Vote for a Change in VI Public Library Leadership

Greetings Supporters, Viewers, and Sharers:

As election time slowly churns, the people are bombarded with slogans and promises, however, vote for the candidate that is talking about real change that they can implement such as changing the leadership of the VI Public Libraries and requiring library directors and library associates to acquire MLS degrees and even PhDs. 

An excerpt from a paper I wrote during my MLS degree program on the topic of family engagement librarians, which I am:

"Lopez et al. (3), define the engagement of families as“family-child interactions” (2). Lopez et al. (3) agree that the family is a primary socializing agent in the lives of children. Family engagement, particularly within public libraries, is defined as a shared responsibility among parents and families, which closely influences the child’s learning and development (Lopez et al. 3). Family engagement is defined as two-way communication between parent and child (Lopez et al. 3). Parent-child relationships can occur at home, school, and in the community (Clark 107). Places of learning include public libraries, which are emerging as places of engagement for children and their families (Witteveen 3). Family literacy is an example of engaging programming at public libraries, which can provide the necessary support to improve literacy skills while creating safe spaces for children and their families (Ramos 364). 

For some public libraries, engaging families include creating child policies, specifically based on the surrounding community of the public library, which ensures the safety of children in and out of the library (Cerny 42; TRG). For this reason, additional library staff may be needed to resolve the issue of unattended children in the library as well as find resources to support this vulnerable population in our society. Keeping this in mind, it is important to realize that each public library has its own way of engaging children and families. Family engagement in public libraries can include family literacy weekends (Moore & Creaser 199), however unattended and latchkey children are a growing problem at public libraries within the U.S. (Arrighetti 65). Some public libraries have turned a parenting and literacy program with parenting classes into a home visitation model, which is a result of programming focused on the needs of students and the skills of parents (Nuckolls 45)."

This is the change that needs to happen! Once true leadership happens, then and only then can the Virgin Islands truly say that they have public libraries that work for the people and by the people!