The Today Show profile: Libraries

Yesterday morning (June 11th) the Today Show ran a segment on the important role libraries play during the recession, using data and resources provided by the ALA and public libraries.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

The ALA Public Information Office worked with the Today Show on this segment and has followed up to encourage NBC affiliates to take up the story locally. But you can help extend the reach of this positive story in several ways:

1)      Include the Today Show link on your library Web site

2)      Reach out to your local media this week with your local story (particularly NBC affiliates), complemented by national data from the ALA. Two key data points from the Today Show were: 73% of public libraries report they provide the only free access to the Internet in their communities. This rises to 83 percent for rural libraries: http://tinyurl.com/mupmzd and www.ala.org/plinternetfunding . Also, 68 percent of Americans have a library card: http://tinyurl.com/9ewpcc.

3)      Take advantage of free ALA resources to help tell your story to media, elected officials and funders. 

And here's some more information of interest:

Job-Seeking in U.S. Public Libraries
Using data from the Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study, the issues brief discusses the range of library resources available to job seekers and the challenges to maintaining these services. Additional briefing reports are at the following link.  Get a free copy of the PDF by emailing Larra Clark at [email protected].

Advocating in a Tough Economy Toolkit
Get tips, tools and messages that work.

Get the word out!

For questions or support around media outreach, please contact Macey Morales, [email protected], or Jennifer Petersen, [email protected], in the ALA Public Information Office.
For questions or support around advocacy tools, please contact Marci Merola, [email protected], or Jaclyn Finneke, [email protected].
For questions or support around statistics and research, please contact Denise Davis, [email protected], or Larra Clark at [email protected].