And it’s good that libraries focus on literacy because the United States has a literacy problem.  National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) conducted a survey which found that 90 million American adults read at the two lowest literacy levels, basic or below basic. Studies show that those with poor literacy skills are more than twice as likely to be unemployed and tend to report poorer health, less trust, and lower civic engagement. 

Can public libraries really claim that they are informing and enriching individuals by supporting the development of literacy and lifelong learning if our citizens keep failing to meet basic literacy levels? In 2006, the American Institutes for Research published a study that demonstrated, “more than 75 percent of students at two-year colleges and more than 50 percent of students at four-year colleges do not score at the proficient level of literacy.” If we look at academic achievement to sort out our best and brightest, then how is it that over half of them lack proficient literacy skills?     

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, 20% of adults in the state of Florida lack basic literacy skills. The public library system I am employed at does not currently offer adult literacy programs and has only begun offering digital literacy programs at individual branches. To see how many other public libraries in Florida offer basic adult literacy programs and/or digital literacy programs, I sent a survey through the Florida Library Association’s (FLA) listserv. Of the respondents, 58% reported having an adult literacy programs, and 64% reported offering digital literacy programming. Twenty-five percent of responding libraries said they did not offer either adult literacy or digital literacy programs.    

This push on digital literacy is problematic for another reason. Navigating the digital world requires the ability to read and comprehend text. User agreements, permissions, and even directions are typically written on the screen. Adults with low literacy skills are not able to read the warnings or fully comprehend the implications of contracts. At my library, directions to log onto the computers, work the print station, and even the patron code of conduct are typed up and posted around the library. When librarians begin with the assumption that patrons can read, we do a disservice to our patrons who lack basic literacy.

Basic literacy is a crucial aspect of the services that public libraries provide. Without a solid grasp on basic literacy, patrons cannot fully participate in what the library has to offer. The By The Room 241 Team points out in their blog that literacy is a social justice issue and critical towards ending oppression and poverty. Increased literacy provides patrons with the skills to apply for jobs, understand budgets and financial options, sign up for health care and process medical directives. Libraries should offer digital literacy programs and help patrons navigate this brave new world, but they should not forget that the root of our service to a community starts with basic literacy.    

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This article was emailed to me by no more than seven different people, and shared widely on social media, but I can’t help but feel we’re preaching to the proverbial choir. What was different about Nieman’s article is that she specifically called out how unhelpful it is when people tout the feel-good wistfulness of libraries of old: “If we allow ourselves to indulge in nostalgic middle-class ideas of quiet places and well-stuffed bookshelves, then we have failed to understand them too. In fact, we have endangered them.”³

Nieman argues that portraying libraries in this golden-hued light inadvertently labels them as a non-essential service. When deciding how to spend a shrinking municipal budget, a quiet haven for books palls in comparison to a new police car. Additionally, this representation of libraries of the past is simply not accurate. While books have been a mainstay of libraries since their inception, public libraries have always been institutions where those of lesser means can come and access resources and information. By not specifically highlighting how the work of public libraries impacts disadvantaged populations we’re simultaneously selling ourselves short, reinforcing the idea that libraries are for some and not all, and slowly but surely digging our own grave. Our advocacy must start getting real about who is using our libraries and for what reasons. A public building is intended for public use, and not just the version of the public that people feel comfortable being around. Our facilities, services, programming and materials should be able to be used by even the most marginalized in our societies. Otherwise we’re not doing our job and assisting in its demise.

The Pennsylvania Library Association recognized the need to assist libraries with reframing their advocacy to highlight the essential services that they provide. The PA Forward program leverages public-private partnerships to bring programming to libraries that address five literacies that are necessary to succeed in the 21st century. These literacies include Basic, Financial, Information, Civic & Social, and Health. When libraries demonstrate that their services, programs, and materials fit one of these literacies, their impact and value are demonstrated more clearly. By talking about story time as basic literacy instruction we elevate the work being done to its rightful position. The skills associated with these literacies are necessary for success in today’s world and we provide that support- for free! So, while it may be uncomfortable, I believe it is our duty to crawl into the dark corners of our communities, shine a light on their needs, and adjust our services to serve them. When we tell those stories, its harder to ignore our value. By doing this we’re remembering our whole community, and not just those that wax philosophical about the dusty shelves of their small-town library. There is value in that perspective, but it’s not the whole story.

References
1. The Age, “Libraries are About Democracy, Not Just Books,” by Christie Nieman, published 10/8/18. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/libraries-are-about-democracy-not-just-books-20181009-p508k7.html. Accessed 10/19/18
2. The New York Times, “To Restore Civil Society, Start with the Library,” by Eric Klinenberg, published 9/8/18. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/08/opinion/sunday/civil-society-library.html. Accessed 10/19/18
3. Nieman, ibid.

The post Reframe Advocacy to Highlight Library’s Essential Services first appeared on Public Libraries Online.