Summer, who are you?

The sound of fire crackers and the heat waves passing through Central New York remind us that it is indeed summer time. Yes, school is out and some beaches and pools are open, but it is far from a normal summer. Many of us are still working from home (or trying to) and the recreational activities that typify the summer are unavailable or unrecognizable due to public health concerns around COVID-19.

Libraries in the city of Syracuse are providing curbside pickup service, but are still closed to the public. Many are eagerly preparing plans to open their doors, but do not have firm dates for when people will actually be able to walk in. Even when they do open, the libraries will surely operate on a limited basis. There will likely be caps set on building capacities, hours of operation, how long each patron can stay in one sitting, and what in-house services will be offered. While exercising great caution, we are inching closer to a state of normalcy that may be unlike what any of us have grown accustomed to.

In the past 3-4 months I have been able to be virtually present for closing on a house, birthday celebrations, baby showers, and even a funeral. It is not the ideal format for experiencing these major life events, but I certainly appreciate that technology still allowed for those opportunities. During these times I think about the families and individuals who are still recovering from the various forms of setbacks and distress caused by the Coronavirus, especially those on the wrong side of the digital divide.

I encourage anyone who feels disadvantaged because of the inability to afford reliable internet or home computers to tell their stories. Share your experiences with your schools, libraries, and locally elected officials. By doing so, you keep these entities looking for solutions on how to address this major issue. You also may find that some have ways of immediately assisting you. We are all in this together.