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Mandel Public Library expands outreach: mobile service, eliminated fines and fake-news literacy resources
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Summary
Library leaders described new outreach measures including a Mandel Mobile van, elimination of overdue fines, curbside and park outreach, fake-news guides and enhanced e-book collections for civic topics.
The Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach described expanded outreach and civic-literacy work during an FIU panel, saying staff pivoted services during the COVID-19 pandemic to reach residents who were reluctant to return to the building. Lisa Hathaway, director of the Mandel Public Library, said the library secured an IMLS grant to fund a Mandel Mobile van that brings library services into underserved neighborhoods.
“We actually have a Mandel Mobile, which is a hybrid minivan that's now going into our underserved communities,” Lisa Hathaway said. She said services delivered by the van include Chromebook and mobile-hotspot checkout, help with rental-assistance forms in partnership with Housing and Community Development, homework help, and other programs for families.
Hathaway said the library eliminated overdue fines to remove a barrier to access and adjusted circulation processes (automated renewals) to make services easier for older residents. She also described the library’s civic-literacy programming: voter-registration drives, a curated electronic book collection related to the Black Lives Matter movement while the building was closed, and short videos to help patrons distinguish real news from fake media and misinformation.
Panelists said the library is collaborating with Parks and Recreation, the housing department and ArtLife to bring programs into neighborhoods and to host art in library spaces. Hathaway encouraged students and volunteers to participate in library programming and noted the library’s website, wpbcitylibrary.org, as a resource for schedules and volunteer opportunities.
