosby Kemper, IMLS; Erica Kimmerling, Association of Science and Technology Centers; Amy Marino, Smithsonian; Elisabeth Wilhelm, CDC; and Kendra Morgan, OCLC, share information about vaccine education and addressing misinformation in the community, as well as an update on the REALM project research.
View the recording
