Libraries and 21st Century Literacies Initiative

I would like to share exciting developments at the state level for the provision of library services. The NextGen Library Advocacy Task Force has published their work of two years. The opportunity of a new Gubernatorial Administration, which oversees Commonwealth Libraries and the Joint Government Commission on the Library Code, provides the timing to introduce a new era of legislation, funding and public awareness campaigning which describes the value that libraries bring to all citizens of Pennsylvania in terms of literacy.

Please view all the documents at the PaLA website. www.palibraries.org/literacy

I have invited Jonelle Darr, co-chair of the NextGen Library Advocacy Task Force who helped to put together the Libraries and 21st Century Literacies Initiative, to speak at a library meeting in Lancaster in November.
Also, If you are registered for the PaLA Conference, there will be a one hour session about this initiative on Wednesday, October 27, at 11:15am.

Now is an especially fortuitous time to embrace new ideas for providing library services as we begin Countywide strategic planning. Hopefully, once the strategic planning is accomplished, we can move forward with a business plan to secure stable, sufficient and secure funding for public library services.

I am available to come to your individual Board meetings to discuss this initiative and get your perspective on how we as public libraries in Lancaster County ought to move forward with these new ideas and opportunities.