Hi, Everyone,

 

This message is for those of you who work with teens in public libraries. I received a message from Marijke Visser, Senior Policy Advocate for the ALA Public Policy & Advocacy Office in DC.

 

She said the DC office is working to have libraries included in various parts of the COVID-19 stimulus packages. They were somewhat successful in the package that just passed the House and Senate on Friday (see a summary here and a short article here) but there are already conversations happening about the next package- C4- expected to come out in the next several weeks.

 

To prepare for that, they are collecting stories about:

1) what libraries are doing to keep their communities connected and to provide virtual services while still practicing social distancing and adhering to state and local health guidelines and

2) what kind of support you could use now and in the recovery period to sustain what you’re doing, help be more effective, and anticipate perhaps permanent changes in teen/youth services.

They want to share your stories with members of Congress.

 

For example, a lot of you are concerned about digital equity  - and thinking about your teens who might not have access at all or reliable access at home. I know you are thinking about reaching kids that depending on coming into the library now that they can’t. Another way to look at the question is what are you doing with community organizations. It might help you to think about your story from the point of view of what you are doing is helping  teens stay connected, keep learning, build resiliency- all skills that will support them now and in their futures. Through the library, teens are prepared for school, work, and life. Right? Decision makers care about the economic and health of their districts - where you live and work. And, we want to help them see how important the library is to making it through the current crisis and bounding back once recovery starts.

 

I know some of you on the NJLA YASS meeting last Friday shared what you’re doing and that’s the kind of stories they want.

 

If you are doing something and would like to support their efforts, please fill out this survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoAk0oyBQHmBo3BrfLdTjKTT4dmjz7nKplOXYEjSYxU4DFIw/viewform.

 

Thanks for your help!
Also, please share/pass this along to other public library colleagues who work with teens whom you think might be interested.

 

Thanks!

 

~Sharon

 

All the best,

 

Sharon Rawlins, MLS

Youth Services Specialist for Lifelong Learning

NJ State Library

185 West State St.

P.O. Box 520

Trenton, NJ 08625-0520

...@njstatelib.org" style="color: #2199e8; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">sraw...@njstatelib.org

609-278-2640 ext. 116

609-278-2650 – fax

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