RALEIGH – The American Library Association (ALA) www.ala.org, headquartered in Chicago, has once again recognized an innovative North Carolina campaign that encourages more people to carry the “smartest card” – the library card. “For the fourth year in a row,” says the ALA, “the State Library of North Carolina is proving that the smartest card in North Carolina is a library card.” www.ncculture.com
The 2009 Campaign features Gov. Bev Perdue, who appears in a video podcast available on youtube. The ALA quotes Perdue, who said “In tough economic times, our state’s public libraries are critical, because they help residents learn to read, use computers and develop other skills they need to succeed” and brings a “whole world of information and imagination.”
The campaign was developed by Pam Jaskot of the State Library. In recent years, the State Library has worked with Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Branford Marsalis, actress Andie MacDowell, and hockey player Kevyn Adams, former co-captain of the Carolina Hurricanes. On Sept. 1, 2009, Perdue issued a library card sign up month proclamation which states that more than 37 million people visited North Carolina’s libraries last year. Circulation of library materials is up 20 percent, and computer access and use has skyrocketed 86 percent.
The State Library of North Carolina is a division of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. The State Library of North Carolina works in partnership with communities to develop library service, coordinates statewide programs for all types of libraries, and offers direct library service to state employees, genealogy researchers, and people who have visual and physically handicaps. The Department of Cultural Resources is a state agency dedicated to the promotion and protection of North Carolina’s arts, history and culture and podcasting 24/7 with information about the Department of Cultural Resources.
The Campaign for America’s Libraries, (www.ala.org/@yourlibrary) is ALA’s public awareness campaign that promotes the value of libraries and librarians.