Overview | Resources | Activities
Overview
Updated January 6th, 2022
Get your vaccine now! Get the details.
We are closely monitoring developments pertaining to COVID-19, commonly referred to as Coronavirus. We encourage community members, especially those in high-risk populations, to stay away from public spaces. If you are feeling ill avoid contact with other people. Social distancing is one key way to slow the spread of the illness. Please keep in mind, as a public space, the Library cannot guarantee germ-free physical materials. You need to consider if using library materials is best for you and your family. As a reminder, the Library has many digital services available to you for free.
Resources & Information
- South Dakota Housing Development Authority – information on South Dakota Cares Housing Assistance Program
- South Dakota Department of Health Vaccination Information – See all the places in South Dakota you can get vaccinated!
- 605Strong.com – 605 Strong was created by a partnership of the South Dakota Department of Social Services, Department of Health, Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota and 211 Helpline Center.
- Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology: Understanding herd immunity and the COVID vaccine.
- Book Riot’s List of Free Resources on Coronavirus: A list of free resources on the coronavirus pandemic, many of which are usually behind a paywall, that are releasing quality, updated information.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Coronavirus (COVID-19).
- CFPB: Protecting your finances during the Coronavirus pandemic: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau provides consumers with up-to-date information and resources to protect and manage their finances during this difficult time as the situation evolves.
- COVID-19 Definitions: Prepared by the South Dakota Department of Health.
- COVID-19 Testing Facts Infographic: From the South Dakota Department of Health.
- Emergency Broadband Benefit – an FCC program to help families and households struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- FEMA: Coronavirus Rumor Control: Distinguish between rumors and facts regarding the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Forbes: The Covid-19 Vaccine Does Not Cause Infertility.
- Harvard Health Newsletter: General consumer article on vaccine mis- and disinformation.
- National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus consumer-level info on COVID vaccines.
- Pandemic: The Invisible Enemy: From the Salem Press & Grey House Publishing Online Database.
- Small Business Administration: COVID-19 Small Business Guidance and Loan Resources.
- South Dakota Department of Health: Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates and information.
- South Dakota Department of Tourism: Has the latest information about the virus as well as aid and relief programs.
- SD State Library COVID-19 LibGuide: Includes a list of resources regarding COVID-19 that have been compiled by the State Library in collaboration with other SD libraries – mostly designed for use by libraries, but some information may be useful to the public.
- Teaching Our World: The Coronavirus: Articles and resources for hard-to-teach topics, chosen by the editors of Scholastic Classroom Magazines.
- U.S. House of Representatives Ways & Means Committee: Coronavirus Bulletin: Resources for Leading During the Crisis.
- USD COVID-19: Resources and updates from the University of South Dakota.
- USD COVID-19 Dashboard: – Real-time data on the number of self-reported cases of COVID-19 at the University of South Dakota.
- USDA Rural Development: COVID-19 resource page for rural residents, businesses, and communities affected by COVID-19.
- Vermillion Area Chamber & Development Company: COVID-19 resources for the City of Vermillion.
- What Should I Do? Infographic: From the South Dakota Department of Health.
- World Health Organization: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public.
- World Health Organization: Myths and misconceptions about vaccines.
Activities
Trying to stay entertained and informed during the Great Staycation? Check out these links to online-based activities, story times, and other free resources designed to help you stay home, stay safe, and stay entertained. And don’t forget about our permanent list of electronic resources available for Vermillion Public Library patrons!
Art & Projects
- Vermillion Public Library’s ‘Art at Home with Miss Beth’ YouTube channel: Join our own Miss Beth for video-based art projects and crafts! We will be uploading a new video by noon on Mondays and Fridays.
- Color Our Collections: Free coloring sheets from museums and libraries around the world.
- Draw Every Day with JJK: Author and illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka is hosting drawing sessions on his YouTube channel every day.
- Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems: Mo Willems invites YOU into his studio every day for his LUNCH DOODLE. Learners worldwide can draw, doodle and explore new ways of writing by visiting Mo’s studio virtually once a day for the next few weeks. New episodes will be posted each weekday at 12:00 p.m. Central and then remain online to be streamed afterwards.
- Scholastic Learn at Home: Day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing.
Books
- Vermillion Public Library Book Chatter Facebook Group: Until we are able to open back up to the public, we have transitioned our regular Book Chatter program to an online format! This Facebook Group will allow participants to talk about books they are recommending this month! Hopefully we can meet again in person soon, but until then please share your recommendations.
- Audible Stories: Audible has launched this free service that offers family-friendly educational and entertaining audiobook content.
- Britannica eBooks: Continue learning with ebooks covering top curriculum subjects including science, math, governement, health, and history. Login to read online or download these books. Username: freebritannica Password: ebooks
Free College Courses & Free/Discounted Tech Courses
- Carnegie Melon Open Learning
- Coursera
- edX
- Future Learn
- Harvard Online
- LinkedIn Learning Pathways (Free until December 31, 2021): LinkedIn, Microsoft, and GitHub are offering free learning paths mapped to jobs that are in-demand, discounted Microsoft certifications to validate skills, and best practices for job searching and interview prepping, so you can put your best foot forward.
- Microsoft Certification (Discounted until December 31, 2021): Job seekers who have completed training for these Microsoft-specific technical roles and can attest that they have been unemployed or furloughed due to COVID-19 can secure an industry-recognized Microsoft Certification at a discounted fee of USD15.
- MIT Open Courseware
- OpenLearn
- Stanford Online
Story Times
- Grace Lin: The illustrator and author of middle-grade novels and picture books is posting drawing tutorials and readings from her books on her YouTube channel.
- Mac Barnett on Instagram Live: Each afternoon the author will read a chapter of his memoir, Mac B, Kid Spy #1: Mac Undercover, illustrated by @mikelowerystudio. New chapters go up about 3:00 pm Central and they’ll stay up on his IGTV till the end of the “school year.”
- Monique Gray Smith: The author is posting videos of herself reading her picture books on her Instagram.
- #OperationStoryTime: A partnership with picture book authors and Romper to read their stories aloud. Posted and curated on Twitter.
- @SaveWithStories: Instagram-based online story-telling, created by Jennifer Garner and Amy Adams in partnership with Save the Children and No Kid Hungry. For more information and to donate, visit the Save with Stories page at savethechildren.org.
- Stay at Home Story Time with Oliver Jeffers: Author Oliver Jeffers will be reading one of his books every weekday, and talking about some of the things that went into making them. Catch his readings live on Instagram at 6 pm GMT (which is 1 pm Central).
- Storyline Online: An excellent resource for read-alouds, this website offers a wide selection of picture books read by celebrities.
Video Streaming
- Nightly Streaming Opera: The Metropolitan Opera
Virtual Tours
- Acropolis Museum: Athens, Greece
- Art Institute of Chicago: Chicago, Illinois
- Blarney Castle: County Cork, Ireland
- British Museum of London: London, England
- Cincinnati Zoo: Ohio, USA
- Cliffs of Moher: County Clare, Ireland
- Dali Museum: Florida, USA
- Explore.org: Live Nature Cams
- Guggenheim Museum: New York, USA
- Houston Zoo: Texas, USA
- Louvre Museum: Paris, France
- Monterey Bay Aquarium: California, USA
- Museum of Modern Art: New York, USA
- Museum Views: View of museums from around the world
- National Aquarium: Maryland, USA
- National Museum of Natural History: Smithsonian, Washington DC, USA
- National Parks:
- Bryce Canyon National Park: Utah, USA
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park: New Mexico, USA
- Dry Tortugas National Park: Florida, USA
- Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park: Hawaii, USA
- Kenai Fjords National Park: Alaska, USA
- National Portrait Gallery: Smithsonian, Washington DC, USA
- Picasso Museum: Barcelona, Spain
- San Diego Zoo: California, USA
- Smithsonian National Zoo: Panda Cam, Washington DC, USA
- Space Center Houston App: This free interactive mobile tour features audio tour, GPS maps, selfie filters, augmented reality experiences, virtual reality lite and more! Texas, USA.
- Wild Earth: Safaris, South Africa
- YouTube Links: Some of our favorite YouTube videos featuring virtual tours and highlights of destinations around the globe.
Other Entertainment Links
- Book Riot Quiz: Which Long 500+ Page Book Should You Read While You’re Quarantined?
- Common Sense Media: This list of resources and free events has been compiled for kids at home.
- Dave Pilkey at Home: Free activities online including how-to-draw demonstrations, engaging read-a-louds, and inspiring resources.
- Folger Shakespeare Library: Access the complete works of William Shakespeare.
- Help Fez Escape the Library! Digital Escape Room: The Vermillion Public Library’s own creation.
- Hogwarts Digital Escape Room: Created by the Peters Township Public Library in Pennsylvania.
- Read, Wonder, and Learn!: Favorite authors and illustrators share their read-alouds, as well as a growing collection of other resources and lessons. Curated by author Kate Messner.
- SD Statewide Family Engagement Center: The SD SFEC sends out a daily digest of easy-to-use activities and resources to support your child’s learning at home.
