Civic duty

As part of their mission to uphold free speech and foster open access to information, many libraries participate in the Federal Depository Library Program. Since 1813, some libraries have been part of a system that assures the American people access to information about their government’s workings. In looking into just what the FDLP does, I found this information:

“The Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) was established by Congress to ensure that the American public has access to its Government's information. Since 1813, depository libraries have safeguarded the public's right to know by collecting, organizing, maintaining, preserving, and assisting users with information from the Federal Government. The FDLP provides Government information at no cost to designated depository libraries throughout the country and territories. These depository libraries, in turn, provide local, no-fee access to Government information in an impartial environment with professional assistance.
“As institutions committed to equity of access and dedicated to free and unrestricted public use, the nation's nearly 1,250 depository libraries serve as one of the vital links between 'We the people' and our Government. Anyone can visit Federal depository libraries and use the Federal depository collections which are filled with information on careers, business opportunities, consumer information, health and nutrition, legal and regulatory information, demographics, and numerous other subjects.” (About the FDLP, www.fdlp.gov)
You can check out their video here.

Looking at the directory of FDLP libraries, I found that the following libraries are part of the program: Washington State Library, Bellevue branch of the King County Library System, Seattle Public Library, Highline Community College and several other academic libraries throughout the state, and numerous law libraries. To be honest, I had never heard about this program before, but it’s exciting to learn about. Not only does the Government Printing Office provide the libraries with the documents and information, it also can provide pamphlets and information the library can give to patrons about how government as a whole works and there’s even one geared for kids! That’s pretty amazing if you ask me.

Another facet of the civic mission of public libraries is the assistance many provide in both “English as a Second Language” and how to become a citizen. The majority of public libraries I researched offer ESL classes and information; many of them even have events where people can practice their conversational English skills in an informal setting. There are podcasts, databases and often links to other information as well offered on many public libraries’ Web sites. One public library I found – Kitsap Regional Library – even offers information about becoming a citizen. They have exam preparation tools including DVDs and databases.

Libraries across the country are part of an annual event called “El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day) -- also known as Día. Each year, it is held on April 30 and includes bilingual storytimes, book giveaways, and other family and literacy events. The day is aimed at partnering with parents and other caregivers to help raise enthusiastic readers among Spanish-speaking families. The event is coordinated by ALA’s Association for Library Service to Children and was originally started by children’s author Pat Mora in 1996. (ALA)

Dealing with economic woes

In the recent economic struggles and widespread job losses, many libraries are making job hunting help available on site as well as online. Many libraries are holding seminars with resume help and job-hunting skill sessions. The library in York, Pennsylvania, decided to offer more than help, they set up a day where people (even those who did not have a library card) could come to the library, get help putting together a resume, then print out five free copies. Now free copies might not seem like much, but to unemployed job seekers, it’s a help. The library director said the event was set up not only to help job seekers, but also to draw attention to other free services the library offers. They hope to show people who aren’t already patrons what the library has to offer for free.

In an article about helping library users who are looking for employment and help with tighter budgets, Paul LeClerc, the president of the New York Public Library, said: “We've been in the job-search business for decades. This is a continuation.” (Brustein)

To help public libraries offer assistance to their communities in tough times, the ALA has made available resources nationwide. As part of a grant program, they have made available information from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority called “Job Dislocation: Making Smart Financial Choices after a Job Loss.” It’s a brochure aimed at helping people maintain their financial stability while they are unemployed. The ALA provides the brochures to public libraries to give away.

The public library is the place to turn for free entertainment, too. With free DVDs to borrow (and sometimes free movie nights at the library), periodicals to read, presentations to attend (including some libraries that offer opera and symphony previews), book discussions, teen game nights, story times, arts & crafts sessions, podcasts, computer classes, and more, libraries have much to offer. One library in California includes on its Web site a “Library Use Calculator” that was created by Michigan State Library and adopted by the Maine State Library. The tool can help patrons see how much money they are saving by using library resources rather than renting movies or buying books. (“Mission Viejo Library Offers New Calculator”)

Christina Hennessy, in her article “Making Do: Library Use On the Rise As Residents Trim Spending,” gave this example of ways one library is helping: “At Greenwich Library's Cos Cob branch, several programs are planned to help families save money, learn how to best use coupons and build shopping lists, and find other ways to cut costs on household spending, according to Kate Petrov, the library's spokeswoman.” There seems to be no end to the ways in which public libraries are reaching out to help people in their communities.

Libraries' role in society

So public libraries play an important role in society by providing free access to information, but what sorts of free information do they provide access to? From the very beginning, libraries have been filled with books and other printed materials, but recently the information available from libraries has gone through a transformation. With the advent of computers, information is more accessible than ever. Libraries have changed the kinds of information they provide access to and how they provide access to it.

Today, libraries provide computers to patrons, not only for word processing use, but as a means to access the OPAC (online public access catalog), the Internet, games, and other resources. Most libraries subscribe to various searchable databases and online reference tools, as well as digital archives and subscriptions. For many, just having a library card allows patrons to have access to all that on their home computers or from the library’s public-use computers. Libraries see it as part of their role as providers of information to offer the means to access these resources regardless of who a patron is. One of the tenets of the modern ALA’s Bill of Rights is: “A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.” (ALA Web site, “Library Bill of Rights”) That assures everyone has access to the digital age; even if they can't afford a computer, they can go to the library and use one. Besides providing computers to use, many libraries today offer free wireless Internet access in their buildings, so people can bring their laptops – or borrow one in some cases – and use them in the library. One library in Waterford, Michigan, found its WiFi access so popular that it put a big antenna up in 2008 and began broadcasting the free signal 24 hours a day. (Wisely)

Libraries across the country have begun offering all sorts of services to their communities – most of them free. They offer free classes in computer use and provide access to online homework help for students. Some provide audio books and other formats of newspapers and information to blind and visually impaired patrons. In the article “Library Sends Books to Handicapped,” Ana Maria Trujillo states that: “According to a fact sheet released by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, in order to qualify for free services you must be a resident of the United States and unable to read standard print because of temporary or permanent visionary impairments. People with learning disabilities such as dyslexia, which hinders their ability to read easily, also qualify for the services.” (Trujillo) Offering these services to dyslexic people is a fantastic step and allows them to have easy access to all sorts of information.

Other libraries provide downloadable eBooks and audio books to all their patrons. With all of this digital content, libraries have become much more than a building full of books. There is a lot of information that patrons can access from home. While libraries provide access to online reference materials and databases, users don’t need to know how to access these types of information, the librarians will help them – by phone, e-mail, online chat or in person. Library staff members are trained to help information seekers find what they need.