California State Library announces The Emerging Story of California Public Libraries

An important new tool for public libraries

November 9, 2012 - Sacramento, Calif. - The California State Library has announced an exciting new tool for public libraries. The Emerging Story of California Public Libraries is a document designed to help libraries reframe their stories of why they are still relevant in today's highly technological society.  This document or story map, was presented at the Annual California Library Association Conference in San Jose California, on Saturday, November 3, 2012. Commissioned by the State Library, library leaders from around California, along with former State Librarian Stacey A. Aldrich and Michael Margolis from Get Storied, have spent the past several months crafting this important message.

This document helps to celebrate the many ways that libraries have already adapted to the changing needs of society in the 21st century. These include: providing material and digital access to everyone; serving as a collector of information for future generations; connecting people, places and ideas in communities; supporting the discovery of new information; and becoming a hub to help communities be creators of content.

The future of libraries is more than just providing digital technology; the future is to help people understand the information and use it effectively. Libraries have embraced new technology while staying true to their mission of being institutions of learning and community involvement. This story map shows the many ways that communities are doing just that.

According to Acting State Librarian, Gerry Maginnity, The Emerging Story of California Public Libraries "provides the necessary information to help libraries explain their relevance to their communities, helping them tell their stories without forgetting their past. Our goal is to help frame the conversation to increase funding, collaboration, and the collective imagination."

The information in the story map is so vital and universal that it can be used as a template for use around the country. For more information about The Emerging Story of California Public Libraries story map you can download a PDF copy at http://www.library.ca.gov/lds/docs/CAPublicLibraryStoryMap.pdf
 

About the State Library: Founded in 1850, the California State Library is the central reference and research library for the Governor's office, legislature, state employees, and the general public. The State Library administers federal and state grants for programs in historical preservation, library construction, civil liberties education, literacy, volunteering, and broadband connectivity in public libraries. For more information, visit http://www.library.ca.gov.