Don’t write off the library just yet

By CARLTON A. SEARS

Along with the Internet boom came those who predicted that libraries would succumb to “death by Google.” After all, how could libraries compete with the information superhighway? Today, I’m wondering what those skeptics must be thinking as they realize that not only have libraries not met their demise, but instead, they are stronger and more actively used than ever before.

When you consider that computers seem to be everywhere and many think the words “Google” and “information” are synonymous, people are surprised to discover that the public library is busier than ever.

Some people question the future of libraries. But in Mahoning County, the reality is that the number of people holding a library card has increased by 27 percent over the past five years. Such an increase is remarkable in its own right. And when you consider that the population has declined, it’s amazing. A recent poll by Harris Interactive found that nationwide 76 percent of Americans have been in a public library in the past year.

Why were those that foresaw “death by Google” wrong? What’s causing such a renaissance?

For starters, libraries haven’t been still. They’ve evolved. Libraries today focus as much on maximizing the potential of information as they do on collecting it. For example, libraries have a long history of serving children through story time. In this seemingly simple activity, a revolution has taken place over the past decade that is having an impact on education and our economy.

At the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, the Baby Brilliant program is a response to the latest research showing that certain skills must be developed by age five for success in school and in life. Library story time was modeled by this research into an activity that encourages a child’s discovery using specific Early Literacy techniques. And story time is no longer just for children. Parents, grandparents and caregivers participate. Librarians model behaviors which participants can repeat with their children at home. Librarians train daycare providers in early literacy skills and provide kits that offer techniques to enhance a child’s brain development.

Library initiatives

Story times take place in our libraries. But the awareness and impact of library initiatives are taken out into the community through partnerships with organizations such as MYCAP and Child Care Connection.

When the library was offered an opportunity to develop a financial literacy program for low- to moderate-income families, we did not hesitate. The grant opportunity was offered to just a handful of the nation’s libraries by the FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) Investor Education Foundation. FINRA wanted to demonstrate the potential of public library/community partnerships to address a problem that now grips our nation: financial instability.

The Smart Money program couples the library’s expertise with information and its ability to reach a mass audience. The library is partnering with a consortium of United Way agencies and public/private partners concerned with local economic development.

Though still in its infancy, Smart Money has demonstrated results which are already impressive. Free tax preparation services by IRS-trained volunteers in branch libraries resulted in a 36 percent increase in tax refunds and fee savings coming back into our community. An online portal, www.libraryvisit.org/smartmoney.htm, was created to provide a guide to assistance available locally. Our libraries are offering programs that connect people with the tools they need to achieve greater financial stability.

Those that envisioned “death by Google” are working with a view of the library that is 30 years old. They see the library as a repository of information, passively waiting to be sought out. But libraries offer a variety of programs which tell a different story, such as initiatives focusing on early literacy, financial stability, small-business development and grants for non-profits organizations.

Today’s library does not sit back and wait. It is a proactive organization, a catalyst to connect our community with the knowledge needed to build a brighter future in our Mahoning Valley.

X Sears is director of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County.