Ready NOW aims to enhance the capabilities of library staff to serve as proactive community partners before, during, and after times of crisis. This initiative builds upon a Field Guide, initially developed in 2020/2021, when libraries and their communities grappled with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Field Guide serves as a practical resource for library staff to effectively engage with historically marginalized youth and families across a range of crisis situations, from pandemics and natural disasters to societal challenges like educational disparities and information inequality.

Our work will give library staff the opportunity to use the Field Guide with their communities, provide feedback, and help populate a repository of crisis related actionable responses. This will enable public libraries to more effectively support historically marginalized communities in proactive ways.