ITHACA, NY — When the COVID-19 pandemic hit New York in March of this year, the librarians within the Tompkins County Public Library (TCPL) strived to provide access to the entire community in a safe way for all concerned. Plans were developed, new computer programs were learned and a way was made out of no way. In this emailed interview, Youth Services Director Sarah O’Shea talks about the work that was undertaken and achieved in this challenging time.
Ithaca Times: What first drew you to libraries and being an advocate for them? And talk about how you first became involved in Tompkins County Public Library Youth Services?
Sarah O’Shea: I’ve always been a reader and loved books and libraries. I was a fairly shy kid so books were, as for many shy kids, my escape. I became a library shelver (page) for a summer job in college and while I was in…