American Library Association and Information Today Inc., named Princeton Public Library the 2013 Library of the Future.
This annual award is given to a library that demonstrates innovative planning and development of patron training programs about information technology.
PPL won the award for its Community Collaboration for Enhanced Technology Services project, the goal of which was for the library to be known as a resource for receiving technology assistance and discovering technological innovations.
The award committee agreed that PPL exceeded its goal and developed a model for libraries of all types by offering services for everyone from the novice computer user to experts who are encouraged to teach and attend networking events.
Additionally, the committee praised the PPL team for “incorporating what they were hearing from their community to develop a program that provides classes and one-on-one appointments that encourage a lifelong love of technology learning, enhances employment opportunities, harnesses the power of social networking and promotes work-life balance.”
Other actions noted by the committee include providing opportunities that helped participants learn and enhance skills, building the library’s reputation as “the place” to share and network around technology and creating a sustainable model that is flexible, inviting and inclusive by making classes accessible to a variety of skill levels and interests.
More information is online at princetonlibrary.org
