{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/3/context.json","id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/iiif/q52f767671/manifest","type":"Manifest","label":{"en":["Ivy Kuhrman Oral History"]},"logo":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/010/original/Aviary_QPLlogo_192x192.png?1578574261","metadata":[{"label":{"en":["Description"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary of Full Interview\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eIvy Kuhrman is a children's librarian at the Forest Hills branch of the Queens Public Library. In this interview, she discusses her career, developing virtual and grab-and-go programming in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and what she enjoys about children's librarianship. \u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Rights Statement"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eCC BY-NC-SA Contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for research and reproduction requests.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Date"]},"value":{"en":["2021-11-30 (created)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Type"]},"value":{"en":["Video"]}},{"label":{"en":["Agent"]},"value":{"en":["Ivy Kuhrman (Interviewee)","Celeste Chow (Interviewer)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Source"]},"value":{"en":["Interview conducted as part of the Queens Public Library 125th Anniversary Project."]}},{"label":{"en":["Coverage"]},"value":{"en":["2019-2021 (temporal)","Far Rockaway, Forest Hills and Ridgewood, Queens, NY (spatial)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Language"]},"value":{"en":["English"]}}],"summary":{"en":["\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary of Full Interview\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eIvy Kuhrman is a children's librarian at the Forest Hills branch of the Queens Public Library. In this interview, she discusses her career, developing virtual and grab-and-go programming in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and what she enjoys about children's librarianship.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e"]},"requiredStatement":{"label":{"en":["Attribution"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eCC BY-NC-SA\u0026nbsp;Contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for research and reproduction requests.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},"provider":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/aboutus","type":"Agent","label":{"en":["Queens Public Library"]},"homepage":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/","type":"Text","label":{"en":["Queens Public Library"]},"format":"text/html"}],"logo":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/010/original/Aviary_QPLlogo_192x192.png?1578574261","type":"Image"}]}],"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/148/540/small/Screenshot_%2859%29.png?1643706960","type":"Image","format":"image/png"}],"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64050/file/148540","type":"Canvas","label":{"en":["Media File 1 of 1 - Ivy_Kuhrman_QPL125.mp4"]},"duration":943.616,"width":640,"height":360,"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/148/540/small/Screenshot_%2859%29.png?1643706960","type":"Image","format":"image/png"}],"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64050/file/148540/content/1","type":"AnnotationPage","items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64050/file/148540/content/1/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"painting","body":{"id":"https://aviary-p-queenslibrary.s3.wasabisys.com/collection_resource_files/resource_files/000/148/540/original/Ivy_Kuhrman_QPL125.mp4?1643706896","type":"Video","format":"video/mp4","duration":943.616,"width":640,"height":360},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64050/file/148540","metadata":[]}]}],"annotations":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64050/file/148540/transcript/35656","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["Full Transcript [Transcript]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64050/file/148540/transcript/35656/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Celeste Chow (00:04):\r\nOkay. Let me pull up — alright, so my name is Celeste Chow, and I am interviewing — what's your name?\r\n\r\nIvy Kuhrman (00:16):\r\nIvy Kuhrman.\r\n\r\nCeleste Chow (00:17):\r\nOn Tuesday, November 30th, 2021. By making this recording, we both consent to the use of our names, voices, images, and likeness by the Queens Public Library, understanding that this recording will be the property of the library and will be used in connection with the promotion and marketing of the library, its programs and services. It will not be sold by the library in any way. We understand that we will not receive compensation and agree to hold the library harmless from any claim arising from use of this interview and recording.\r\n\r\nCeleste Chow (00:52):\r\nAlright. So with that being said, thank you so much, Ivy, for doing this interview.\r\n\r\nIvy Kuhrman (00:56):\r\nYeah, certainly, I'm excited. [laughs]\r\n\r\nCeleste Chow (01:00):\r\nSo the first question is, how have you contributed to the work of the library?\r\n\r\nIvy Kuhrman (01:07):\r\nI have been a children's librarian at QPL since January of 2019. So I started my career — this is my first job out of grad school, first full-time job out of grad school. So I began my career as the children's librarian at the Far Rockaway branch, where I did a lot of, you know, in-library reference and programs, of course, but I also did a lot of outreach in the community, like reading to schools, you know, during special events, going to career days at schools, and I regularly read at a daycare in the neighborhood. So I was there from January 2019 through the shutdown of March — in March 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time — the shutdown was kind of at the same time that I transferred to the Forest Hills branch. So I've been a Forest Hills librarian, children's librarian since late March 2020.\r\n\r\nIvy Kuhrman (02:18):\r\nSo during the pandemic — during our shutdown, I did some virtual programming with the library. I did a few chapter book read-alouds on Facebook Live. I did some story times, so — when I wasn't in the library, I was still able to conduct programming via Facebook Live. Then in July, when the library opened for its first phase of in-person services again, I was temporarily assigned to the Ridgewood branch. I spent about two months there helping — at first just helping things run as a fulfillment center and then as a grab-and-go location. And then I've been in-person here at Forest Hills since August of 2020. So that's about 15 months of first offering grab-and-go service and now kind of ramping up to in-person services at last — I don't even know how long. But you know, we're doing reference and helping people find things. People can browse, people can sit and read and do homework and use the computers. And I've been doing programming mainly via grab-and-go programs. So creating little bags for kids to take home and do at home with their families, instead of having in-person programming that — especially at this branch that can get large and kind of unwieldy and a lot of people cluster here. So we're still focusing on grab-and-go programs at the moment.\r\n\r\nCeleste Chow (04:14):\r\nGotcha. Yeah, and I think that that sort of segues into the next question nicely, which is how has QPL responded to changing needs you have witnessed in our communities? Obviously COVID is a big factor of that, but like, whatever else that you've seen during your time here.\r\n\r\nIvy Kuhrman (04:35):\r\nYeah. So the complete switch to [clears throat] pardon me, to virtual programming from — you know, we shut down in mid-March and I think my first virtual program that I did on Facebook Live was April 7th. Like, that's like a three-week turnaround to having provided no virtual programs to completely virtual programs. So that was a really impressive thing to watch. And I'm very honored to have been a part of, you know, those kind of early stages. I wasn't part of the programming committee, but I was able to kind of help out them with programs early on. But just seeing that, especially in an organization where we have a lot of deadlines that are very far out, set by, you know, the fiscal years and everything like that, it was really kind of spectacular to watch everything move so quickly to meet the community's new demands, you know, that everyone was staying at home but still wanted programming and content from the library. So that was impressive.\r\n\r\nIvy Kuhrman (05:54):\r\nThe other kind of new initiative that I'm particularly excited about is the elimination of fines, late fines at Queens Library. That's not necessarily like, a changing need. It's more a need that's always been there, but — kind of the pandemic brought it to light more. I just, I think it's really important that libraries — libraries are one of the last places where you're guaranteed admittance without the expectation that you'll spend anything. So to eliminate fees furthers that mission and makes it a welcoming place for everyone, regardless if you forgot to return a book on time five years ago or anything like that. It's just a really, really needed, really egalitarian change in policy that I'm a big fan of.\r\n\r\nCeleste Chow (06:57):\r\nAwesome. And I wanted to ask a quick follow-up question about something that you were saying. You mentioned grab-and-go programs, which is super cool, and I was wondering if you could tell me a little bit more about that and like, is that something that the library had done previously or was that, like, very much in response to COVID?\r\n\r\nIvy Kuhrman (07:23):\r\nYeah, to my knowledge, it was — I don't know of any branches who had done it prior to COVID, and it was kind of brought on by like, you know, Central and the programming committee. They provided for Summer Reading in 2020 [ed. It was 2021.] grab-and-go kits, because usually for Summer Reading kids come into the library and — for a craft program, but to discourage clustering and, you know, people gathering when it wasn't safe, all of those materials and directions just went into a kit that you can take home. So we're very fortunate here at Forest Hills to have received materials for grab-and-go kits from, you know, the Early Learning division for little kids and from the Summer Reading program at Central for little and bigger kids. And then I create some of my own that are just Forest Hills specific, like a little craft. I try and do things that are kind of, like, useful and like, not just a one-time thing that you'll make something and then immediately throw it away.\r\n\r\nIvy Kuhrman (08:43):\r\nLike, the first grab-and-go kit that I devised was a watercolor kit. So every paper — or I guess, plastic bag at the time — had a set of watercolors in it, as well as some paper and some other — like, a plastic cup for water, some things to make your own watercolors, with the idea that even once you run out of the paper and stuff, that paint set is going to serve you for longer. And we did those, I think, in the winter, like winter of 2020 to 2021, kind of when levels were spiking and you couldn't really go outside or go to parks because it was too cold. So it was kind of just a way to offer something to kids who weren't able to kind of go out and live their lives. They can still do something at home. So, does that answer your question?\r\n\r\nCeleste Chow (09:51):\r\nOh, absolutely, yeah.\r\n\r\nIvy Kuhrman (09:51):\r\n[laughs]\r\n\r\nCeleste Chow (09:51):\r\nYeah, no, I just, I think it's so cool. I'm really in awe of how all the different branches and all the different staff have responded to, like — to the terrible situation that COVID is.\r\n\r\nIvy Kuhrman (10:05):\r\nYeah.\r\n\r\nCeleste Chow (10:05):\r\nAnd especially, especially with kids too, like, you know, this is such a strange time in their lives.\r\n\r\nIvy Kuhrman (10:14):\r\nYeah. Like the younger that you are, you know, when you're in development, something this huge and strange — and for some kids, it's all they've ever known, really.\r\n\r\nCeleste Chow (10:23):\r\nYeah.\r\n\r\nIvy Kuhrman (10:23):\r\nIt's really, it's — it's sad that, you know, a lot of people are losing time, you know, important time in their life when they can be socializing and, you know, developing social skills and making friends. But yeah, I think I, and I know my fellow librarians are just trying to like, ease that — kind of the pain and anxiety that this pandemic has brought.\r\n\r\nCeleste Chow (10:49):\r\nYeah. That's, that's really amazing. Then the next question is can you share a story of QPL having a positive impact on someone's life?\r\n\r\nIvy Kuhrman (11:04):\r\nYeah. I think that it's really difficult to come to a Queens library branch without it having a positive impact. [laughs] It's kind of a \"no lose\" endeavor. I just — it's really fun as a librarian to see, like, your regular customers come in and like, change and grow with the help of the library. I — you know, I've only spent kind of short periods of time. I don't have a long, illustrious career where I've seen, you know, babies grow into adults. But even over a year, you know, seeing a kid come in regularly once a week or a couple times a week, it's amazing the kinds of development you can go through. So it's been fun to see, you know, your regular kid graduate from picture books to easy readers or easy readers to chapter books.\r\n\r\nIvy Kuhrman (12:05):\r\nAnd it's fun to see kids, like, meet new friends at a library, meet a new person at a library, and that person becomes a dear friend within, you know, couple months to a couple years. It's just — like, from seeing kind of the excitement on a kid's face from their first visit to them kind of knowing their way around the library is really special too. I have a customer who — I believe she's not yet two. [laughs] She's a really little one and she comes in very frequently with her nanny, her caregiver. But like, this past weekend she came in with her dad, who hadn't been to the library before. And she, you know, as a maybe like eighteen, ninteen-month-old was showing her dad around the library. And that was just really cool to see somebody so young, but somebody so confident and using the library for — and sharing the library with somebody they care about. So that was really nice.\r\n\r\nCeleste Chow (13:22):\r\nYeah. I love that. [laughs] Awesome. Alright, and then, next question is what are your hopes for the future of QPL?\r\n\r\nIvy Kuhrman (13:37):\r\nSo I guess my primary hope for the future is continued if not increased funding [laughs] for libraries, so that we can continue to do the work that we do and provide the services that we provide to customers. And it's been a really difficult time for everybody, you know, this pandemic, I think particularly for service — you know, customer service workers, because while we don't — librarians don't qualify as, like, essential workers, library staff is very much still on the front lines in their work. We're open every day, regardless of if there's a spike or whatever. So, just kind of continued and increased support for library staff so that we can better support and help our customers is my hope for the future.\r\n\r\nCeleste Chow (14:46):\r\nAwesome. And then, just, last question to wrap it up, is there anything else that you would like to add?\r\n\r\nIvy Kuhrman (14:56):\r\nNot really that I can think of. I really enjoy my job. It's really fun to — especially as a children's librarian, it's fun when your customers are so young and excited about the world. So yeah, I'm just — I'm really, really glad that I have the opportunity to hopefully make a little bit of a difference in somebody else's life and it's fun while I'm doing it. So that's about it.\r\n\r\nCeleste Chow (15:27):\r\nAlright. Well, thank you so much. And happy anniversary to Queens Public Library!\r\n\r\nIvy Kuhrman (15:34):\r\nYeah. Happy 125th.\r\n\r\nCeleste Chow (15:36):\r\nIt's a big one. [laughs]\r\n\r\nIvy Kuhrman (15:40):\r\nUh huh. [laughs]\r\n\r\nCeleste Chow (15:40):\r\nAlright. Well, thank you so much.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/1432/collection_resources/64050/file/148540#t=0.0,943.616"}]}]}]}