Cranston Libraries Recognized for Community Engagement

CRANSTON, RI—It's no secret that Cranston has one of the best and busiest library systems in Rhode Island.

In addition to having an extensive collection of books and other materials, the library is a community center, a hub of learning and a valuable asset that enhances the overall health of the city's population.

So it's no surprise that the library system has been named a third place recipient of the 2016 LibraryAware Community Award by Library Journal.

The award is given to model communities that engage with their libraries to improve the lives of their citizens and create life-long learners and library users.

"Providing tools, information and resources that strengthen the Cranston community is our core goal, and we have an incredibly hardworking and dedicated library staff who work towards achieving it every day," says Cranston Public Library Director, Edward Garcia. "We're honored to be recognized for the strides we've taken and the goals we've achieved."

According to the March 28 EBSCO press release, Cranston Public Library was recognized "for its deep understanding of the evolving needs of its community and reflecting those needs in their programs and policies. Seeing an increase in the number of residents speaking languages other than English at home, the CPL in partnership with the Rhode Island Family Literacy Initiative began offering ESL classes in a variety of levels and continues to seek out partnerships that will provide for future residents. Cranston Public Library not only adapted to the meet the needs of the community at present, but also anticipates the needs of the future."

Criteria of a LibraryAware community include the following: strategic planning, marketing, outreach, partnerships, and program, product or service development. A library's engagement with the community, and that library's ability to keep its community aware of what it provides are also key qualifying factors. As part of the application process, libraries were required to provide one letter of recommendation from a representative from local government, and Cranston Mayor Allan Fung wrote on behalf of Cranston Public Library.

The award comes with a $5,000 prize, which the library has dedicated to future outreach, marketing, and public relations projects. Other winners include the Louisville Free Public Library in Kentucky, who received first place; and the Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public Library and the Queens Public Library, who entered jointly and took second place.

Representatives from LibraryAware, NoveList, EBSCO and Library Journal will attend a ceremony in Cranston this June to present the City of Cranston and the Cranston Public Library with an official "LibraryAware Community" plaque.

The official EBSCO press release may be read here.