Your Library: Gateway to the Community

Abstract:
Noting the tremendous influx of new residents to the Hudson Valley region, the Mid-Hudson Library System will assist member libraries in supporting and responding to their unique requests. This is especially crucial due to disconnects between ethnic minority newcomers, non-ethnic minority newcomers, and area natives. This program will facilitate community integration by identifying their common needs as new residents, regardless of ethnicity, to offer shared programming among all three groups. Library staffs are being inundated with new inhabitants expecting higher levels of service and access to very specific community information. Your Library: Gateway to the Community will enable librarians to become proficient in serving these populations by providing training and resource assistance. Essentially, the project will help libraries serve the newest members of their dynamic communities, highlight the value of library services to a fresh group of residents, and illustrate the library's role as a community commons.

Specific activities will include:

• Survey of new residents (ethnic minorities and non-ethnic minorities) to identify their information needs.
• Creation of specialized workshops that will address the needs/desires of new residents as identified in surveys.
• Design and distribution of library information brochure to be given directly to new residents through realtors, town halls, BOCES, Literacy Volunteers and other groups serving ethnic minority and non-ethnic minority newcomers.
• Customer service training for target library staff to assist them in addressing the unique needs of new residents, in cultural awareness/sensitivity issues, and in working with speakers of other languages.
• Creation of new resident resource kit for member libraries.

Your Library: Gateway to the Community is funded in part by Federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds in program year 2003-4 awarded to the New York State Library by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services, and in part by the Mid-Hudson Library System.

Resources for participating libraries:

Project Startup

• Target Libraries/Contact Information
  
• Library Card Survey
• Project Guidelines
• Project Timeline
• Reporting Page
• Tally Sheet
• Sample Press Release (Surveys)

New Resident Resource Kit

• Identifying new residents
• Welcome Letter
• Kit Materials (by library)
  
• New Resident Frequently Asked Questions
• Gift Incentives for New Residents
• New Resident Brochure (Spanish version)

Programs for New Residents

• Program Notice Template (Click here, for a sample program notice.)
• Program Evaluation Form
• Program Sign-in Sheet
  
• Sample Press Release (Programs)
• Program Ideas (Type "new resident" in the keyword box.)
• Program Calendar

New Resident Resource Website

• New Resident website - links to a variety of information pertinent to members in your community.
• Website flyer - print out and make copies to include in new resident kits. You might make additional copies available to patrons at the reference desk or in your brochure rack.

Graphic for new resident webpage link

• Adobe Acrobat is required to view some of the resources listed here. Get it for free here

  Contact project coordinator, Kirstin Litwin, with any questions.
  

• New Resident Training (long version)
• New Resident Training 2 (PowerPoint)
• New Resident Training 2 (web page)
• New Resident Training 2 (pdf)
• Margaret's Hyde Park (PowerPoint)
• SeniorNet (PowerPoint)
  

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