Yesterday I posted to this blog about Will Sherman’s 33 reasons that librarians are still important. Today, I found a good follow-up blog post by Helene Blowers in her LibraryBytes blog, suggesting five more reasons that she gleaned from listening to her stakeholders:

1. A literate society is import for our community to prosper. Libraries provide vital services and resources that assist in the literacy development.
   
2. Our school and education systems are challenged and the need to raise our student’s achievement levels is important to the entire community. Libraries are the most important community partner to achieving this goal and with stakes this high this is perhaps our greatest legacy.
   
3. Community demographics are changing fast and new citizens need a trusted institution that can assist them with navigating the territory. Libraries serve as a vital community resource in helping both “newcomers” and “lifers” find their way through the forest.
   
4. Workforce development is paramount to a thriving community. Libraries provide learning resources, computer skills training classes and access to online resources for job applications, resume creations and career development.
   
5. As a knowledge rich society, people need a place to exchange ideas. Libraries are community gathering places that encourage conversation, dialogue and the exchange of free ideas.
   
6. … it’s your turn

In listening to her library’s stakeholders, Helene said, “Not once … did I hear that the library was important because we improve the information retrieval process or can offer excellence in digization. Our value to our community goes far beyond just being an alternative to Google. We need to learn to voice our importance in terms of community value and impact; not merely services/products.”

Helene’s comments are especially relevant to us at MLC right now, because we’re in the midst of putting together MLC’s special programs for next fall on the theme of “libraries building communities.” We’re excited to announce that Chrystie Hill, of IT Girl Consulting and of the Libraries Build Communities blog, will be our keynote speaker at the MLC Annual Meeting on October 5. Mark your calendars now!