With the recent school, library, and business closings, we know there is a lot of uncertainty for the next few weeks. We’ve compiled lists of resources for our community that are fun and educational for adults, teens, and children including crafts, tours, concerts, and more! We will continue to update our lists as we find more resources available.
Some of the resources require a St. Mary’s County Library card. If you don’t already have a library card, sign up for a temporary card online and start using our online resources instantly.
If you have questions about how to use any of the Library resources on these pages, please contact us!
Resources for Younger Children | Resources for School Age Children and Teens
How to Help | Talking with Your Child About COVID-19 | Fun, Creative, and Educational Resources for Everyone | Maryland Businesses and Employees | Legal Resources
How to Help
MarylandUnites
How Marylanders can help one another during the pandemic, as well as a resource guide.
Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps
Online registration system for medical and public health volunteers for the State of Maryland.
Talking with Your Child About COVID-19
A Comic Exploring the New Coronavirus
A comic based on a radio story from NPR education reporter, Cory Turner. He asked some experts what kids might want to know about the new coronavirus.
Information for Parents from the CDC
How to Talk to your Kids about Coronavirus from PBS
De-Stressing During the Coronavirus from PBS
Fun, Creative, and Educational Resources for Everyone!
Library Resources
Creativebug
An inspirational resource for DIY, crafters and makers, with thousands of award-winning art & craft video classes taught by recognized design experts and artists.
Lynda for Libraries
An online learning site that hosts a constantly growing library of over 3,000 courses that include over 130,000 videos. Courses cover a variety of topics (including business, design, web development, and multimedia skills) and software (Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite and open source applications) that can help you pursue personal and professional goals.
OverDrive
eBooks, digital audiobooks, and magazines.
Hoopla Digital
eBooks, digital audiobooks, comics, music, movies, and TV shows.
RBdigital
eBooks, digital audiobooks, and magazines.
Other Resources
Yellowstone National Park Virtual Tour
Explore Yellowstone from the comfort of your own home.
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Join the Cincinnati Zoo for a Home Safari Facebook Live each weekday at 3pm EDT where they will highlight one of their amazing animals and include an activity you can do from home.
Food Network Kitchen on Facebook
Chef Michael Symon will be going live on Facebook every day on Food Network Kitchen to share a Daily Dinner series.
The Metropolitan Opera’s Nightly Opera Streams
Every day for the duration of the Met’s closure due to the coronavirus pandemic, a different encore presentation from the company’s Live in HD series will be made available for free streaming on the Met website, with each performance available for a period of 20 hours, from 7:30 p.m. EDT until 3:30 p.m. the following day.
National Theatre at Home
Beginning Thursday, April 2, National Theatre (London) will post National Theatre Live productions. Shows will be available on YouTube for one week.
Live Streams from the National Aquarium
Tune into Blacktip Reef, Jellies Invasion, and Pacific Coral Reef livestreams and enjoy a piece of the Aquarium from home.
Resources for Maryland Businesses and Employees
Maryland Business Express
Features several resources available during the COVID-19 outbreak for business throughout the state, including guidelines for employers, fair labor standards, information on insurance claims, opportunities for financial assistance, tax questions, and more.
US Small Business Association
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
COVID-19 Facts and Maryland’s Unemployment Insurance Benefits Administration
FAQs for employees and employers about eligibility for unemployment insurance during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Unemployment Resources and Services in Maryland
To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, many businesses have shut down operations, resulting in mass lay-offs. The Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore has collected resources to help displaced workers apply for Unemployment Insurance and other benefits.
Legal Resources
Maryland Civil Legal Resources
The Maryland Access to Justice Commission, in partnership with the Maryland State Bar Association, has put together this COVID-19 Resource Page, pulling resources from a multitude of sources to make it easier for you to navigate the civil justice system during this time of emergency.