Three communities are recipients of the 2016 LibraryAware Community Award given by Library Journal and underwritten by LibraryAware™, a product of the NoveList division of EBSCO Information Services. The Louisville Free Public Library in Kentucky was the first place recipient; the Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public Library and the Queens Public Library entered jointly and took second place; and the third place went to Cranston Public Library in Rhode Island.
The award recognises model communities that engage with their libraries to improve the lives of their citizens and create life-long learners and library users. The Louisville Free Public Library is a model of this goal as a leader in improving the overall literacy of its community, from children to adults, and supporting life-long learning for residents. Through a deep awareness of community needs, collaborating with partners, and innovative programming, the Louisville Free Public Library provides the residents of the Louisville community with broad access to knowledge, ideas and information to support them in their pursuit of learning throughout their lives.
The three joint winners, the Queens Library, New York Public Library and the Brooklyn Public Library have been selected in recognition for their work in partnership with the NYC Mayor's Office for Immigrant Affairs and for their role in the implementation of IDNYC, a municipal identification card. This program provides a way for undocumented immigrants, teens and others without access to official photo ID to get alternative identification. It serves as a model for the place of the library in a community, to provide everyone in that community with easy access to information and the opportunity to learn. As of January 2016, more than 250,000 people have been enrolled in IDNYC through these three outstanding public library systems.
The Cranston Public Library was recognised for its deep understanding of the evolving needs of its community and reflecting those needs in their programs and policies. Seeing an increase in the number of residents speaking languages other than English at home, the CPL in partnership with the Rhode Island Family Literacy Initiative began offering ESL classes in a variety of levels and continues to seek out partnerships that will provide for future residents. Cranston Public Library not only adapted to meet the needs of the community at present, but also anticipates the needs of the future.
The LibraryAware Community Award is given annually to a community of any size and its library.
Criteria for award include any and all components that create a LibraryAware community: strategic planning, marketing, outreach, partnerships, and programs, product or service development. The award emphasizes the library's engagement with the community its ability to make its community 'aware' of what the library can do for it - and has delivered on that promise. Libraries were also required to include one letter of recommendation from a representative from local government such as a city manager.
The 2016 winners are also featured in an article in Library Journal. The LibraryAware Community Award will be given annually to a community of any size and its library.
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