I walked into a big box store last night to purchase some last minute supplies. Shelves were eerily empty of canned goods, cleaning supplies, and most notably hand sanitizer and soap. Photo is courtesy of Adam McCune of Goffstown, New Hampshire.

Our communities are preparing for the Coronavirus through social distancing and encouraging good hand washing. Our media centers can help amplify these messages and provide value to connecting accurate information to our local community.

1. Re-Tweet and Re-Share City Event Cancellations and Prevention Efforts

Your social media audience is a powerful tool to reach the community. Re-tweet and re-share messages directly from your city officials to your own page, neighborhood group pages, and personal timelines. We need to amplify accurate messages to provide residents tools to make good decisions.

2. Reach out to City and State Officials to Record Announcements

Our State Officials are swamped with constituents asking for information. Reach out to them and lay out an easy plan for them to record a video announcement, and how it would be distributed. Move quickly on this.

3. Offer to Record Keynote Speakers in Lieu of Canceled Events

Events are getting canceled daily. Reach out to the event organizers and offer to record the keynote speaker and send out the presentation digitally. This can be a live webcast, or a paid-for download.

4. Create Animations About Hand Washing and Sanitation

The CDC is putting out new videos regularly. Use their video or have fun creating your own. Be creative. I recently saw song lyrics posted in a bathroom that lasted 20 seconds when you sing it. Now I sing Queen every time I wash my hands.

5. Translate Content to Multiple Languages

Content needs to be translated into multiple languages. Who are your largest demographics in your area? In Minnesota, we have a large Hmong, Karen, Somali, and Spanish population. Get information out in those languages as well. TPT just released a toolkit to help with this. The toolkit has social media posts related to washing hands and travel restrictions.

6. Provide Technology Options for Sick Legislators to Stay Home

Research you open meeting laws and the technology to make remote meeting attendance possible. Provide a one sheet description on how to execute a remote meeting options for legislatures. Last thing we want is our leadership to get sick.

This is the time where we can showcase the value we bring to the community. Don’t wait for people to reach out to you, be proactive. In what ways is your media center preparing for CONVID-19?