Screen Free Day
When the Library lost connection to its server several months ago, no one knew what to do. There was no access to email, no access to documents we’d been working on, and no Internet. Some staff (you might call them Millennials) couldn’t even remember a time when that was once a normal work day. Then we realized we were in a building full of books and other resources that didn’t need to come from a screen. How remarkable! Staff used that time to engage with patrons on a deeper level, some flipped through catalogs to find the next bestseller, and we all gave our eyes a break from screens.
On Wednesday, May 3 the Library will take part in Screen-Free Week (though we’re only celebrating for one day). This international week-long event promotes activities that don’t require a screen. Presented by the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, they suggest using screen-free time to unplug from digital entertainment and spend all that free time playing, daydreaming, creating, exploring and connecting with family and friends.
Opportunities at the Library to go screen-free include decompressing with reading and relaxing with board games and coloring books. Budding artists can register for a lesson on painting with watercolors with local artist Deeda Cordin of Deep Creek Art Studio. Get inspiration and other ideas on how to celebrate by seeing what other organizations are doing at http://www.screenfree.org/screen-free-week-2016-events/.