Public Libraries – jobs, social services and funding, oh my.

People need real help!

Where to turn???  Things keep getting worse.

Example: The unemployment rate in Pennsylvania has climbed to 6.7 percent  from 4.9 percent a year ago. The state has processed an average of 46,000 initial claims a week since Jan. 1, a 52 percent increase over last year.

As the struggling economy continues to cause the loss of thousands of more jobs each month, public libraries have become the essential provider of  resources, advice clinics, access to online job search and online social service applications for those seeking employment and help in this time of need.

Public libraries around the country are partnering with profit and non-profit groups to create advice clinics, counseling sessions and additional resources for topics like: employment and career, home foreclosure and access to social services. Norman Oder at Library Journal Online has these examples:

NYPL Session Helping Laid-Off Professionals Draws Crowd 

At San Diego County Library, Foreclosure Clinics Draw a Crowd

The computer access that public libraries provide for internet service for the online completion of job applications and social services is critical to those who have no access or have discontinued their personal online web access due to a lack of funds.  From E-government to E-job-hunting

Now you may ask, how can libraries continue to expand their services and resources for their struggling communities?  The answer lies in an expanded effort to better partner with community groups and your funding partners. See the advice here from Stephen Abram on Funding resources for libraries.

During difficult times – great libraries work smarter, get more creative, develop new partnerships and most importantly – stay focused on the specific needs of their communities. 

 

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – for Libraries

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act  – we must fight for funding projects for libraries. In these critical and challenging economic times, libraries deserve some funding from the stimulus bill. It won’t happen automatically. See below.

The ALA has created a webpage with critical and timely information about the available funding as well as the mechanisms for advocating the use of the funds for libraries. There are very specific programs from which funding could be used to support library programs.

ALA – American Recovery and Reinvestment Act info site is here:  http://preview.tinyurl.com/dandmb    

Besides the opportunities listed on the ALA website, both school and public libraries should consider unique and new partnerships wth each other. The Federal Education Dept. is looking for and willing to fund – innovative and unique new programs that will support student learning and improve workforce readiness.

I have previously listed some good ways that school and public libraries can and should work together. The posts are here:  School and Public Libraries Work! (Together would be best) Part 1  and here: School and Public Libraries Work! Part 2  Maybe your school and public library could sit down together now and create a plan for a partnership program including requird costs.  Submit those plans to your State Dept of Education for funding consideration. The A.R.R.A plan is to begin funnding within 60-90 days.

Please act now. Don’t miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity to greatly improve your school and public library partnership.

The 21st-Century Librarian – Video

Everybody who cares about articulating the message and advocating for children’s librarians should watch this video. For every librarian who feels that their library funding is insufficient to allow them to run a great library program, read the full story linked below as well as watch the video. 

Ms. Rosalia is an elementary school librarian, but her message and impact can happen in any library  – middle school, high school or a public library.  When she was hired to be the school librarian, Ms. Rosalia introduced herself to her fellow school colleagues as the “information literacy teacher”. Excellence starts with just one person.

 Video link:  http://video.nytimes.com/video/2009/02/15/arts/1194837851726/the-21st-century-librarian.html

The 21st-Century Librarian – Video Library – The New York Times

Published: February 19, 2009

School librarians like Stephanie Rosalia have transformed into multi-faceted information specialists who guide students through the flood of digital information that confronts them on a daily basis.

The full NY Times article can be found here:  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/16/books/16libr.html?em 

A lack of traditional library  funding never really prevents a great library program, only small thinking can do that. What is holding your library program back?

 

Libraries are Changing – school library presentation

 

Libraries Are Changing  – a presentation at the Woodland Hills School District 2/13/09.  Understanding the significant shifts affecting school libraries. How should libraries work to support improved student achievement. Collaboration with the public library is important.

http://www.slideshare.net/BradFish/libraries-are-changing2-21309-woodland-hills-sd