Libraries have the Power to move PA Forward
Adamstown Area Library is proud to be a PA Forward Library! In the past few months, we’ve earned 2 of 5 Silver Stars, and we are working to do more.
PA Forward is a statewide initiative that places the spotlight on Pennsylvania libraries and the important role our libraries have in the lives of citizens. Libraries have moved far beyond just being book repositories. They’re agile institutions serving real-life needs. Libraries can be key to powering progress and elevating the quality of life in PA by fueling the types of knowledge essential to success.
Adamstown Area Library is raising awareness of their programs and offerings that help Pennsylvania citizens improve their command of five types of literacy – basic, information, civic and social, health, and financial. These literacies are essential to greater success in all vital roles of life: as students, as parents, as employees, as consumers, and as citizens.
As part of the program, logos on the library’s event flyers and marketing materials will identify which specific literacies the events promote, so keep an eye out. Many of our ongoing programs and services support PA Forward:
The Five Literacies
1. Basic Literacy – Libraries can push Pennsylvania to achieve one of the highest literacy rates in the country, a better trained and more skilled workforce, and a growing tax base, economy, and population. Programs that support basic literacy include: Family Place, 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, Preschool & Toddler Storytimes, Lapsit, and Bedtime Stories. Libraries are high-quality early learning providers that ultimately save taxpayer dollars otherwise needed for remedial programs.
2. Information Literacy – Libraries can help all Pennsylvanians learn how to use online resources and current technology to improve their education, to enhance their job skills, and to participate fully in a digital society. Programs that support information literacy include: STEM Programming, Technology Night, resume assistance, one-on-one computer training, and access to high-quality online databases.
3. Civic and Social Literacy – Libraries can give citizens of all ages the knowledge and skills they need to improve their lives, to contribute effectively in their communities, and to participate in civil discourse. Programs that support civic and social literacy include: special storytimes with members of the community, LEGO Club, Children’s Book Club, adult speakers, and more.
4. Health Literacy – Libraries can play an important role in helping citizens actively manage their own and their family’s well-being, making them effective partners with their health care providers and reducing costs. Programs that support health literacy include: adult workshops, special storytimes in partnership with CHI, and access to the Gale Health and Wellness resource database.
5. Financial Literacy – Libraries can help citizens become informed consumers and guide individuals, small businesses, and other organizations to contribute to the economic vitality of their communities. Programs that support financial literacy include: retirement and financial seminars, medicare enrollment assistance, and access to services at Duke Street Business Center.
The library also provides access to public computers and hotspots, Tumblebooks, OverDrive, Power Library, and Learning Express.
With the right support, libraries are ideally positioned to become the community centers of information, technology, and learning that will fuel educational and economic opportunity for all of our citizens.
For more information visit PAForward.org.