The Library of Congress launched its annual summer essay contest, in conjunction with public libraries in the Mid-Atlantic region, to encourage rising 5th- and 6th-grade students to reflect on books that have made a personal impact on their lives. The 5th annual “A Book That Shaped Me” contest is running now in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington D.C.
Students entering 5th and 6th grades in the fall of 2016 are eligible. Essays, focused on a single book, should be one page in length and must be submitted with an entry form, in person, at participating public library locations. The deadline for entries is Friday, July 18, 2016. The participating public libraries in Delaware are: all New Castle County Libraries; Wilmington and North Wilmington Libraries; and Delmar, Dover, Frankford, Laurel, Millsboro, Selbyville and South Coastal Public Libraries.

“A Book That Shaped Me” will award prizes to five finalists and one winner per state, and to three overall grand-prize winners. Top winners will be invited to present their essays during a special presentation at the 16th Library of Congress National Book Festival on Saturday, September 24, 2016, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
Additional information and entry forms can be found here: https://www.loc.gov/bookfest/kids-teachers/booksthatshape

About:

The National Book Festival is made possible by the generous support of private- and public-sector sponsors who share the Library’s commitment to reading and literacy, led by National Book Festival Co-Chairman David M. Rubenstein. Charter sponsors include AARP, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, The Washington Post and Wells Fargo; Patron sponsors include the James Madison Council and the National Endowment for the Arts; Contributor-level sponsors include The Junior League of Washington and Scholastic Inc.; and, in the Friends category, the Marshall B. Coyne Foundation Inc., the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction, the National Endowment for the Humanities and Small Press Expo. Those interested in supporting the National Book Festival may contact the Library at devofc@loc.gov.

The Library of Congress, the largest library in the world, holds more than 162 million items in various languages, disciplines and formats. The Library serves the U.S. Congress and the nation both on-site in its reading rooms on Capitol Hill and through its award-winning website at loc.gov.

The Delaware Division of Libraries, a state agency dedicated to unleashing the potential in all Delawareans in partnership with Delaware Libraries, offers free access to the online catalog (delawarelibraries.org); Wi-Fi; computers/internet; eBooks, programs/workshops, community partnerships, and more.

Media Contact:
Patty Langley, Delaware Center for the Book Coordinator
Patty.langley@delaware.gov
302-257-3011

The Delaware Division of Libraries and Delaware public libraries invite children, teens, and adults to join the 2016 Library Summer Challenge! Themes for this year revolve around physical activities, “On Your Mark, Get Set…Read” for kids, “Get in the Game, Read” for teens, and “Exercise Your Mind. Read!” for adults. Registration is free at all public libraries and incentive prizes are awarded based on reading and activity milestones.

“The Library Summer Challenge is a lighthearted way to approach the serious topic of summer learning loss,” said State Librarian, Dr. Annie Norman. “Studies have shown that children who participate in public library summer programs score higher on reading achievement tests at the beginning of the new school year, experience less summer reading loss, and begin the school year with more confidence.”

Throughout the summer, libraries will provide a variety of fun and educational STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), art, and cultural programs. The following programs for children will be presented at all public libraries throughout the state; visit http://guides.lib.de.us/onyourmark for the schedule of events and additional information:

Hip Hop Fundamentals is a diverse team of B-Boys (breakdancers) who use their footwork, freezes, and powermoves to inspire, educate, and entertain young and old alike. But, don’t be fooled. These guys can pop lock, head spin, and floor rock with the best B-Boys and B-Girls around. In partnership with the Delaware Division of the Arts

123 Andrés leads the audience on a movement-filled marathon around the Americas with stops to learn about music and dance. 123 Andrés encourages children and their families to share experiences, joy, and laughter through songs and movement. He performs bilingually in English and Spanish and provides his own accompaniment with guitar, clarinet, and saxophone. In partnership with the Delaware Division of the Arts

A Healthy Portion of Science is how the Delaware Aerospace Education Foundation will lead children through science, math, and engineering on the way to good health. You and your child will be introduced to the food groups and what we can learn from food packaging labels. Take a walk through the digestive system, learn how to find your pulse and count its rate, and see how the muscles and bones of the legs enable movement. Use food labels to practice math skills like classifying, counting, comparing numbers on a number line, and mental math. Do the work of an engineer as you model the organs that aid digestion and circulate your blood. On your mark, get science, and go healthy!

The Delaware Nature Society, in conjunction with Abbott’s Mill and Ashland Nature Centers will present a variety of nature-related programs at public libraries throughout the summer and fall.

About:
The Delaware Division of Libraries, a state agency dedicated to unleashing the potential in all Delawareans in partnership with Delaware Libraries, offers free access to the online catalog (delawarelibraries.org); Wi-Fi; computers/internet; eBooks, programs/workshops, community partnerships, and more.

(Dover, DE) – The Delaware Division of Libraries, in collaboration with the Delaware Community Foundation and the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement, invite all community leaders affiliated with a Delaware entity offering services and support to Delawareans (businesses, nonprofit organizations, agencies, and more!) to attend an Open House for Delaware Partners on Thursday, June 2, 2016 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Dover Public Library, 35 Loockerman Plaza, Dover DE.
Established in 2008 by the Delaware Division of Libraries, Delaware Partners is a collaborative effort of more than 130 organizations focused on strengthening services to Delawareans by coordinating information exchange through public libraries. Initially formed to assist Delawareans with emergency needs during the Great Recession, the Delaware Division of Libraries is now partnering with the Delaware Community Foundation and the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement to strengthen Delaware Partners, to coordinate and maximize community information sharing across the public and private sectors. Additional information about Delaware Partners can be found at http://guides.lib.de.us/departners.

“Delaware Partners is a great example of the spirit that exists in our state to take on challenges,” said Governor Jack Markell. “We’ve worked hard during my administration to maximize the value our libraries can have in our communities with innovative efforts like Delaware Partners. I’m excited about the potential partnerships that can arise as a result of events like the open house to bring together our dedicated community of service providers,” he added.

The Markell administration has provided more than $33 million in funding for improvements and upgrades to public libraries in all three counties – more than any other administration to date. “Delaware Libraries have developed a significant infrastructure of technology and locations throughout the state. This infrastructure enables partners, in collaboration with Delaware Libraries, to extend their resources and expand their reach in service to Delawareans,” said Dr. Annie Norman, State Librarian.

Stuart Comstock-Gay, CEO of the Delaware Community Foundation, said that “libraries catalyze learning, connect people and ideas and inspire the discovery, creation, preservation and sharing
of knowledge so very vital to community and our quality of life. We are pleased to join with the Division of Libraries and DANA for this Delaware Partners event and will be presenting DelawareFocus.org, the community indicator project sponsored by the Foundation and available to everyone who seeks to know and understand Delaware.”

“This program is a wonderful way for nonprofit leaders to learn more about who is working in what social impact arenas. Our ability to work together, share insights and learn from each other is a foundational element in creating the change our organizations seek here in Delaware,” said Dr. Sheila Bravo, President & CEO, Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement.

Participants are encouraged to bring along plenty of business cards and brochures about their services, as well as their key goals and aspirations. Please register at: http://tinyurl.com/departnersopenhouse. Those who would like to participate in the partnership but are unable to attend are asked to indicate their interest here:https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/departnersopenhouse. For more information, contact Dr. Annie Norman,annie.norman@delaware.gov.

About the Delaware Division of Libraries
The Delaware Division of Libraries, a state agency dedicated to unleashing the potential in all Delawareans in partnership with Delaware Libraries, offers free access to the online catalog (delawarelibraries.org); Wi-Fi; computers/internet; eBooks, programs/classes, community partnerships, and more.

About the Delaware Community Foundation
The mission of the Delaware Community Foundation is to build a shared vision for Delaware, grounded in knowledge, inspired by the common good and advanced through philanthropy. As a facilitator, information resource and manager of charitable funds, the DCF helps communities and philanthropists focus charitable resources for the greatest community benefit statewide. For more information, visit delcf.org or call 302.571.8004.

About the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement
As the leader of the nonprofit sector in Delaware, DANA’s mission is to strengthen, enhance, and advance nonprofits and the nonprofit sector through advocacy, training, capacity building, and research.

The Delaware Division of Libraries is delighted to announce Dr. Annie Norman, State Librarian, was inducted into the Hall of Fame of Delaware Women in March 2016.

Each year the Delaware Commission for Women inducts exemplary women into their Hall of Fame. Dr. Norman is the first librarian to be inducted, and she was selected due to her transformational leadership in crafting innovative strategies and partnerships for Delaware Libraries on behalf of Delawareans.  A Senate Tribute, sponsored by Senator Margaret Rose Henry, was also presented in recognition of “outstanding efforts and expertise in the arena of literacy and library technology.”

“I’ve worked with Annie for several years, beginning when I was State Treasurer, and I offer my congratulations,” said Governor Jack Markell. “She has brought extraordinary vision to Delaware Libraries. I am very proud that even during difficult times my administration was able to invest more than ever in libraries, which would not have been possible without the efforts of Annie and Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock.”

In her remarks on behalf of Delaware Libraries, Dr. Norman noted, “2016 is the 115th anniversary of the Delaware State Library Commission.  Libraries have evolved over the past 115 years, and libraries support girls, and women, and all Delawareans in learning, and renewal, throughout life.”

“Annie’s pursuit of excellence is exhibited both in her personal quest to attain the highest level of professionalism by completing her doctorate while simultaneously expertly managing a state library agency and through her organization’s quest to identify and implement best practices drawn from the world of business as well as from the library world,” said William Wilson, of Himmel & Wilson, nationally recognized library consultants.

With the support of the Administration and General Assembly, as State Librarian Dr. Norman steers Delaware’s libraries in collaboration, expansion, and improvement of services on behalf of Delawareans.

• Library buildings have almost doubled in size overall, and are designed to deliver state-of-the-art services through the robust shared technology platform supported by the Delaware Division of Libraries;
• Using the live data that a shared technology platform makes possible, Delaware is first to develop an innovative library assessment model at scale across all public library services;
• The Delaware Library Catalog (delawarelibraries.org), celebrating its 10th year, includes all Delaware public libraries as well as several academic, school, and special libraries sharing 2.6 million items on behalf of Delawareans statewide;
• The Delaware Division of Libraries now supports statewide all public library technologies including the network, Wi-Fi, public access computing, catalog, electronic collections, program calendar, and more;
• Delaware Libraries Inspiration Spaces, first formed with federal funds and a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support Job Seekers, also expanded the capacity to support Entrepreneurs and innovators through maker technologies and events where people can enthusiastically learn about and experiment with technology and DIY activities;  and
• Partnerships with over 130 organizations and growing, expand the reach and capacity to meet Delawareans’ needs across all subject areas.

Dr. Norman has been State Librarian of Delaware since 2002.

• She received her Doctorate of Education in Innovation and Organizational Leadership from Wilmington University, and is the recipient of the Audrey K. Doberstein Award for Leadership for her dissertation entitled Librarians’ Leadership for Lifelong Learning;
• Her Master’s degree in Library Science is from Drexel University and she is a member of Beta Phi Mu, the international library and information studies honor society;
• Delaware Division of Libraries received the Delaware Quality Award of Merit and the Delaware Library Association Institutional Award in recognition of performance excellence principles and practices;
• She received the Delaware Library Association Distinguished Service Citation; and
• Her recent talk for TEDxWilmington, “Libraries and the American Dream” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDwndQ3qiSQ) conveys Delaware Libraries’ role in supporting the power of curiosity.

About

The Hall of Fame of Delaware Women, now celebrating its 35th anniversary, is the oldest annual celebration of Delaware Women, inclusive of all women throughout the State. Its purpose is to annually recognize and acknowledge the achievements of remarkable Delaware women.

The Delaware Division of Libraries, a state agency dedicated to unleashing the potential in all Delawareans in partnership with Delaware Libraries, offers free access to the online catalog (delawarelibraries.org); Wi-Fi; computers/internet; eBooks, programs/classes, community partnerships, and more.

Contact:
Beth-Ann Ryan
Deputy Director, Delaware Division of Libraries
302-257-2002
beth-ann.ryan@delaware.gov

Dover—Delaware library officials, friends, advocates, patrons, and other lovers of libraries will have an opportunity to meet with legislators at the annual Delaware Library Legislative Action Day on Tuesday, April 12 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The event is presented by the Delaware Library Association.

A full day of activities is planned, including an information session at the Dover Public Library, and lunch with legislators followed by discussions with legislators at Legislative Hall.  Library advocates will meet with Governor Markell in the afternoon to personally thank him and his administration for years of support for Delaware libraries.

Since the first event in 1992, library supporters have influenced legislation and funding to benefit libraries throughout Delaware. During that time, state funding for libraries has increased by more than 150 percent, and more than $25 million of state funds have gone into library construction projects during the Markell administration. Statewide library technology infrastructure, broadband, and wireless access has been achieved and more than half a million Delawareans and/or their families have library cards.  The Delaware Library Catalog eBook lending program enters into its fourth year with Delawareans downloading eBooks, eAudiobooks, and eMagazines over 30,000 times each month.

Library Legislative Action Day gives librarians and library advocates an opportunity to thank Delaware legislators for their support of libraries as well as to influence future legislation and funding.

About the Delaware Library Association

The Delaware Library Association (http://dla.lib.de.us) is a chapter of the American Library Association, and its mission is to promote the profession of librarianship, to advocate for library services, and to provide information and services for Delawareans.  DLA is the only statewide association that represents all types of libraries including academic, public, school, and special libraries.