Leaders from the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, the Cincinnati Museum Center, opens a new window, YMCA, opens a new window, and the Cincinnati Recreation Commission, opens a new window (CRC) have joined together to share a collective announcement about what each organization is doing individually and what we can all do collectively as a community.
“Our number one priority is the safety of our customers, staff, and our community,” said Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Library Director Paula Brehm-Heeger, underscoring that these organizations are all second responders meaning “we fully understand our central role in providing normalcy, continuity, comfort, and hope to our community in these unprecedented and challenging times.”
Brehm-Heeger highlighted the ways the Library’s eBranch, opens a new window is helping community members stay connected to the resources and materials from the Library. She also highlighted the continuation of our after school meals program, opens a new window.
“As the community pulls together to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re all joining in this effort. We’re keeping in constant communication with those of us featured in this video and with our community partners across the region to share information and resources, and when possible, coordinate services for the community.”
Jorge Perez, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati emphasized that the YMCA will continue providing childcare to first responders, offering food distribution, and streaming workout videos for folks at home.
“We’re all vacillating between afraid and trying to understand what’s going on,” Perez said. “[…] A lot of the things we’re doing right now—wiping our hands, making sure we’re not touching things, we’re not touching our faces, social distancing—that these are all preventative measures much like the way we put on a seat belt when we get in a car. We shouldn’t be afraid of pf those things. Those are all things we’re doing right now to keep us and our community safe.”
At the Cincinnati Museum Center, Wonder Zone videos for creating science in your own kitchen, digital collections, blog posts and more are available at cincymuseum.org. “We’re a resilient community,” said President and CEO Elizabeth Pierce. “We will come through this and there will be innovation and excitement on the other side.”
At the Cincinnati Recreation Commission (CRC), some locations are providing resources and shelter for people experiencing homelessness, and meals for vulnerable citizens like kids and senior citizens who rely on the CRC for their nutritional health. The CRC also plans to start live streaming cultural arts, fitness, and wellness programs soon.
“Stay safe. Stay calm. Follow the CDC guidelines around staying healthy and stay out of harm's way as it relates to this pandemic,” said Daniel Betts, Director of the CRC.
As our community partners note, we’re all in this together. And we’re here for you.
For the latest Library service updates and resources, please visit our COVID-19 resource page, opens a new window.
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