[Scla-list] Thinkfinity @ your library features new online resource to help supporters advocate for libraries

[Curtis Rogers]

Contact: Mark Gould
Director
ALA Public Information Office
(312) 280-5041
mgould at ala.org

NEWS
For Immediate Release
April 1, 2009


Thinkfinity @ your library features new online resource to help
supporters advocate for libraries


(CHICAGO)   "Add It Up: Libraries Make the Difference in Youth
Development and Education" is a new web-based resource that helps
advocates make the case for libraries. The site contains talking points,
statistics, and links to research that equip library advocates with
information to speak articulately on behalf of the impact libraries have
on school age children.

To learn more about the "Add it up" web site, visit
Thinkfinity.org/@yourlibrary, a collection of resources featuring
librarian specific content from ALA. Thinkfinity.org is the Verizon
Foundation's comprehensive program and online portal to 55,000
standards-based, grade-specific, K-12 lesson plans and other educational
resources provided in partnership with many of the nation's leading
educational and literacy organizations.  Content for Thinkfinity.org is
provided through a partnership between the Verizon Foundation and 11 of
the nation's leading organizations in the fields of education and
literacy.

"Add It Up"  makes the case for libraries as being indispensable in the
lives of students, from preschool through high school. An example of the
type of material available includes this talking point and research:

"Public library programming and books for children make a difference.
Public libraries provide engaging programs and amazing collections that
help students from all backgrounds become excited and enthusiastic
readers.

"Programming and outreach for children and young adults is an important
part of public library services. In 2006, there were over 102,000
library programs geared towards young adults with a total attendance of
2.1 million students. Under school outreach efforts, 70% of libraries
reported that classes visited the library and 73% reported that the
library visited classes. Libraries also reported strong partnerships
with other organizations to serve youth: 66% with youth organizations,
54% with recreational organizations, 52% with cultural organizations,
and 38% with health or mental health organizations. In 2006, 77% of
libraries reported they had a children's or young adult page on their
website."

According to Keith Michael Fiels, executive director, American Library
Association, "A growing body of research and studies now proves what the
library community already knows is true: libraries are indispensable in
the lives of children and teens. The problem is that until now, it has
been difficult to distill all that data into products that library
advocates can easily use and funders can easily understand. This new
online resource does just that. The goal is to help library advocates
articulate the positive, transformational impact that public libraries
and school library media programs have on children and teens."

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