September marks Library Card Sign-up Month, Free Story Walks in each county

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney and First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney on Friday encouraged students and families to read throughout the school year by promoting the new Story Walks created in partnership with the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE), the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), the Delaware Division of Libraries and Syncretic Press, a multi-lingual book publisher based in Wilmington.

“Delaware students, families and educators worked hard this summer to make sure learning was accelerated before students went back to classrooms. This effort was capped off with the introduction of the Story Walks in our Delaware State Parks,” said Governor Carney. “One of our highest education priorities is to make sure third graders are reading at grade level. Programs like these Story Walks will help children experience reading in an interactive way in all three counties. We encourage you to check out the Story Walks and sign up for a library card if you don’t have one.”

“Language exposure is such a huge part of healthy brain development, and we’re not going to be able to tackle any of our big problems unless we address that healthy brain development for young children,” said First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney. “Bringing books to settings where kids are comfortable and that they associate with fun, like at our parks, is a great way to encourage reading.”

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The Story Walks launched on September 1 in Brandywine Park, Killen’s Pond, and Trap Pond. There is a different story featured at each park including: Noah and the Red Cat, Spanish Tortilla, and Time to Play. The book titles and installations were managed by Syncretic Press. All stories are available in English and Spanish.

“We are grateful for the State Literacy Plan funding that enabled us to partner with DNREC on this project so we can promote both reading and outdoor exercise. When families visit Delaware’s beautiful parks, we hope the story walks will provide an enjoyable opportunity to jump into a new book,” said Secretary of Education Susan Bunting. “Families can read the stories together and talk about the books with their children while they are walking. They can discuss what the characters are doing and make predictions from one story board to the next. We hope such experiences encourage reading as a family not just while at the park but also when at home. It’s our goal to create lifelong readers in the state of Delaware.”

“We are excited to host these Story Walks within Delaware State Parks and offer our visitors opportunities to read while in nature,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “The stories are fun to read and provide short literary adventures that we hope both children and adults enjoy exploring.”

“In times when everything moves so fast even when we read a story, a Book Walk allows you to pause between the pages and wonder what is coming next as you literally walk to the next page. Engaging the mind and body this way allows the reader to better savor the story and the illustrations,” said Enrique Morás, Co-Founder and Managing Editor of Syncretic Press. “We are excited to introduce these Latin American authors and illustrators to readers in Delaware. Bringing diverse perspectives on art and storytelling open up new windows of understanding, growth and tolerance in our community.”

The Delaware Division of Libraries is also promoting Library Card Sign-up Month throughout September. Individuals can sign up for a library card at delawarelibraries.org or in person at their local public library. 

“September is Library Card Sign-up Month! A library card is a school essential, and it’s free,” said Annie Norman, State Librarian and Director of the Delaware Division of Libraries. “About half of Delawareans have a library card. Register for your library card today, online or in person at your local public library.”

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Thursday August 26, 2021

Dover, DE – Delaware Libraries are pleased to announce the launch of Northstar Digital Literacy, an online training tool for basic computer skills. Northstar Digital Literacy provides digital literacy assessments and tutorials in basic computer skills and tips for how to use technology in daily life. Delaware Libraries and Literacy Delaware are partnering to provide access and to support use of the Northstar Digital Literacy tool by Delawareans:

• Delaware Libraries provide free access to the internet with fast internet speeds through computer and wifi access. Librarians provide training and assistance for patrons in using devices for reading, school, work, and more.
• Literacy Delaware provides expertise and additional in-depth assistance for adults with low English and/or low literacy skills to further support their achievement, and will also proctor certifications upon request.

As Delaware re-emerges post COVID, a prepared workforce will be critical and the foundation for employment is digital literacy. The Northstar Digital Literacy tool simplifies and standardizes digital literacy training to manage the increased demand for assistance. Making available the Northstar Digital Literacy tool through libraries expands and equalizes access for all Delawareans.

“Delaware Libraries have been providing internet access and assisting Delawareans with digital literacy skills since the 1990s,” stated Dr. Annie Norman, State Librarian and Director, Delaware Division of Libraries. “Joining forces with Literacy Delaware provides a powerful partnership for additional expert support for adult learners.”

“One thing COVID-19 has underscored, is the inequity in accessing technology and the lack of digital literacy skills,” said Cynthia Shermeyer, Executive Director, Literacy Delaware. “We are excited to partner with the Delaware Division of Libraries to engage in providing digital literacy skills programming using Northstar Digital Literacy.”

Northstar includes access to:

• Digital Literacy Assessment to benchmark skill level
• Digital literacy skills curriculum to work at your own pace
• Classes to provide the training needed to fill or bridge gaps
• Credentials to build a more robust workforce portfolio

Find the Northstar Digital Literacy tool at delawarelibraries.org/emedia or directly at digitalliteracyassessment.org. For more information, ask at your local public library or online at Ask a Librarian Delaware.

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; Wi-Fi; computers/internet; eBooks, programs/workshops, community partnerships, and more.

The mission of Literacy Delaware is advancing literacy through training, tutoring, English language acquisition and advocacy for all Delawareans.

With schools facing the challenge of unfinished learning due to the pandemic, the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) is providing access to online books to every K-12 student in the state. Students can use their school credentials to read required and recreational digital books in the OverDrive Education Sora student reading app. Students also now have seamless access to age-appropriate popular ebooks and audiobooks from the Delaware Libraries’ OverDrive digital collection.

The DDOE invested federal Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to provide students with access to educational and popular digital books that will be available to schools and their 144,000 students. The digital collection is available for students to borrow and read on any device inside the classroom, at home and anywhere 24/7. Families will receive their sign-on credentials through their students’ schools.

“We are excited all public school students in Delaware will have the opportunity this summer to immerse themselves in literacy,” Secretary of Education Susan Bunting said.

Said State Librarian Annie Norman, “Delaware Libraries are excited to partner with the Department of Education to share seamless year-round access to eBooks for children and youth.”

Despite a disrupted year in the classroom, the DDOE focused on shifting the narrative from learning loss to unfinished teaching and learning, and from remediation to acceleration to promote action grounded in a growth mindset. As such, the DDOE committed to seeing that all Delaware public schools’ students and staff can access resources to support learning acceleration. The DDOE also partnered with community-based organizations to encourage use of the OverDrive Education reading activities throughout the summer and extended learning. Regardless of where students are, they are receiving high-quality educational services and opportunities to learn, 24/7.

Digital books and on-demand digital class sets in the collection were selected from identified HQIM (high quality instructional materials) curricula. This collection features high-quality curriculum titles adopted by each of Delaware’s districts and charters, plus a digital collection of popular ebooks and audiobooks. Curriculum titles include Llama Llama Time to Share, The Snowy Day, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Esperanza Rising, The Lightning Thief, Patient Zero and The Omnivore’s Dilemma among others. Popular titles for choice pleasure reading include Smile, The Crossover, Miles Morales, New Kid, The Baby-Sitters Club series, Pete the Cat series, One of Us Is Lying, I Survived series, A Scarf for Keiko, Concrete Rose and more. In addition, the collection features ebooks and audiobooks in languages other than English, including translated books and authentic texts from native speakers.

In addition, the DDOE and Delaware Libraries’ partnership allows Delaware students to borrow from both the Delaware Accelerate Learning’s collection of classroom and pleasure reading titles as well as Delaware Public Libraries’ titles. Sora will automatically filter content to only include age-appropriate titles depending on each student’s grade level.

Media contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006

Registration is open for summer reading program

WILMINGTON, Del. –  Delaware’s First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney and State Librarian Dr. Annie Norman on Wednesday announced the launch of the 2021 statewide Summer Library Reading Program, Tails and Tales. Delaware libraries are noted for hosting the longest running statewide public library summer reading program in the nation. Now in its 43rd year, the annual Summer Library Reading Program provides early literacy programs to help children build and develop reading and language skills, teen programs that motivate teens to read and discuss literature, and programs that encourage adults to experience the joy of reading.

“Foundational language skills are critical for healthy brain development and school readiness for our youngest children,” said First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney, who convenes the First Chance Delaware initiative and serves as honorary chair of the Delaware Library Card Campaign and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program. “Developing literacy skills and the library habit support ongoing success as students move through and beyond school. And the two-generation programs and access to supportive services at our libraries also help to build strong families and communities.”

“Libraries are helping Delaware students make up for the unfinished learning that occurred over the past year,” said Governor John Carney. “We are working to get third grade students reading on grade level, and reading even 20 minutes a day can have a big impact on a child’s development. I encourage Delaware families to visit your local library this summer, pick up a book, and encourage those in our lives to keep reading and keep learning.”

Registration for the Summer Library Reading Program at all public libraries is free in person or online. Incentive badges are awarded based on reading and activity milestones.  Visit the Summer Library Reading Program for the schedule of online and outdoor events throughout the summer. The Performing Arts component of the program is sponsored in partnership with the Delaware Division of the Arts.

“For more than 40 years – for generations of Delawareans – Delaware libraries have been cultivating reading and learning passions,” said State Librarian Dr. Annie Norman. “Whatever your interest, whatever your talent, the library supports it.”

Delaware libraries encourage Delawareans of all ages to track their reading and learning during the summer and throughout life. A variety of tips, tools, and techniques for tracking individual interests are available on the Unleash Inner Genius guide. Young “pre-readers” (children who cannot yet read) can get credit for books that are read to them. Throughout the summer, libraries provide a variety of fun and educational arts, cultural, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs to encourage reading and spark curiosity.

About the program:

Summer arts programs are supported by the Delaware Division of Libraries and, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division of Arts promotes Delaware arts events on DelawareScene.com.

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

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For Immediate Release – Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Contact: Nick Martin

Launch of Telehealth Kiosk and Device Loaning Initiative Pilot at Delaware Libraries

(Seaford, DE) Delaware Libraries announced the launch of the Telehealth Kiosk and Device Loaning Initiative at the Seaford District Library on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. In this pilot, kiosks have been set up at Seaford, Laurel, and Milford libraries to increase access to health and social services for Delawareans. These kiosks are designed to provide a solution for Delawareans who need privacy and high-speed Internet access for telehealth visits, job interviews, legal appointments, and more. The device loaning initiative features the deployment of hundreds of Chromebooks and Wi-Fi hotspots at public libraries throughout the state. Devices are loaned for a week at a time.

Susan Campbell, Delaware Telehealth Coalition Director, said, “Making healthcare and social services more accessible for Delaware residents, that is what this project will accomplish. There is great potential here for the libraries to be joined by other key stakeholders such as nonprofit agencies and community centers to create community partnerships and build on this model.”

“Delawareans are reaping the benefits of the statewide library technology infrastructure,’ said Dr. Annie Norman, State Librarian, ‘The telehealth initiative is the latest service that is now possible through Delaware Libraries!”

Nick Martin, Emerging Tech & Telehealth Consultant for the Delaware Division of Libraries, stated, “This project started back in 2018 when I came on board as an AmeriCorps VISTA focused on emerging technology. After talking with community leaders and library managers, it was clear that access to quality healthcare, regardless of location, should be the focus of my work. This project is possible because Delaware Libraries have a history of strong partnerships with the public and private sector, coupled with the amazing support from several funders. I am proud to say this is the first statewide library-led telehealth initiative in the country, and it is only fitting that Delaware, the First State, be the first do this.”

This project is funded by Barclays US Consumer Bank, Delaware Community Foundation, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Crystal Trust Foundation, Discover Bank, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware, Longwood Foundation, and Welfare Foundation.

For more information:

• GetConnected.DelawareLibraries.org | #GetConnectedDE
• Photos
• PSA Video

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.