During National Library Week we celebrate the many roles libraries play in their communities. We are hubs for preschoolers attending classes and learning skills to prepare for kindergarten, teens working on homework and looking for places to belong, new Americans learning English, immigrants studying to take the U.S. Citizenship exam, parents and seniors looking for connections, veterans working through trauma, and community members seeking to broaden their perspectives.
This year’s National Library Week is more poignant than ever. With the dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, many libraries who depend on federal funding will be forced to shut their doors. In Maryland, federal grants fund statewide programming, innovative training, librarian certifications, operating costs, and other expenses. Libraries use federal funds to provide access to the internet, create new and novel programs for a range of interests, and train staff.
In Howard County, we are fortunate that our community places a high value on libraries. While the portions of our budget that will be affected are still uncertain, we remain committed to the three key focus areas identified in our strategic plan released last year:
- All children enter school ready to learn, with emphasis on ages birth to 3;
- Teens and young adults feel a sense of agency and belonging, and
- An inclusive, connected community where everyone feels they belong.
Through community meetings, surveys, and interviews, you told us these were important, and we intend to continue addressing them no matter what happens at the federal level.
For 85 years we have enjoyed broad support from you, our community. And with your continued support, we will be here for another 85 years – and more!
We look forward to seeing you in our branches this week as we celebrate National Library Week and the critical work we do with our community.
Sincerely,
Tonya Aikens
President & CEO
Howard County Library System
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