Afterschool program providers make great partners

I had the great pleasure of attending and presenting last week at the South Carolina Afterschool Allaince Conference here in Columbia.  The South Carolina Afterschool Alliance is a non-profit group dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of quality after school programs, serving as an advocate for providers, children, and families, assisting providers in developing best practices, and collaborating with organizations and groups to link services and develop partnerships.

I know from the discussions I had at the conference that many of our state’s libraries have forged a strong working relationship with after school programs and providers in their communities, but there’s room for growth.  I admit to being a little embarrassed by my lack of knowledge about the variety of program types in our state.  I met providers from day cares, faith-based programs, K-12 sponsored programs, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and so many more.  They were all great people and have passion for serving the children in their communities.  In that way, we have lots in common.

If your library hasn’t already reached out to the after school program providers in your community, I hope you will.  They have access to the children, and we have cool programs and collections to share.  More importantly, they are interested in the same things we are…providing support and development for our next generations.  There is so much we can offer one another!

To find a listing of programs in your community, visit the SC Afterschool Alliance Directory.

 

Libraries: Vanishing by 2019?

I came across this blog post in Slashdot this morning, where discussions about libraries sometimes occur.  It’s always useful to hear how our profession is viewed by people in other lines of work, particularly in technology fields.  I’m not sure I buy the demise of libraries as portrayed on this “Timeline” but it’s clearly food for thought, and I totally agree with the comment below on the role of libraries as social centers.

“Ross Dawson, a business consultant who tracks different customs, devices, and institutions on what he calls an “Extinction Timeline,” http://www.rossdawsonblog.com/weblog/archives/2007/10/extinction_time.html  predicts that libraries will disappear in 2019. He’s probably right as far as the function of the library as a civic monument, or as a public repository for books, is concerned. On the other hand, in its mutating role as urban hangout, meeting place, and arbiter of information, the public library seems far from spent. This has less to do with the digital world—or the digital word—than with the age-old need for human contact.”

 

 

Libraries helping women in business

Woman’s Day magazine and ALA recently announced the winners of a contest that asked participants to write about how they started businesses with help from their local library.  It’s a neat contest idea, and one that I think could be easily duplicated on the local level. We’re looking for ways to show the economic impact of libraries, and what better way to do that with stories from your own community about how your library has assisted in creating a thriving, revenue-generating business. This comes at an interesting time because the State Library is in the early phase of a new partnership with South Carolina Business OneStop and the SC Department of Commerce. (In the coming months, we plan to provide you with more information, but for now, you’ll have to settle for the “tease.”)

Have you talked to the small business owners in your communities to find out what your library could do for them? Are you in contact with your local Chambers of Commerce? How about local office of non-profits that advocate for business, like the SC Women’s Business Center or the Small Business Development Center?

Helen Oram, of Book Sale Finder, one of the contest winners, sent me her own press release.  Here’s what she says about how libraries have shaped her life:

“I’m proud to be recognized by Woman’s Day and ALA,” said Ms. Oram. “I have depended upon libraries all my life: as a child, as an adult, as a mother, and as a business owner. I hope this helps motivate others to use the unparalleled resources of their local libraries, and I especially hope that they will attend used book sales. Our motto is: Good Books at Good Prices for a Good Cause - Everybody Wins!”

 

Who’s playing now?

  The sight of teenaged boys clustered around a game console or computer monitor, controllers in hand and eyes fixed on the screen, is now a familiar one in many libraries.  But wait…are those players really boys?  Or even teenagers?  Or…are there a few gray heads in the mix? 

In fact, the increase in older people buying and enjoying electronic games is a phenomenon attracting attention, and librarians should take note.  Much of the new action is due to the popularity of the Nintendo Wii, a more senior-friendly game platform than its higher-tech competitors.  According to a recent N.Y. Times article, the growth now in the gaming market is in “simple, user-friendly experiences that families and friends can enjoy together.”   

And also, apparently, retirees:  The Wii is becoming a staple component of group exercise equipment at senior living facilities around South Carolina.  People who are comfortable using a TV remote controller find the transition to the Wii very natural.  And the fitness potential?  Fantastic, compared to TV watching.   

We haven’t actually heard of game programs being offered for seniors in libraries in our state…yet!  But, as the graying of library patrons increases over the coming decade, we think more senior friendly activities should be offered in libraries.  Who’s game?

 

Making a SPLASH for Spanish speakers in 2008!

This month, the State Library is launching SPLASH! workshops to encourage libraries to reach out to Spanish speakers. The issue of immigration has been in the local headlines for more than a year now and is a big topic in the presidential debates. Legislation pending in the S.C. State House may have implications for how we serve Spanish speakers. In the meantime, however, Latinos are coming to the library to use the computer, learn English, discover how to become Americans. Can we do more to welcome them? Yes, of course! Check out the SPLASH workshop schedule at http://www.statelibrary.sc.gov/ , and join us in getting to know our Latino customers. I’ll be posting some facts, figures and thoughts about Latinos/Hispanics in South Carolina libraries over the next few months, as the SPLASH program moves forward. SPLASH is sponsored by WebJunction and is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.