Perkiomen Valley Library (PVL) is a GOLD Star Library!
PA Forward is The Pennsylvania Library Association’s 21st Century Literacies Initiative, PA Forward, was conceived to give voice to what the library community already knows, and what other states throughout the nation are also recognizing:
With the right support, libraries are ideally positioned to become the community centers of information, technology, and learning that will fuel educational and economic opportunity for all of our citizens.
Libraries have moved far beyond just being book repositories. They’re agile institutions serving real-life needs. Libraries are the key to powering progress and elevating the quality of life in Pennsylvania by fueling the types of knowledge essential to success: Basic Literacy, Information Literacy, Civic and Social Literacy, Health Literacy, and Financial Literacy.
These five Literacies have been identified as areas that help Pennsylvania’s citizens, parents, students, employers, employees, and consumers succeed.
For each identified literacy goals have been created. The goals will enable the library to focus its services and programming to help the public achieve success in these vital areas.
Basic Literacy – Libraries can push Pennsylvania to achieve one of the highest literacy rates in the country, a trained and skilled workforce, and a growing economy, tax base, and population.
Basic Literacy at PVL:
Baby Storytime
Preschool Storytime
Tail Waggin’ Tales (reading aloud to dogs)
Access to computers with Internet access in the library
Databases accessible from home or the library for resume writing and job searching.
Information Literacy – Libraries can help all Pennsylvanians learn how to use online resources and current technology to improve their education, to enhance their job skills, to develop their personal lives, and to fully participate in a digital society.
Information Literacy at PVL:
Master Gardener programs
Access to computers with Internet access in the library
Databases accessible from home or the library for resume writing, job searching and research.
Civic and Social Literacy – Libraries can play an important role in helping citizens have the knowledge and skills they need to improve their lives, to participate and contribute effectively to their community, government, and society, and to connect with one another through discourse.
Civic and Social Literacy at PVL:
Book Discussions
Cook Book Club & Monthly Potluck
Space for tutoring
Knitters!
Special events—Stars Wars & Harry Potter Parties, Preschool New Year, Cat in the Hat, Used Book Sales….
Health Literacy – Libraries can play an important role in helping citizens manage their own and their family’s well-being, and empower them to be effective partners with their healthcare providers so they can live longer, more productive lives.
Health Literacy at PVL:
Community Yoga
Laughter Yoga
Essential oils programs
Books and resources on health issues.
Financial Literacy – Libraries can help citizens become informed consumers and guide individuals, small businesses, and other organizations to contribute to the economic vitality of their community through innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development.
Financial Literacy at PVL:
Free access to ReferenceUSA and other great databases to support business opportunities.
Books and other resources on money management.
FREE resources at the library on a variety of subjects.