This week Muhlenberg County Public Libraries, together with the American Library Association (ALA), will officially launch a new initiative to promote awareness of the many roles libraries can play in today’s society.
The initiative, called Libraries Transform, is a national campaign that highlights the transformative nature of our nation’s libraries and emphasizes the critical role libraries still play in the digital age.
Muhlenberg County Public Libraries joins libraries of all types in this national, unified effort to increase awareness of the changing role of libraries and the ways in which libraries are transforming to meet the needs of their users.
Rapid advances in technology are fueling a library renaissance. No longer just places for books, libraries across the country now offer an assortment of free digitally-based programs and services including 3-D printing, ebooks, digital recording studios and technology training. Such tech-based resources are transforming lives through digital literacy and lifelong learning, contributing to education, employment, entrepreneurship, engagement and empowerment. Yet libraries are often overlooked as catalysts for powerful individual and community change.
Muhlenberg County Public Libraries cardholders have access to a vast, growing catalog of ebooks, digital audiobooks and digital videos. They are also able to access Mango language-learning software and can even sign up for online computer skills classes through popular provider Teknimedia. All of these services, among many others, are provided for free to all Muhlenberg County Public Libraries patrons.
The library system also hosts a wide variety of programs for all ages throughout the year. In addition to traditional events such as storytime and Summer Reading programs, the library hosts game days, indoor and outdoor movie nights, teen dances, book and movie clubs, musical and dramatic performances and more. Library staff can be found at many of the local community festivals and events, including the annual Squash and Gobble and the upcoming 2016 Lifestyle Show, with fun games and activities to engage patrons and potential patrons. And the library is always looking for new and innovative ideas to better serve Muhlenberg Countians.
“Today’s libraries are not just about what we have for people, but what we do for and with people,” ALA President Sari Feldman said. “The goal of the Libraries Transform campaign is to change the perception that ‘libraries are just quiet places to do research, find a book, and read’ to a shared understanding of libraries as dynamic centers for learning in the digital age.
“Libraries of all kinds foster individual opportunity that ultimately drives the success of our communities and our nation.”
The idea of the Libraries Transform initiative is to change the perception of libraries, Feldman said. Too many people see libraries as just nice to have or, even worse, obsolete, she said, when they should be seen as essential.
As part of the Libraries Transform initiative, Muhlenberg County Public Libraries will be making a concentrated effort to increase outreach opportunities and keep Muhlenberg County residents informed of all that their local libraries can have to offer.
The campaign launches this week, during National Library Week. As part of the week-long celebration and campaign, the libraries will be holding giveaways throughout the week. Visit the library to be entered!
For more information about Muhlenberg County Public Libraries’ programs and services, call 270-338-4760 or visit http://www.mcplib.org.
For more information about Libraries Transform please visit http://www.librariestransform.org.
You can also participate in the campaign yourself for a chance to win a $100 prize! Just tell us why libraries are important to you. Visit http://www.ilovelibraries.org/national-library-week for details.
I am trying to find out if you have a copy or E-book of A SQUARE MEAL which is a book about meals and nutrition during the Great Depression. This is what came up instead (the libraries-transformed page). I tried “new E-books”:a page from 2013 was the newest. I tried “books” with no results. I am on my smartphone if that makes a difference. How do I get to see if you have a copy of the book or if I can get it through the virtual books which may be easier? I signed in with my library card but mobile site is totally unhelpful and difficult/impossible to use. I thought your website was supposed to allow patrons to be able to use the library from our home.
Thank you.
JAYNE K CAMPBELL
I removed your library card number from your comment before I approved it so it wouldn’t be made public, but I wanted to make sure you got a response to your questions.
Once you sign into your account, you should be redirected to our catalog search page, then you can just type what you’re looking for into the search box on that page. If that still doesn’t seem to be working, we do have an app now that you can download for free for Apple devices. That may work better for you.
If you check the website on a computer, you don’t have to go through all that since the desktop site has a few more features. You can type the book title you’re looking for directly into the mcplib.org search box if you’re on a computer, and it’ll search print and electronic books.
I’m sorry for the trouble!