UofL Libraries: COVID-19: Public Libraries

Resources for Public Libraries

This page collects free COVID-19 resources that may be particularly useful to individuals working in public libraries and the users of public libraries. In particular, it highlights resources from the National Library of Medicine (NLM).

For Librarians - NLM Resources

Global Health Events Archive - Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak
The Global Health Archive documents the web presence of health-related events in government, journalism, and more. This includes over 6,200 webpages related to COVID-19.
LitCovid
LitCovid is a collection of COVID-19 citations from the scientific literature. Citations are organized by research area: general, mechanism, transmission, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, case report, and forecasting. Most full text articles are available for free.
Funding Opportunities
NNLM offers a variety of opportunities to libraries and other institutions working in health information. Kentucky-based institutions are eligible for funding in the "GMR" region.
Webinars
NNLM hosts a variety of free webinars, some on topics relevant to libraries during COVID-19. Many have recordings available.

Webinars of interest:

For Librarians - Professional Organizations

American Library Association
A hub for COVID-19 information for librarians, with some emphasis on public libraries. Information includes funding opportunities, educational webinars, reopening guidance, and more.
Kentucky Library Association
Resources and Kentucky-specific updates from the Kentucky Library Association.
Medical Library Association
Information geared towards COVID-19 medical reference and medical librarianship. Resources include government information, information for healthcare workers, freely accessible COVID-19 research, and more.
Northeast Document Conservation Center
Best practices for disinfecting books and other collection materials.
Programming Librarian
Features a variety of ideas, news, and resources for librarians. Many of the topics covered, such as virtual programming, online resources, and misinformation, are relevant to libraries in the COVID-19 pandemic.

For Library Patrons - NLM Resources

MedlinePlus
MedlinePlus is a go-to resource for reliable health information.
clinicaltrials.gov
Check clinicaltrials.gov if you are interested in participating in a clinical trial for COVID-19 treatments or vaccines. Over 4,700 COVID-19 trials have been registered, and many are still active.
Evaluating Health Websites
There is a lot of information--and misinformation--about COVID-19 available. This page from the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) offers some tips for evaluating health-related websites.

Key pages from MedlinePlus:

Information from MedlinePlus in other languages:

COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019)
Information available in Amharic, Arabic, Burmese, Cape Verdean Creole (Kabuverdianu), Chinese (Mandarin), Chinese (Cantonese), Chuukese, Dari, Farsi, French, Haitian Creole, Hmong, Karen, Khmer, Kinyarwanda, Korean, Kunama, Lao, Marshallese, Nepali, Oromo, Pashto, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog (Filipino), Thai, Tigrinya (Tigrigna), Tongan, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, and Yiddish.
COVID-19 Vaccines
Information available in Arabic, Burmese, Chinese (Mandarin), Chinese (Cantonese), Chuukese, French, German, Gujarati, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Hmong, Khmer, Korean, Marshallese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog (Filipino), Vietnamese, and Yiddish.

For Library Patrons - Additional Information

Coronavirus Rumor Control
FEMA addresses rumors about COVID-19 and the government response to the pandemic.
Mythbusters
The WHO explains some of the myths and misconceptions circulated regarding COVID-19.
When and How to Use Masks
Information from the WHO on the proper use of masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
COVID-19 and Pregnancy
Information on COVID-19 for pregnant and breastfeeding people and parents of newborns.
Animals and COVID-19
Information from the CDC about the risk of COVID-19 infections and transmission in pets and other animals.
Telework Security Basics
Overview of cybersecurity precautions for telework. Many companies will have additional guidance for their remote workers.

For Library Patrons - COVID-19 Comics

COVID-19 Comics
Online comics about COVID-19. Topics covered include vaccines, social justice, caregiving, coping, and history. Target age groups vary.
My Hero Is You
Storybook aimed at helping children understand how they can help prevent COVID-19. Translations are available in dozens of languages.

For Library Patrons - Unemployment Help

General Unemployment Information
Information about federal unemployment benefits, including COVID-19 and unemployment.
Kentucky Unemployment Information
Information on unemployment in Kentucky.

For Everyone - COVID-19 Information Hubs

CDC COVID-19 Website
Contains frequently updated information on COVID-19, including emerging variants, and guidance for individuals, healthcare providers, businesses, and schools.
Team Kentucky
Official data, resources, and guidance for COVID-19 from the State of Kentucky.
Johns Hopkins Dashboard
Up-to-date data on COVID-19 cases and deaths from around the world. Data is reported at the county level for the United States.

For Everyone - Mental Health and Wellness

Coping with Stress
Contains information and resources for managing stress taking care of mental health during COVID-19.
Coronavirus Sanity Guide
Free podcasts and guided meditations from Ten Percent Happier. If you work in USPS, teaching, healthcare, grocery, or food delivery, you are able to download the complete app for free.
Headspace
Guided meditations and mental health information.
WRaP EM
WRaP EM is an organization dedicated to wellness and resilience in emergency medicine practice. Here they have collected resources for maintaining wellness during COVID-19 for healthcare workers.