In a May 2021 article in American Libraries Magazine, “A Shot in the Arm: Libraries Serve as COVID-19 vaccination sites,” Cass Balzer writes on how libraries have become centers for vaccination efforts.
“This is a really good opportunity for us to show people that almost anything can happen at your library, including this.”
This continues a trend of libraries assuming broader roles in the community and in public health, beyond their brick-and-mortar buildings. As Balzer writes, libraries in 2020 offered a wide variety of public health assistance, taking on the roles of manufacturing PPE, serving as COVID-19 testing sites, and becoming donation hubs for food pantries. In 2021 that role now includes becoming essential centers for the vaccination effort.
Locally, Balzer writes, the Schenectady County Public Library (SCPL)’s Central Library became a vaccination site beginning in January 2021. Not only has the building been used for vaccination appointments, but library workers have also pivoted their roles toward contributing directly to the vaccination effort. They have been unloading necessary inventory, providing equipment such as laptops, and printing vaccination cards, for example.
Albany Public Library is also part of the trend Balzer describes. The Arbor Hill and Pine Hills branches have served as a site for a vaccine clinic hosted by The Alliance for Better Health and Mohawk Ambulance.
The library has also been keeping the community informed by publicizing information about vaccination appointments on its Facebook page, particularly those at the Washington Avenue Armory. Back in March, the APL also launched a pilot program to conduct outreach to patrons 65 and older and offer assistance with vaccination sign-ups, when it was very challenging to secure an appointment.
As Balzer points out in her essay, “vaccination efforts can raise awareness of their community value. Sandy Petrie [Director of Noble County Public Library] says: ‘This is a really good opportunity for us to show people that almost anything can happen at your library, including this.'”
