Like many businesses in the midst of the pandemic, DCL closed its doors in consideration of public and staff safety. The challenge was in staying connected with the community and making library materials and services safe and accessible during that fraught time, and as the pandemic has evolved. Born of that challenge are the self-contained kits available through DCL Delivers, which provide library users with a mix of non-traditional library materials and signature extras for safely entertaining and celebrating at home.

Accessible online at DCL.org/delivers, each self-contained kit provides an entertaining at-home experience with safety and social distancing in mind. The fee-based outdoor party kits are a consumable extension of DCL’s popular in-library birthday party service, with options for a party coordinator or Storytime storyteller. Kits are delivered to customers each Friday for weekend use, and customers return them on Sundays. Then, DCL staff clean, sanitize and restock reusable kit items for the next weekend’s deliveries.

All Movie Night and BBQ kits available for summer completely booked up and 16 party kits sold. For fall, all Movie Night, S’mores and Brunch kits booked up for the 10-week period.

• “One of the best community outreach programs I've seen during COVID. The fact that this was free was also very generous as we wouldn't otherwise have funds to pay a fee.”
• “We had the BBQ kit for Father’s Day and made memories that will last.”
• “Having the library come to us made our party special. My 4-year-old was in absolute joy."