Partnering to Connect Families to Resources

November 2011

What are our organizations’

Regulations and Goals?

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American Library Association (ALA)Library Bill of RightsThe American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information

and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.

I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.

V. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.

Adopted June 19, 1939, by the ALA Council; amended October 14, 1944; June 18, 1948; February 2, 1961; June 27, 1967; January 23, 1980; inclusion of “age” reaffirmed January 23, 1996.

From http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/index.cfm

ALA Policy 61: Library Services to the Poor

The American Library Association promotes equal access to information for all persons, and recognizes the urgent need to respond to the increasing number of poor children, adults, and families in America. These people are affected by a combination of limitations, including illiteracy, illness, social isolation, homelessness, hunger, and discrimination, which hamper the effectiveness of traditional library services. Therefore it is crucial that libraries recognize their role in enabling poor people to participate fully in a democratic society, by utilizing a wide variety of available resources and strategies. Concrete programs of training and development are needed to sensitize and prepare library staff to identify poor people’s needs and deliver relevant services. And within the American Library Association the coordinating mechanisms of programs and activities dealing with poor people in various divisions, offices, and units should be strengthened, and support for low-income liaison activities should be enhanced.

The American Library Association shall implement these objectives by:1. Promoting the removal of all barriers to library and information services,

particularly fees and overdue charges.

2. Promoting the publication, production, purchase, and ready accessibility of print and non-print materials that honestly address the issues of poverty and homelessness, that deal with poor people in a respectful way, and that are of practical use to low-income patrons.

3. Promoting full, stable, and ongoing funding for existing legislative programs in support to flow income services and for pro-active library programs that reach beyond traditional service-sites to poor children, adults, and families.

4. Promoting training opportunities for librarians, in order to teach effective techniques for generating public funding to upgrade library services to poor people.

5. Promoting the incorporation of low-income programs and services into regular library budgets in all types of libraries, rather than the tendency to support these projects solely with ‘‘soft money’’ like private or federal grants.

6. Promoting equity in funding adequate library services for poor people in terms of materials, facilities, and equipment.

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The American Library Association shall implement these objectives by:

7. Promoting supplemental support for library resources for and about low-income populations by urging local, state, and federal governments, and the private sector, to provide adequate funding.

8. Promoting increased public awareness through programs, displays, bibliographies, and publicity of the importance of poverty related library resources and services in all segments of society.

9. Promoting the determination of output measures through the encouragement of community needs assessments, giving special emphasis to assessing the need so low-income people and involving both anti-poverty advocates and poor people themselves in such assessments.

10. Promoting direct representation of poor people and anti-poverty advocates through appointment to local boards and creation of local advisory committees on service to low-income people, such appointments to include library paid transportation and stipends.

11. Promoting training to sensitize library staff to issues affecting poor people and to attitudinal and other barriers that hinder poor people’s use of libraries.

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The American Library Association shall implement these objectives by:

12. Promoting networking and cooperation between libraries and other agencies, organizations, and advocacy groups in order to develop programs and services that effectively reach poor people.

13. Promoting the implementation of an expanded federal low-income housing program, national health insurance, full-employment policy, living minimum wage and welfare payments, affordable daycare, and programs likely to reduce, if not eliminate, poverty itself.

14. Promoting among library staff the collection of food and clothing donations, volunteering personal time to antipoverty activities and contributing money to direct-aid organizations.

15. Promoting related efforts concerning minorities and women, since these groups are disproportionately represented among poor people.

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McKinney-Vento Act requirements:• Designate a homeless liaison for each Community School District. The Students in Temporary Housing (STH) Content Experts or STH Liaisons in each borough serve as the homeless liaisons in NYC.

• Identify homeless children and youth (NYC public schools use the “Residency Questionnaire” to identify the STH population)

• Ensure students enroll in and have a full and equal opportunity to succeed in school

• Inform homeless families about the McKinney-Vento Act

• Disseminate McKinney-Vento posters in schools, shelters, etc.

• Arrange transportation (yellow bus or MetroCards in NYC)

• Assist students with immediate enrollment, even if they do not have: 1) school records, 2) medical records/immunizations; 3) proof of residency; 4) guardianship papers; 5) birth certificates or other documents normally needed

• Assist students with tutoring and related support services, free school lunch, Special Education, school supplies and Summer Programs

• Dispute Resolution

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STH Program Structure

• STH Family Assistants Available to students in Department of Homeless Services, Housing

Preservation & Development and some Human Resources Administration Domestic Violence family shelters

• STH Content Experts/Liaisons Formerly known as STH Coordinators and also referred to as

Homeless Liaisons or LEA Liaisons

Work with Children First Networks to support schools

• STH Director, Senior Program Manager and Program Coordinator Responsible for trouble-shooting

Based in Office of School and Youth Development -Central Office

Why do we collaborate?

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Data:

• There are approximately 8.1 million people residing in NYC

• According to NYC Department of Homeless Service, in fiscal year 2010 (June to July), on average 8,629 families with children sought shelter daily

• 20,415 school age children came with their families to seek shelter in fiscal year 2010

Obstacles:

• Lack of awareness of the McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act

• Resources and/or assistance not reaching families?

* Data is taken from http://www.nyc.gov/html/dhs/downloads/pdf/familyfy10.pdf

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What Can Homeless Liaisons Get from Partnering With Their Local Library?

Resources for Your Agency Meeting room space Access to community through workshops and presentations Access to library staff Training from library staff on using resources

What Can Homeless Liaisons Get from Partnering With Their Local Library?

• Resources for Your Families• Free programs (concerts, arts & crafts, story

times)• Books, DVDs, CDs, electronic resources• Computer access• ESOL, Adult Literacy, pre-GED/GED prep

What Can Your Local Library Get From Partnering with Students In Temporary Housing Program (Homeless Liaison)?

• Access to families who may be underserved by the library.

• Community information to share with everyone in the service area.

• A partner or partners for grants or other special projects.

Partnership Ideas

• Librarian(s) visiting shelters or other temporary housing sites to enroll families and provide them with library cards.

• Developing literacy related programs at the shelter with the library (ex: book club, story time, book making, etc).

• Liaisons providing workshops on educational rights at the library.

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Where You May Need to Negotiate

Library Policy Issues> Library cards: What is the library’s proof of residence policy?> Fees and Fines: What does the library offer (amnesty days, case-by-

case evaluation) to manage fees?

Library Staff Resistance> Stereotypes of “the homeless”> Denial (“we don’t have homeless people here”)

Agency Staff Resistance> “Our families don’t read”> “Why are they getting breaks and we don’t?”

Family Resistance> “There’s nothing for me at the library.”> Old problems with library cards or the library in general

For more information:

Queens Library

Vikki C. Terrile, Coordinator of Young Adult Services

Queens Library Programs and Services Department

89-11 Merrick Blvd.

Jamaica, NY 11432

Tel: 718-990-5151

Fax: 718-297-3404

vikki.c.terrile@queenslibrary.org

Queens Library website: www.queenslibrary.org

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For more information:NYC DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Students in Temporary Housing Program (STH)- QueensMontgomery Smith, Senior Program Manager

28-11 Queens Plaza North, Long Island City, New York 11101

Tel:  (718) 391-6843

Fax: (718) 391-6888

Email: msmith66@schools.nyc.gov

and

Winnie Tjioe, Students In Temporary Housing Content Expert- Queens

28-11 Queens Plaza North, Long Island City, New York 11101

Tel:  (718)391-6849

Fax: (718) 391-6888

Email: wtjioe@schools.nyc.gov

Students in Temporary Housing website:

http://schools.nyc.gov/StudentSupport/NonAcademicSupport/StudentsinTemporaryHousing/default.htm