It's really cold outside

It's really, really cold -- and windy makes it worse! When the thermometer hits -20, it's time to take care of yourself and others. Driving to work this morning, I was thinking of how libraries could serve their communities as a warm spot -- things I've done or seen.

• Make the door accessable, and the parking lot -- including no snow banks to climb over between the parking lot and the library
  
• Hot drinks -- coffee, spiced tea (keep it brewing for a warm welcoming aroma), hot chocolate, hot water and tea bags. How about making it free when the temperature is below 0?
  
• Stock up on energy assistance information and applications
  
• Have lots of pre-school storytimes and after-school activities. Help parents get out of the house with their kids
  
• Make a special invitation to people who work out in the cold to come to the library and provide them with a space to warm up, have a hot drink, or sit down to write reports. Some folks who would appreciate this could be: law enforcement, streets and road workers, meter readers, bus drivers, crossing guards . . .
  
• Winter reading programs are great. Libraries in our region have "Hot Reads for Cold Nights" programs. Every year has a theme. SELCO produces the promotional artwork and incentives and makes them available at low cost and has a kick-off event. Libraries run varying programs to suit their communities
  
• Displays:
  
  • Cozy escapist reading
    
  • Movies
    
  • Recipe books-especially stews and soups
    
  • Craft books
    
  • Travel books about warm weather places-armchair vacation
    
  • Gardening books-plan for spring