The ALA has begun promoting its American Dream Toolkit and each reference chafes my sensibilities.
These days, the notion of an “American Dream” bumps up against some pretty harsh realities: 1 in 4 children on foodstamps, devastating unemployment, millions of homes foreclosed, millions of people without access to adequate healthcare and public education. With so many Americans lacking or losing basic necessitites, evoking The American Dream and suggesting there’s a simple toolkit for it seems out of touch and a bit insensitive.
I find the partnership with Dollar General disconcerting and the requirements for these literacy grants onerous, for they benefit DG and the ALA more than the libraries doing the valuable work.
And then there’s the actual toolkit, which the ALA describes as “first of its kind” and “remarkable”. To this library watcher, it’s “more of the same” from the ALA — a mish-mash of regurgitated information, irrelevant library & ALA references and a lousy website. The remarkable thing is that the ALA just can’t seem to improve; it keeps pumping this stuff out with the same weaknesses. No need for a more detailed critique here, open up The American Dream Toolkit and you’ll see for yourself.
Foregrounding literacy is a great strategy for public libraries. They already deliver literacy services and their potential is enormous. Instead of going it alone, imagine the impact of cultivating relationships that enhance libraries’ ability to deliver even more value while bolstering their sustainability. Prospective collaborators might include the National Institute for Literacy and the National Center for Family Literacy.
The National Institute for Literacy is a federal program with a comprehensive resource list that is much better than what the ALA slapped together. Using these resources would save time and money over creating a library toolkit. Additionally, collaborating with a federal program would promote the image of our libraries as national and local resources, which I believe is vital for sustainability. It may be an opportune time to forge an alliance with NIL because the Obama Administration is actively working to improve the program’s performance. It would be a good move for the federal government (as well as public libraries and the people who need these vital services) to leverage the nation’s existing library infrastructure and legion of employees with literacy experience.
The National Center for Family Literacy is a seasoned non-profit closely allied with educators. Strengthening ties with educators is a good idea and learning about marketing and fundraising might be a by-product of working closely with successful non-profits. While the complexion of NCFL’s leadership council and online presence hints at a lack of focus, its relationship with leading charitable foundations make it worth a look.
Lots to consider here, to be sure. I’ll add it to the list of things a National Public Library Corporation could do.
