Good day! Please excuse cross-postings. This past Friday, South Portland community member and former Scarborough Library Director Nancy Crowell talked with me about what is going on in her community to help citizens affected by storms and what resources are available for libraries to act as recovery centers. I recorded this meeting and it is available to watch here: https://mainestate.zoom.us/rec/share/OEk2UBufcKGiELEsY83wULfjEH59ULRTKu8nt4EWkmJo8pyNVJJkCjKrg2674OI.Mr8t4qQJvo9-6JAv Passcode:xgja#3qt Resources and Key Takeaways: Resources https://www.njstatelib.org/services_for_libraries/resources/disaster_planning/ https://www.scarboroughlibrary.org/index.php/resiliency/introduction-and-purpose https://www.loc.gov/preservation/care/ https://www.ready.gov/september Key points: Libraries can partner with SBA and other agencies to inform on preparing for storms and saving/preserving business documents and personal historical artifacts [family photos, birth certificates] in the home. Libraries can serve as Recovery Centers to help citizens and small businesses file claims. Libraries can help with preparedness for preventing further artifact and document loss. The next open meeting for libraries in storm affected communities will be on Friday, February 2, 2024, at 1 pm ET. Nancy will try to attend again, and she is well worth talking with! Register here to get the Zoom link: https://maine-msl.libcal.com/event/11913631 Respectfully and warmly, Lisa Lisa M. Shaw [she/elle/ella/ye/그녀/iyada/вона/ea] Small/Rural Libraries & Workforce Development Specialist Division of Library Development Maine State Library 242 State Street SHS 64 Augusta ME 04330 www.maine.gov/msl<http://www.maine.gov/msl> [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> (207 ) 747-8717 (text or call) What I’m reading: Suddenly a Murder by Lauren Muñoz What I’m listening to: “Paradigme” – La Femme; “Wairua” – Maimoa; “Sell the World” – The HU “If you want to see something clearly, look in the opposite direction.” [Midsomer Murders]