For Immediate Release: Friday, June 7, 2019
Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) has received five National Association of Counties (NACo) awards for outstanding programs in 2019. The annual Achievement Award Program recognizes efforts by local jurisdictions that promote responsible, responsive and effective county government initiatives.
“MCPL is proud to be recognized for the work we do every day,” comments MCPL Acting Director Anita Vassallo. “MCPL is always trying to find effective models to provide better services and resources to the community. These awards are both an honor and a responsibility - they inspire us to continue to find ways to enrich the lives of our County’s residents.”
The NACo award-winning MCPL programs and initiatives include the following:
The Books@Home service provides no-cost access to library resources for County residents who cannot visit their local branch due to disability or health issues. Qualified residents may place orders for materials over the phone or online and receive those items through the United States Postal Service. With their library card account, they can also access MCPL online resources such as research and educational databases, streaming movies and downloadable books and music.
A year-long pilot study was implemented to examine effects of fine elimination on circulation and potential revenue generation. There were no operating or capital costs associated with this program’s implementation. The No J Fines initiative was implemented in July 2018; and resulted in an increase in initial checkouts of these materials, denoting a degree of support to the vital work of promoting early childhood literacy.
The Library of Things: Music is an initiative to give County residents access to a range of services related to music, offering the largest and most diverse instrument collection of ukuleles, guitars, and drums originating from five continents represent a wealth of culture and heritage. The value of the service encourages increased knowledge and experience in cultural diversity; presents didactic benefits of learning to play musical instruments while offering a cost savings to customers; and it supports fun with hands-on experimentation. The initiative’s synthesis of instruments, learning materials, programming, and online coursework make it unique among Library of Things offered by other library systems.
In partnership with the Jewish Council for the Aging’s Heyman Interages® Center (JCA), MCPL piloted Intergenerational Book Discussion Groups at MCPL, bringing together Montgomery County Public Schools middle school students, JCA staff, JCA senior volunteers (age 50+) and MCPL staff. The pilot program had several goals: to create meaningful, stimulating conversations; to utilize MCPL sites for cross-age programming; to combine with MCPS’ summer reading program for reducing incidence of “summer learning slide;” and to provide students with student service learning hours. The Book Discussions promoted understanding of intergenerational perspectives, allowing participants to feel free to engage in difficult conversations in a safe environment through the medium of book discussion.
MCPL developed and implemented two organizational socialization initiatives and training opportunities for new supervisors: New Managers’ Academy (“Academy”) and New Frontline Supervisors’ Cohort (“Cohort”). MCPL recognizes that in addition to general acquisition of knowledge and skills, new hires (and internal staff who are promoted) must assimilate as supervisors into a novel environment – County Government – and often as first-time managers and supervisors. Both the Academy and Cohort initiatives employ mentoring as a component leading to successful onboarding of new supervisors to MCPL. This interpersonal growth is pivotal to the onboarding programs. The Academy and Cohort ensure that newly-hired and recently promoted supervisors are effectively and accurately trained to succeed in their new positions.
Montgomery County Public Libraries offers free and equal access to services and resources that connect the people of Montgomery County to ideas and information which sustain and enrich their lives. For more information about library services, visit the MCPL website.
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