NJLA 2005 Conference Poster Sessions
Title:"Outreach Within Reach"
Presenters: Mimi Cirillo, Burlington County Library; Eric Zino, Burlington County College.
Abstract: Pemberton Library is located in an Abbott school district; 47% of population is unemployed; 19% only has a high school degree; and many ethnic groups who are transient residents from the military bases. Our mission this year was to reach out to those in the community who need literacy skills- whether ESL or native. We partnered with Burlington County College, Sun Bank, Fort Dix and McGuire AFB, Literacy volunteers of Burlington County, and the schools. We send staff to the local juvenile detention center for monthly bookchats and delivery, and the local rehab and resident unit at Buttonwood Hospital. We have done a demographic study and are gaining donations from Sun Bank and local businesses to purchase multiple copies of GED books and CD's. We are sequestering an area of the library for dedicated Job Search computers and resources. We published bus schedules from local mobile home parks to the library, and delivery our programs schedules to the park residents. We partnered with the county health department to offer teen Q&A sessions at our community room regarding teen topics, and included performances by a local HS band. We are going to the source of need!
Send e-mail to mallerym@mail.montclair.edu.
Last updated: April 15, 2005