Of utmost concern when Montgomery County government announced the temporary closing of public libraries due to the pandemic was how to continue offering the critical early literacy services provided through storytimes. Councilmember Will Jawando immediately offered to work with MCPL to provide virtual storytimes. Recognizing that parents at home all day with energetic children would appreciate brief respites, he began offering daily storytimes. A father of four young children, Mr. Jawando was well equipped for the task.

A platform was selected to securely air the storytimes live on social media and record for future viewing. Aesthetic promotional materials developed included signage and social media graphics. Mr. Jawando created a cozy space in his office where he virtually read to children and families. Invited guests read in Spanish, discussed dental hygiene, conservation and emergency preparedness and led arts and craft projects. Special guests included Olympians, actresses/singers/songwriters, authors/professors and elected officials.

Within 16 months, Mr. Jawando hosted 100 virtual storytimes, beginning daily and transitioning to weekly. To date, these videos have been viewed over 72,780 times. This partnership allowed the county to continue providing crucial early literacy elements to our youngest residents, while providing a semblance of normalcy for families during very unpredictable times. All enjoyed great stories with exciting guests like Dominique Dawes, Katie Ledecky, Cynthia Erivo, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, Jamie Raskin and Krystal Ball.