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Library Mission Statement
About the Othello Public Library
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The Othello Public Library
Othello, a rural town in Southeastern Washington, is situated in the heart
of the Columbia Basin in Adams County. The Othello public library serves
residents of Othello and all outlying areas. Although Othello has a branch
library that is part of the Mid-Columbia Library system, we have created a
mythical Othello Public Library that serves Othello's diverse
and growing population.
The Othello Public Library holds 35,000 books and media, has fifteen
computer terminals with Internet access, and one large meeting room. The
library is used and enjoyed by many in the community, but not by everyone,
particularly Othellos underrepresented populations. Therefore, increasing
the visibility of the library and the services we provide are key goals
for the Othello Public Library, now and in the future. In Othello and
outlying areas, the highest priorities are meeting community challenges
related to language and cultural barriers; a high rate of school
drop-outs; maintaining reading and literacy standards; community growth;
and migrant population representation (Mid-Columbia Library System). The
Othello Public Library is passionately committed to helping our community
meet these challenges head on; our ideas for accomplishing this will be
outlined in this paper.
The Community the Library Serves
The geography and demographics of Othello are detailed in this section to
provide context for the community the Othello Public Library serves.
According to the 2000 Census, the population of Othello is 6,000 people,
and the population of Adams County is approximately 20,000 people. The
community is growing: Adams County's population has increased 30% in the
past ten years. The population is comprised of 52% men and 48% women; the
ethnic demographic of Othello is 58% White, 39% Hispanic, and 3%
identified themselves as other (2003 WA State Databook). The household
income in this area is lower compared to the U.S. median. Employment
statistics for Othello are that 55% of the population is employed, 10% is
unemployed, and 35% are not in the labor force (2003 WA State Databook).
Agriculture and the continual influx of migrant farm workers define the
economy, population, and industry of Othello. The city of Othello and its
outlying areas are counting on the rich agriculture of the land to produce
apples, potatoes, and wine as part of the citys burgeoning agricultural
industry; wineries, orchards, and parks are part of the areas tourist
industries (Othello Chamber of Commerce). The large and growing Hispanic
population in the area gives the city cultural diversity with a
multilingual population that speaks English and Spanish. Along with this
diversity comes the need to bridge the gap between the Spanish and
English-speaking populations, and to ensure equal access to resources in
the community for both groups.
The Library's Mission
The Othello Public Librarys mission statement reflects the core
values of
our Library and our community. By focusing our mission, we are better able
to increase the Librarys visibility and the value we add to our changing
community. The mission statement we have created for the Othello Public
Library follows:
The mission of the Othello Public Library is to promote lifelong
learning
and literacy through free access to Library materials, information, and
technology. The Othello Public Library is responsive to our community and
its needs; the Library is responsive to the needs of Othellos Spanish and
bilingual community and provides multilingual and multicultural materials
and programs. The Othello Public Library is a safe, creative environment
for the public to meet, gather, and exchange ideas. The Library supports
intellectual freedom in accordance with the American Library Association
Bill of Rights.
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