Settlement Libraries: Community Information Centers

The Last Puzzle Piece in Appalachia

Appalachia

The Definition:

¤ A geologic term used to describe part or all of the Appalachian Mountain Range

¤ A region of the United States covering the border of Mississippi and Alabama in the south to Pennsylvania and New York in the north

¤ The entire state of West Virginia is housed in Appalachia.

Appalachia: Situation Analysis

The Problem:

¤ Appalachia is mostly mountainous with many isolated communities

¤ 13.3 Million Appalachian’s live at the poverty level

¤ Roughly one quarter of the counties in the region are qualified as economically distressed

¤ Thirty per cent of Appalachian adults are considered functionally illiterate

¤ West Virginia possesses the sixth highest poverty rate in the Nation

¤ West Virginia ranks second in the lowest medium household income in the Country

Settlement Library Project

The Project:

¤ An educational outreach and historical preservation special library initiative

¤ Creates opportunities for rural communities to establish programs, services, and educational development

¤ Preserves native and traditional historical Appalachian customs, culture and resources

¤ Strives toward the retention of the historical quality of the community

¤ Strives for community centered customized special library services linking with outside sources

The Settlement Library

The Plan:

¤ To create an evolving multiple service institution

¤ To support public education systems

¤ To perform as an educational outreach toward literacy efforts in the community

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¤ To furnish materials for lifelong learning including the homebound, disabled, and the incarcerated

¤ To serve as a clearinghouse for community organizations for community-wide resources

¤ To create and establish an ongoing archival project for residents securing their personal and community culture and identity

Resourceful Professionals

The Staff:

¤ Library Director with a Master’s in Library Science

¤ Program Manager with a Master’s in Library Science

¤ The Community as a trained advocate/volunteer core

Service Plan

Building a Special Library:

¤ Through a community bridge

¤ Through an information and research service

¤ Through an educational advancement service

¤ Through an historical preservation service

Collection DevelopmentThe Policy:

¤ Initiate a statewide database

¤ Initiate ancestry, genealogical, and historical sources and toolkits

¤ Initiate literacy and outreach services, resources and programming

¤ Initiate community book drives for donations and purchasing collection materials

Marketing Plan

The Promotion:

¤ Create an Image

¤ Establish a Brand

¤ Secure a Website

¤ Encourage Gifts and Sponsorships

Value

A customized service-oriented educational resource and a vital special library and community information center - focusing on historical preservation - is not about a single technology or service.

A connection with the community through safeguarding a local historical identity creates a relevant, thriving resource which will serve users well into the future.

The Settlement Library Projecthttp://circuit-out-rider.blogspot.com/