REALM Project

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Perspectives
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Resources > Perspectives from the field

Library, archives, and museum professionals share their experiences navigating the pandemic, the evolution of policies, and what's on the horizon.


REALM

REALM Symposium showcase

Updated: 07 December 2022

Innovative responses to community needs allowed for the continuation, adaptation, and expansion of services from cultural heritage institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a series of short videos, hear from these organizations on the range of programs and services they offered in their communities.

REALM

REALM Forum summaries

Updated: 15 April 2022

In early 2022 the REALM project hosted a series of online forums to foster discussion, knowledge sharing, and mutual support among those who work in and with the cultural heritage field. Summaries of these facilitated conversations are now available.

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Navigating changes and connections at the Connecticut Library Consortium

Updated: 7 December 2021

Amanda Stern is the events and special projects manager at the Connecticut Library Consortium, a statewide membership collaborative serving all types of Connecticut libraries by helping them strengthen their ability to serve their users. 

Photo of children playing and Carole Charnow inset

Pandemic challenges and learning outcomes from a regional library system

Updated: 7 December 2021

Monica Harris is the Associate Executive Director of RAILS (Reaching Across Illinois Library System), which serves approximately 1,300 academic, public, school, and special library agencies in northern and west-central Illinois. Monica shares the importance of making staff feel appreciated, adapting to meet evolving needs, and what she hopes the next year will look like.

Photo of children playing and Carole Charnow inset

An academic librarian shares how staff adapted to meet student needs

Updated: 18 November 2021

Jon Oakes is the technology labs coordinator for the San José State University Library, a combined public library and university library located in California. Jon shares his experiences during the pandemic, including adapting services to virtual, developing new skills, and connecting students with the library in a changed campus environment.

Photo of children playing and Carole Charnow inset

Reflections on the future of museum work

Updated: 14 October 2021

Starlyn D’Angelo is both the executive director of the Hart Cluett Museum shares how her experiences over the past 20 months have shaped what it means to do museum work, particularly at a county history museum and historic house.

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COVID-19 and curation: Creating a museum exhibit during a global pandemic

Updated: 7 October 2021

Amy McKune from the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures (Kansas City, MO) shares how they transformed their exhibits during the pandemic and what changes she thinks will continue into the future.

Photo of children playing and Carole Charnow inset

One year later: Perspectives from the field

Updated: 21 September 2021

In a series of short videos, leaders in the library, archives and museum community share the experience of their organizations navigating through the pandemic, the evolution of policies and what's on the horizon.

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Library perspectives: REALM and reopening (videos)

Updated: 17 December 2020

In a series of short videos, staff members from the Denver Public Library, Jefferson College Library, and the Johnson County Library share their pandemic experiences and how they have used REALM research to inform local decision-making.