Civic Literacy Media Kit

Draft Press Release Text

“I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”. – Voltaire (n.d.)

(XX County – Month Day, 2018) – Libraries are community centers, providing access to information for all citizens. As election season approaches, consider the various programs and opportunities libraries provide which offer information and resources individuals may use to help make their own decisions regarding issues of importance in their local areas.

While some libraries may serve as polling places, all libraries are staffed with professionals who can help patrons further understand the voting process. And for those not yet registered to vote, librarians can assist them in accessing voter registration information.

Libraries are also able to provide candidate information, possibly hosting a candidates’ night. This is an event where all candidates, regardless of political party affiliation, are invited to engage with attendees about their positions on various issues. This allows individuals to ask questions directly and become further informed about those seeking positions to represent their areas.

“Libraries promote the free exchange of all information and the education of citizens just as the preamble of the constitution notes,” said INSERT INDIVIDUAL NAME, LIBRARY NAME, POSITION “Our library provides numerous opportunities for residents to become more civically engaged in our local community. We encourage everyone to stop in, learn more about the programs we offer and become involved with the library.”

“XX Library uses PA Forward’s framework to connect our patrons with each of the five literacies – Basic, Information, Civic and Social, Health and Financial,” added XX. “The programs we offer are an investment in our residents who then in turn invest in our local community, therefore investing in Pennsylvania.”

PA Forward, an outreach initiative of the Pennsylvania Library Association, works through five key literacies – Basic, Information, Civic & Social, Health and Financial – to assist all residents in enhancing their overall quality of life. The program seeks to improve the literacy levels of Pennsylvanians by connecting them with the information, learning, and technology resources available at their local libraries. These programs aim to develop a better trained and more skilled workforce, which in turn grows the commonwealth’s tax base, economy and population. Civic and social literacy empowers all citizens to obtain the knowledge and skills they need to enhance their lives, to participate and contribute effectively to their communities and to connect with one another through discourse.

For more information about PA Forward, visit

For more information about programs and resources available at XX Library, visit INSERT LIBRARY URL.

Program Ideas

Audience / Description / Resources
Children / Helping kids understand the election process /

Teens / Understanding government and citizenship /
Adults / Organizing a voter registration drive /

Display Ideas

Children’s Display: Vote for your favorite picture book character

Adult/Teen Display: Elect-to-Read – display political books or presidential biographies

General Library Display: Voters Booth – An opportunity to have patrons fill out a library survey or ask them about their favorite library events and services.

Resource List

General Voting Information

Pennsylvania Department of State Voting and Elections

www.dos.pa.gov/votingelections/pages/default.aspx

League of Women Voters

How to Register to Vote

Everyone Votes PA

Vote411

Rock the Vote- Pennsylvania

Hash Tags

● #Vote

● #GetOutNVote

● #ElectionDay

● #Civics101

● #CivicLiteracy

● #SocialLiteracy

● #PAForward

Social Media Posts

● Hey #Pennsylvania’s #ElectionDay is almost here! Make sure you know who the candidates are and then #GetOutNVote!

● [Insert number] days until #ElectionDay! Learn about the candidates in your area at [insert link to candidate profiles]

● Do you know your polling place to #vote? Visit https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/pages/pollingplaceinfo.aspx.