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Spreading Positivity Amidst COVID-19

Thursday, March 26, 2020

Categories: Blog, Community

In this time of uncertainty, it's more important than ever to show kindness to those around us. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are so many opportunities to show appreciation to others, even if we're bound to the confines of our own homes.

Here are some fun ways to keep yourself busy while giving back to the community.

1. Make handmade masks

Are you crafty or know how to sew? The City of Lansing has opened up donation sites where people are able to drop off handmade masks. Click here to learn more.

To learn how to make your own masks, click here.

 

 

Coloring image of Jali and Doppsee

 

2. Support local artists

Local artists are joining the movement to help make at-home quarantine a little more bearable. One artist released free Lansing-themed coloring pages you can print and colored, with new pages released daily! Once you’ve colored these pages in, be sure to share them with #coloryourlansing.

Check out all of her coloring pages here.

 

Photo of many thank you cards to bus drivers

 

3. Thank people on the front line

Make cards to deliver to cashiers on your trip to the grocery store, or post a shout out to bus drivers and health care workers online. Do you have a neighbor working in one of these essential industries? Drop off goodies, letters or cheer them on to let them know you appreciate their work. 

 

4. Send letters to local nursing homes

People across the world are writing letters and creating drawings to send to people in assisted living and nursing homes. This is a scary time for many of them, and a letter of love or appreciation can mean so much. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Buy Nearby (@mibuynearby) on

 

5. Shop local

Support your local businesses by ordering takeout, purchasing gift cards or leaving them positive reviews online! Places like Cravings Gourmet Popcorn, Blue Owl Coffe, and AnQi Sushi are still open for deliveries and/or curbside pickup. Other businesses like Nuthouse Sports Grill are taking a temporary hiatus, while offering gift cards in the meantime.

Lansing Brewing Company has even been hosting cocktail classes and deals on their social media! Check them out here.

 

 

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Connecting with Library Services during COVID-19

Monday, March 23, 2020

Categories: Blog, Community

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has required us to make sweeping changes to our daily lives. Toilet paper is the hottest item on the market. Social distancing is the norm.

For the health and safety of our employees, riders and the general public, CATA even temporarily suspended its fixed-route services. We resumed limited summer service May 26 with rear-door boarding, fare-free rides and mask requirements.

Other public services are adapting as well, such as Capital Area District Libraries.

Since CADL is closed through late June, we're counting down three ways you can still connect with their services.

1. Tune in to a storytime show.

CADLtales is a kid-friendly educational series with stories, songs and learning activities. Shows are filmed at the downtown Lansing branch, so while you may not be able to visit the  branch in person, you can play these storytime shows whenever you’d like.

You can find a full playlist of episodes on CADL’s YouTube channel. Click here to learn more.

2. Go digital with download and streaming services.

Library cardholders can download or stream books, music, movies and more. No need for a Netflix subscription here. A bonus of going digital? You don’t have to go to the library to return borrowed items, so there are no overdue fees.

Explore CADL’s impressive digital library here. It even includes comic books!

3. Create your own historical adventure.

Explore our community’s history through thousands of images and documents with Local History Online. Conduct your own research, go on a virtual historical scavenger hunt or flip through photos that pre-date social media. No library card required.

Click here to start exploring.

Check out this cool piece of Lansing history! You can find more historical Lansing photos with CADL Local History bit.ly/3bEN5h6

Posted by Capital Area District Libraries on Friday, February 14, 2020

Want another look at Stevie Wonder's time in Lansing? Check out this video testimonial from Below the Stacks.

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Surprising Things You Can Check Out From Capital Area District Libraries

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Categories: Blog, Community, Employees

 
CATA CEO Brad Funkhouser and CADL Executive Director Scott Duimstra pose in front of bus
 
CATA champions community partnerships, and one of our treasured partnerships is with the Capital Area District Libraries. This library system in Ingham County has a special Library of Things, where adult cardholders can check out unique hands-on items.

Some of the unique materials you can check out from the Library of Things include:

1. A ghost hunting kit

Are there any spirits haunting Lansing? Scour the community for ghouls and ghosties with this five-piece kit:

  • Electromagnetic field meter
  • Spirit box
  • Digital voice recorder
  • UV flashlight
  • UV sunglasses

Click here for more details. Then hop on a Route 14 bus to the Turner-Dodge House to seek the ghost of Marion Turner or research these other local ghost stories. 

2. A sewing machine

Because making your own clothes and fabrics is sew cool (pun intended). Hone your skills with the Library of Thing’s Janome 525 sewing machine, which comes with too many accessories to list. 

3. Potter Park Zoo passes

CADL’s Library of Things also offers family passes to the Potter Park Zoo. One family pass provides free zoo admission for your household. The pass also covers parking!

Click here to learn more.

4. Banjos and ukeleles

It don’t mean a thang if it ain’t got that twang. These stringed instruments are just two of the many available to adult CADL cardholders. Browse the full list of instruments here. You may just find yourself taking home a guitar, keyboard, or otamatone for two weeks. 

5. A GoPro action kit

Use touch-screen and voice control features to capture HD footage on the GoPro HERO7 White camera. The camera is even waterproof up to 33 feet.

Click here to check out more camera features and all the accessories that come with the device.

6. Rokus pre-loaded with movies

What’s your favorite movie genre? The Library of Things likely has a Roku for it. A Roku plugs into your TV and allows you to stream CADL’s digital library of movies and shows.

Enjoy sci-fi, horror, comedy, drama, action films and more. Browse the full catalog of CADL Rokus here.

7. CATA 31-day fixed-route and 10-day rural service bus passes

We didn’t want to miss our chance to be part of the Library of Things! That’s why we teamed up with CADL to offer 31-day fixed-route and 10-ride rural service bus passes.

“I’m thrilled about our partnership with Capital Area District Libraries,” said our CEO Brad Funkhouser, “specifically about the opportunity to help raise awareness about CATA and CADL’s services.” 

“We both bring tremendous, immeasurable value to our communities,” Brad said. “This partnership is a unique way for us to demonstrate the true spirit of public service in action."

The passes have had an immediate impact on the local community.

In the short time they've been offered, the impact of having bus passes available in our Library of Things has been...

Posted by Capital Area District Libraries on Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Click here to browse the entire Library of Things collection. CADL is changing lives, fostering creativity and encouraging skill-building with this initiative. We're honored to play a role as a community partner.

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