Special Initiatives for Creating and Expanding Educational Services in Our Neighborhood Libraries Dr. Anthony Marx, NYPL President, for Friends of the Library
March 2013
The New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018 | 212.930.0653 | www.nypl.org
HOW YOU CAN HELP Donate today: nypl.org/initiatives
Reimagining NYPL Services We’re expanding several groundbreaking programs to serve all of our patrons better. MyLibraryNYC: Gives our public school students easier access to the books they need. Imagine if every New York City public school student had access at school to all 17 million items in the City’s public library collections. That’s the promise of MyLibraryNYC, an innovative new program for schools and public libraries in New York City. It encourages reading by expanding student and teacher access to public library books and removing common barriers to borrowing them. Now, at the click of a button, students and educators can order delivery of books directly to their schools or neighborhood branches. This has never been done before. New York City is the first city in the world to offer an integrated online catalog to its teachers and students – and we’re creating a national model for a new kind of school–library partnership. For the City’s students, one library card provides access to millions of books from our three great public library systems – Queens Library, Brooklyn Public Library, and The New York Public Library. For our busy teachers, requesting book sets for their classes is quick and easy. We know this works. A pilot program has already achieved remarkable results. One year after it launched, 89 percent of participating teachers reported that MyLibraryNYC better equipped them to teach, and participating students were three times more likely to check out a public library book than their peers at other schools. Even with overdue fines waived, students consistently returned their books on time. This comment from a school librarian sums up MyLibraryNYC’s impact: “This is the most amazing advance in my library career! I cannot imagine life without it. Kudos to all involved. The positive impact is immeasurable.” Program goals: EYc] al ]Yka]j ^gj l]Y[`]jk Yf\ klm\]flk lg _]l l`] Zggck l`]q f]]\& =f[gmjY_] j]Y\af_ Yegf_ klm\]flk Zq hjgna\af_ gf] daZjYjq [Yj\ ^gj klm\]flk lg access all three NYC library systems. ?]l egj] klm\]flk lg dgn] j]Y\af_ Zq ojalaf_ gfdaf] j]na]ok$ \ak[mkkaf_ Zggck with friends, and visiting their local libraries.
1 The New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018 | 212.930.0653 | www.nypl.org
HOW YOU CAN HELP Donate today: nypl.org/initiatives
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL): Improves reading and writing skills within our immigrant communities. One in five residents in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island does not speak English very well. Limited English proficiency frequently leads to lower salaries and employment prospects. Many immigrants would not be able to support themselves and their families without access to ESOL classes. In New York City, however, classes can be prohibitively expensive. In the past year alone we’ve nearly tripled our free ESOL program’s capacity, added summer sessions and offered morning, afternoon, and evening classes. But we are still unable to meet the overwhelming demand. Sadly, we’re forced to turn away countless applicants when classes are oversubscribed. We believe that everyone should have access to these vital educational programs. So we aspire to expand our ESOL program to accommodate the largest number of participants to date – at full scale, ten times the number prior to the expansion. Program goals: 9kkakl egj] l`Yf *($((( klm\]flk ]Y[` q]Yj$ Yf\ Z][ge] l`] ;alq¿k dYj_]kl =KGD provider after the NYC Department of Education. Afljg\m[] Y f]o [mjja[mdme l`Yl Yddgok klm\]flk lg d]Yjf Yl l`]aj gof hY[]& Computer Training: Expands our technology training in 60 branches. Libraries aren’t about books alone anymore. More than ever, our digital collections, Internet availability, and online services are bringing people through our doors. In addition to providing access to technology, NYPL helps patrons learn how to use it. Last q]Yj$ gmj [gehml]j ljYafaf_ [dYkk]k `Y\ egj] l`Yf .-$((( Yll]f\]]k& Kge] hYljgfk mk] their new skills to learn more about the world. Others come away with key job aptitudes that employers are looking for. Our technology courses are so valuable to New Yorkers that sessions fill up quickly – in ^Y[l$ +( h]j[]fl g^ ]fjgdd]]k Yj] lmjf]\ YoYq \m] lg dY[c g^ khY[]& Gmj hjg_jYe ]phYfkagf will meet the City’s rising demand for technology training. Program goals: ;j]Yl] f]o L][`fgdg_q LjYafaf_ DYZk Yf\ ]phYf\ l][`fgdg_q ljYafaf_ [dYkk]k af .( ZjYf[`]k& Af[j]Yk] l`] [YhY[alq g^ gmj l][`fgdg_q [dYkk]k lg Y[[geeg\Yl] **-$((( hYjla[ahYflk$ Y *,. af[j]Yk] af [YhY[alq hj]%]phYfkagf&
2 The New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018 | 212.930.0653 | www.nypl.org
HOW YOU CAN HELP Donate today: nypl.org/initiatives
Out-of-School-Time @ NYPL: Creates inspiring programs for high school students. The Library’s 87 neighborhood branches are perfectly positioned to help students achieve more academically. They’re safe and convenient, with helpful, knowledgeable staff. Each \Yq$ +($((( k[`ggd [`ad\j]f nakal l`]aj dg[Yd daZjYja]k$ eYfq Yhh]Yjaf_ dac] [dg[cogjc Yl l`] end of the day. Gml%g^%K[`ggd%Lae] 8 FQHD oadd g^^]j ]phYf\]\ Y[[]kk lg kljm[lmj]\ Y^l]j%k[`ggd programming and resources such as research materials and laptops. Programs will include technology based projects, customized education technology, and critically needed gf]%gf%gf] Yf\ _jgmh `ge]ogjc `]dh& :]_affaf_ af K]hl]eZ]j *()+$ l`] hjg_jYe oadd `]dh klm\]flk d]Yjf oal` l`] _ma\Yf[] g^ kh][aYddq%ljYaf]\ klY^^& L`]k] ]phYf\]\ j]kgmj[]k Yf\ `ge]ogjc%`]dh ghhgjlmfala]k oadd ]fYZd] l`] ;alq¿k f]]\a]kl qgmf_ h]ghd] lg klYq gf track for college. Program goals: ?an] klm\]flk kh][aYddq%\]ka_f]\ hjg_jYek af l`]aj dg[Yd daZjYja]k lg klm\q Yf\ learn after school. Hjgna\] gf]%gf%gf] `ge]ogjc `]dh Yf\ ]f_Y_af_ ]\m[YlagfYd ghhgjlmfala]k lg lmlgjk Yf\ Y^l]j%k[`ggd ]\m[Ylgjk&
How You Can Help These programs represent new or expanded ways to serve our City. They require funding beyond what the City already provides. We have the help of foundations and corporations. Others will surely step forward. We need and invite the financial support of individual donors to complete our funding. Together, these four programs will help millions of New Yorkers make more of their ^mlmj]& L`]q eYq Çf\ Y da^]%dgf_ hYkkagf gj l`]aj f]pl [Yj]]j egn]$ Yf Y_]%gd\ a\]Y gj a new language. What your support gives them today is the opportunity to make these discoveries in the future. Thank you on behalf of all our patrons.
3 The New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018 | 212.930.0653 | www.nypl.org