Librarian Uses Drone To Keep Kids Reading Amid the Coronavirus Pademic

reading library Drone delivery coronavirus pandemic

By Staff Reporter , Parent Herald Jun 19, 12:07 am

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, a lot of activities are on hold. Some even had to be canceled. Places like schools, malls, and theaters are closed down.

When the schools shifted to online learning, this also meant the closure of libraries.

Although a choice to depend on online sources is free, a librarian from Virginia believes that she needs to maintain her connection with the students.

Kelly Passek is a school librarian from Montgomery County Public Schools.

In an interview with CBS News, she shared that to keep her relationship with the students, Passek thought of an alternative way to keep the kids reading, amid the pandemic. She had the books that the students asked delivered through drones.

Keeping the connection meant students keep reading

When the remote learning started in Virginia due to the coronavirus, Passek found it challenging to serve her purpose. She kept on asking herself, "How was I going to keep that connection with my students without actually being in the same physical space with them?"

We are fortunate to work with @wing on a pilot book delivery program - via drone. This amazing idea came from BMS librarian Kelly Passek. We are proud to take part in this limited partnership. https://t.co/AvBMSfyvYc pic.twitter.com/vroWo4J9ko — MCPS (@mcps_va) June 10, 2020

It was her frequent household activity, during the coronavirus pandemic, that made her think of how to reach out to the students. Since their family often uses a drone service to deliver their needs at home, she felt that she could use drone delivery to send the books to kids, so that they could keep reading, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Drone delivery of library books

After coming up with the plan, Passek brought the idea to the superintendent of their district, Mark Miear.

Gladly, Miear was on board with the project.

Passek is the one personally handling the request, and packaging of the library books.

Once she gets the students' request through an online form, she places the books in individual delivery boxes and hands them to the delivery drone service.

Passek considers this shot as something thrilling, mainly because the way of delivering the books to kids, who need to keep reading, is unique.

Passek says that her role as a school librarian is making sure that kids keep on reading, to help them become successful academically and in life.

The Montgomery County Public Schools Library has more than 150,000 books. Students may borrow these books on a limited trial basis.

Wing is the drone delivery service provider of the library. It is under the parent company of Google, Alphabet.

Drone deliveries become in demand

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, a lot of households have chosen drone delivery services for their needs. That is to avoid going out in crowded places like the grocery store.

According to Wing, they accommodated as much as 1,000 deliveries in just one week during the spring.

The importance of library

Over the years, many are shifting to online resources. However, people like Passek believes that a library is not just a simple infrastructure.

"Our libraries are essential and unique parts of our community," Passek said.

Some studies have proven that libraries are still essential, even with the rise of modern technology. Libraries are necessary because many believe that it is also a place of cultural consumption.