I think it’s a safe bet that most of you have never considered the notion that
have never considered the notion that
have never considered the notion that anyone would be desperate for a library
anyone would be desperate for a library
anyone would be desperate for a library well I can assure you that many people
well I can assure you that many people
well I can assure you that many people are I’m going to tell you their story
are I’m going to tell you their story
are I’m going to tell you their story today but before I do I’m going to give
today but before I do I’m going to give
today but before I do I’m going to give you some background those of you the
you some background those of you the
you some background those of you the audience who are saying why in the world
audience who are saying why in the world
audience who are saying why in the world would you put drawers on a wine rack I
understand that you are not as old
understand that you are not as old design because this indeed is a card
design because this indeed is a card
design because this indeed is a card catalog and how we used to research
catalog and how we used to research
catalog and how we used to research material in the library and maybe back
material in the library and maybe back
material in the library and maybe back then we were desperate for a librarian
then we were desperate for a librarian
then we were desperate for a librarian to help us understand how to use the
to help us understand how to use the
to help us understand how to use the card catalog a little bit biased but I
card catalog a little bit biased but I
card catalog a little bit biased but I really think libraries have done a
really think libraries have done a
really think libraries have done a remarkable job of keeping pace and
remarkable job of keeping pace and
remarkable job of keeping pace and transitioning in order to meet the needs
transitioning in order to meet the needs
transitioning in order to meet the needs of our customers and to meet the needs
of our customers and to meet the needs
of our customers and to meet the needs of society I’m going to show you a slide
of society I’m going to show you a slide
of society I’m going to show you a slide now that
now that
now that actually a can presentation this is a
actually a can presentation this is a
actually a can presentation this is a screen that shows people downloading
screen that shows people downloading
screen that shows people downloading ebooks or audio books from the Columbus
ebooks or audio books from the Columbus
ebooks or audio books from the Columbus Metropolitan library website it’s not in
Metropolitan library website it’s not in
Metropolitan library website it’s not in a real-time we captured it but as you
a real-time we captured it but as you
a real-time we captured it but as you see them slide across that means someone
see them slide across that means someone
see them slide across that means someone has downloaded another 90 okay and I
has downloaded another 90 okay and I
has downloaded another 90 okay and I captured this because I don’t want you
captured this because I don’t want you
captured this because I don’t want you to see how many times you are
to see how many times you are
to see how many times you are downloading 50 shades of grey in this
downloading 50 shades of grey in this
downloading 50 shades of grey in this audience right so you can see this was
audience right so you can see this was
audience right so you can see this was done earlier in the week the current day
done earlier in the week the current day
done earlier in the week the current day the number far left on the top of 7,200
the number far left on the top of 7,200
the number far left on the top of 7,200 items downloaded in the current day
items downloaded in the current day
items downloaded in the current day 49,000 since the beginning of the month
49,000 since the beginning of the month
49,000 since the beginning of the month almost 800,000 since January 1 and over
almost 800,000 since January 1 and over
almost 800,000 since January 1 and over 11 million all-time so you look at this
11 million all-time so you look at this
11 million all-time so you look at this and you say then our library is still
and you say then our library is still
and you say then our library is still relevant who needs them and with
relevant who needs them and with
relevant who needs them and with information being as ubiquitous as it is
information being as ubiquitous as it is
information being as ubiquitous as it is today and accessible how could anyone
today and accessible how could anyone
today and accessible how could anyone still be desperate for a library well
still be desperate for a library well
still be desperate for a library well they are we tell you the story about my
they are we tell you the story about my
they are we tell you the story about my first job as a library director it was
first job as a library director it was
first job as a library director it was actually a small town in Ohio and one
actually a small town in Ohio and one
actually a small town in Ohio and one day staff came back and said there’s a
day staff came back and said there’s a
day staff came back and said there’s a man who would like to speak to you I
man who would like to speak to you I
man who would like to speak to you I said great send him in and he walked in
said great send him in and he walked in
said great send him in and he walked in and he was a unassuming
and he was a unassuming
and he was a unassuming guy I would have said mid-to-late 30s
guy I would have said mid-to-late 30s
guy I would have said mid-to-late 30s average looking guy and I said how can I
average looking guy and I said how can I
average looking guy and I said how can I help you sir and he very slowly
help you sir and he very slowly
help you sir and he very slowly haltingly and then emotionally said I
haltingly and then emotionally said I
haltingly and then emotionally said I have third grade son and he’s asking for
have third grade son and he’s asking for
have third grade son and he’s asking for help with homework and for the first
help with homework and for the first
help with homework and for the first time in my life
time in my life
time in my life I’m going to have to admit to him that I
I’m going to have to admit to him that I
I’m going to have to admit to him that I don’t know how to read
think about that man’s journey I know he
think about that man’s journey I know he was employed but how did he mask his
was employed but how did he mask his
was employed but how did he mask his illiteracy what steps did he have to
illiteracy what steps did he have to
illiteracy what steps did he have to take the morning diner with friends that
take the morning diner with friends that
take the morning diner with friends that someone would show in the newspaper how
someone would show in the newspaper how
someone would show in the newspaper how would he get through the day how would
would he get through the day how would
would he get through the day how would his wife help him in that situation
his wife help him in that situation
his wife help him in that situation imagine being in the car that day
imagine being in the car that day
imagine being in the car that day desperate not knowing where to turn
desperate not knowing where to turn
desperate not knowing where to turn having the courage to come up to a
having the courage to come up to a
having the courage to come up to a perfect stranger and admit that he
perfect stranger and admit that he
perfect stranger and admit that he didn’t know how to read there’s 32
didn’t know how to read there’s 32
didn’t know how to read there’s 32 million adults in the United States who
million adults in the United States who
million adults in the United States who are functionally illiterate and I can
are functionally illiterate and I can
are functionally illiterate and I can tell you they are desperate for the
tell you they are desperate for the
tell you they are desperate for the services provider and a library so fast
services provider and a library so fast
services provider and a library so fast forward to this technological age and
forward to this technological age and
forward to this technological age and all the advances that libraries have
all the advances that libraries have
all the advances that libraries have made and that desperation for some still
made and that desperation for some still
made and that desperation for some still remains this is a picture of one of our
remains this is a picture of one of our
remains this is a picture of one of our branch libraries it’s the computer area
branch libraries it’s the computer area
branch libraries it’s the computer area always teeming with people this is a
always teeming with people this is a
always teeming with people this is a very highly automated process people
very highly automated process people
very highly automated process people come in and they scan their library card
come in and they scan their library card
come in and they scan their library card and they get a little reservation slip
and they get a little reservation slip
and they get a little reservation slip and it says you have computer number 15
and it says you have computer number 15
and it says you have computer number 15 at 3:00 p.m. for 60 minutes
at 3:00 p.m. for 60 minutes
at 3:00 p.m. for 60 minutes well that act happens 1.5 million times
well that act happens 1.5 million times
well that act happens 1.5 million times a year in our library system and even
a year in our library system and even
a year in our library system and even though in some of our
though in some of our
though in some of our we’ve doubled the number of computers
we’ve doubled the number of computers
we’ve doubled the number of computers that are available people are waiting 30
that are available people are waiting 30
that are available people are waiting 30 45 60 minutes to get access to a
45 60 minutes to get access to a
45 60 minutes to get access to a computer
computer
computer now imagine that compared to your life
now imagine that compared to your life
now imagine that compared to your life and I’m guessing this audience like we
and I’m guessing this audience like we
and I’m guessing this audience like we think of our smartphone or a laptop or
think of our smartphone or a laptop or
think of our smartphone or a laptop or an iPad almost in the same way we would
an iPad almost in the same way we would
an iPad almost in the same way we would think of a pencil and paper it’s
think of a pencil and paper it’s
think of a pencil and paper it’s available to us so what’s different
available to us so what’s different
available to us so what’s different about the folks using it in the library
about the folks using it in the library
about the folks using it in the library system well many people do have a
system well many people do have a
system well many people do have a smartphone now it’s hard to conduct all
smartphone now it’s hard to conduct all
smartphone now it’s hard to conduct all of your digital business on a smartphone
of your digital business on a smartphone
of your digital business on a smartphone they may not have a laptop or a computer
they may not have a laptop or a computer
they may not have a laptop or a computer but let’s say they do have a laptop or a
but let’s say they do have a laptop or a
but let’s say they do have a laptop or a computer but they may not have internet
computer but they may not have internet
computer but they may not have internet access in the home they might have a
access in the home they might have a
access in the home they might have a computer and internet access but six
computer and internet access but six
computer and internet access but six people live at home and so they’re
people live at home and so they’re
people live at home and so they’re looking for extra capacity we work with
looking for extra capacity we work with
looking for extra capacity we work with some of the folks at the Apple store to
some of the folks at the Apple store to
some of the folks at the Apple store to help us with the Apple devices that we
help us with the Apple devices that we
help us with the Apple devices that we have in our library and one of the
have in our library and one of the
have in our library and one of the things that they tell us is they have to
things that they tell us is they have to
things that they tell us is they have to go through and wipe the computers
go through and wipe the computers
go through and wipe the computers throughout the day because they find
throughout the day because they find
throughout the day because they find many people dealing with confidential
many people dealing with confidential
many people dealing with confidential information like their personal banking
information like their personal banking
information like their personal banking I can tell you that the folks we rely on
I can tell you that the folks we rely on
I can tell you that the folks we rely on a library for school for education or
a library for school for education or
a library for school for education or their personal business to gain access
their personal business to gain access
their personal business to gain access to the digital grid they’re indeed
to the digital grid they’re indeed
to the digital grid they’re indeed desperate for a library as well so I’m a
desperate for a library as well so I’m a
desperate for a library as well so I’m a librarian by training and almost a rule
librarian by training and almost a rule
librarian by training and almost a rule that I have to recommend a book to you
that I have to recommend a book to you
that I have to recommend a book to you so I’m going to recommend Malcolm
so I’m going to recommend Malcolm
so I’m going to recommend Malcolm Gladwell’s outliers and in one of the
Gladwell’s outliers and in one of the
Gladwell’s outliers and in one of the chapters in Malcolm Gladwell’s book he
chapters in Malcolm Gladwell’s book he
chapters in Malcolm Gladwell’s book he talks about a research study that looks
talks about a research study that looks
talks about a research study that looks at the educational
at the educational
at the educational performance of children who come from
performance of children who come from
performance of children who come from low-income middle-income and high income
low-income middle-income and high income
low-income middle-income and high income family and we probably all have the
family and we probably all have the
family and we probably all have the built-in bias that says children who
built-in bias that says children who
built-in bias that says children who come from low-income families are going
come from low-income families are going
come from low-income families are going to perform lower than those from
to perform lower than those from
to perform lower than those from high-end competitors and it’s true but
high-end competitors and it’s true but
high-end competitors and it’s true but not the way you think
not the way you think
not the way you think because from September to May children
because from September to May children
because from September to May children from all three socio-economic groups
from all three socio-economic groups
from all three socio-economic groups actually perform at about the same level
actually perform at about the same level
actually perform at about the same level in fact in some instances as measured by
in fact in some instances as measured by
in fact in some instances as measured by standardized tests the low-income and
standardized tests the low-income and
standardized tests the low-income and middle-income children are actually
middle-income children are actually
middle-income children are actually performing better September through May
performing better September through May
performing better September through May that’s the school year and then the
that’s the school year and then the
that’s the school year and then the summer arrives and a phenomenon takes
summer arrives and a phenomenon takes
summer arrives and a phenomenon takes old called the Summer Slide June July
old called the Summer Slide June July
old called the Summer Slide June July and August the children who live in
and August the children who live in
and August the children who live in high-income families have high quality
high-income families have high quality
high-income families have high quality daycare they may go to co-sign a foreign
daycare they may go to co-sign a foreign
daycare they may go to co-sign a foreign language tutor maybe they go to a camp
language tutor maybe they go to a camp
language tutor maybe they go to a camp for a couple of weeks and in August mom
for a couple of weeks and in August mom
for a couple of weeks and in August mom and dad take them to Washington DC to
and dad take them to Washington DC to
and dad take them to Washington DC to see the monuments and the museums all
see the monuments and the museums all
see the monuments and the museums all incredible learning enhancements for
incredible learning enhancements for
incredible learning enhancements for those high income children what about
those high income children what about
those high income children what about the child or low-income family very few
the child or low-income family very few
the child or low-income family very few resources because the parent or provider
resources because the parent or provider
resources because the parent or provider does not have the means to supply those
does not have the means to supply those
does not have the means to supply those extra services and that’s really where
extra services and that’s really where
extra services and that’s really where the Public Library comes in because
the Public Library comes in because
the Public Library comes in because those children they’re one cultural
those children they’re one cultural
those children they’re one cultural educational institution that is
educational institution that is
educational institution that is available to them during the summer
available to them during the summer
available to them during the summer months is the public library
months is the public library
months is the public library so they come in looking for materials
so they come in looking for materials
so they come in looking for materials they come in looking for technology they
they come in looking for technology they
they come in looking for technology they take act they
take act they
take act they access to our programming and then even
access to our programming and then even
access to our programming and then even lunch why lunch because the library
lunch why lunch because the library
lunch why lunch because the library takes over the school nutrition program
takes over the school nutrition program
takes over the school nutrition program during the summer months as if you’re
during the summer months as if you’re
during the summer months as if you’re hungry during the school year guess what
hungry during the school year guess what
hungry during the school year guess what you’re still hungry in the summer months
you’re still hungry in the summer months
you’re still hungry in the summer months and these children are desperate for the
and these children are desperate for the
and these children are desperate for the opportunities desperate for the
opportunities desperate for the
opportunities desperate for the resources and programs and desperate for
resources and programs and desperate for
resources and programs and desperate for the services that the library provides
the services that the library provides
the services that the library provides so at the end why does all of this
so at the end why does all of this
so at the end why does all of this matter to any of us well to begin with
matter to any of us well to begin with
matter to any of us well to begin with if you reach third grade and you are not
if you reach third grade and you are not
if you reach third grade and you are not reading at the third grade level you are
reading at the third grade level you are
reading at the third grade level you are four times more likely to drop out of
four times more likely to drop out of
four times more likely to drop out of high school than a child who’s reading
high school than a child who’s reading
high school than a child who’s reading at the third grade level the reason for
at the third grade level the reason for
at the third grade level the reason for that is up until third grade children
that is up until third grade children
that is up until third grade children learn to read after third grade they
learn to read after third grade they
learn to read after third grade they read to learn so what happens is they
read to learn so what happens is they
read to learn so what happens is they increasingly fall behind their peers and
increasingly fall behind their peers and
increasingly fall behind their peers and end up dropping out and in Franklin
end up dropping out and in Franklin
end up dropping out and in Franklin County if you do not have a high school
County if you do not have a high school
County if you do not have a high school degree you have double the chance of
degree you have double the chance of
degree you have double the chance of living in poverty than someone with just
living in poverty than someone with just
living in poverty than someone with just a high school degree obviously your odds
a high school degree obviously your odds
a high school degree obviously your odds get much better with more education and
get much better with more education and
get much better with more education and in our nation’s prison population 60% of
in our nation’s prison population 60% of
in our nation’s prison population 60% of the inmates are illiterate a question
the inmates are illiterate a question
the inmates are illiterate a question that hasn’t been asked is is that a
that hasn’t been asked is is that a
that hasn’t been asked is is that a correlation or is that a causation
where would these individuals turn if it
where would these individuals turn if it weren’t for our public library system
weren’t for our public library system
weren’t for our public library system the impact on these individuals to not
the impact on these individuals to not
the impact on these individuals to not have access to these resources to
have access to these resources to
have access to these resources to themselves and collectively to society
themselves and collectively to society
themselves and collectively to society is very devastating to us all and we all
is very devastating to us all and we all
is very devastating to us all and we all pay the price so guess what you’re
pay the price so guess what you’re
pay the price so guess what you’re desperate for a library as well because
desperate for a library as well because
desperate for a library as well because without it we would all face serious
without it we would all face serious
without it we would all face serious consequences in society so the next time
consequences in society so the next time
consequences in society so the next time you visit your local public library take
you visit your local public library take
you visit your local public library take a moment to look around check out the
a moment to look around check out the
a moment to look around check out the people who are there look at the
people who are there look at the
people who are there look at the services that they are using and know
services that they are using and know
services that they are using and know because of what you have helped provide
because of what you have helped provide
because of what you have helped provide they may not be desperate that day
you
you [Applause]
”
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