April 3, 2009

Troy Public Library Wins World Book/ALA Information Literacy Award

I am pleased to report that the Troy Public Library has received the 2009 World Book/ALA Information Literacy Goal Award. This annual award of $5,000 is given only to two libraries in the country each year: one public and one school. It is designed to encourage and support innovative and effective information literacy programs.

As you can image, we are excited to be recognized.

Our program – Information Literacy for the Job Seeker – will focus on individuals who have little computer literacy and are seeking jobs. Participants will be trained on how information is organized electronically, how communication is handled electronically, and how job sites are searched on the Internet. They will create an electronic resume and an email account to communicate with prospective employers. The program will include hands-on classes, individualized instruction, and a comprehensive workbook.

This Award will be presented at the American Library Association Award Ceremony and Reception on July 14, during the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. The winning school is the Brockport Central School District in Brockport, New York, for the Brockport Central School District’s Information Literacy Continuum.

No matter your view on federal aid to the automobile industry, in this area we see the impact of the current economic recession in real and personal ways. We all know someone who has lost a job or a house. Those who have limited computer skills are at a disadvantage in this economy. We hope that this program will help at least some of those seeking work to find it.

We will keep you posted on the progress of our project on The Tech Desk.

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