January 14, 2016 | by Maureen Chowdhury

Library Link Initiative Launched at Harmony Hills Elementary School (VIDEO & PHOTOS)

Montgomery County officials launched the Library Link program on Wednesday at Harmony Hills Elementary School in Silver Spring. MyMCMedia’s Maureen Chowdhury reports.

Library Link is a partnership between Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and  Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL). The purpose of the program is to guarantee every child enrolled in school can receive a library card.

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett, MCPS Interim School Superintendent Larry Bowers, Councilmember George Leventhal, County Public Libraries Director Parker Hamilton and Montgomery County Board of Education members Patricia O’Neill, Christopher Barclay, Philip Kauffman, Jill Ortman-Fouse, and Rebecca Smondrowski attended the event.

Director Hamilton discussed the importance of the program in a MyMCMedia Extra video.

“Every elementary school student in this County should have their own library card,” Leggett said. “This collaboration between two of our leading County institutions, the public library system and the public schools, will help make that a reality,” he said.

The partnership links MCPS with 21 public libraries across the County, which according to a news release have technical and digital hubs that help students connect to important tools and electronic databases.

“This collaborative initiative will ensure that every student has opportunity to have their own library card”,  Hamilton said. “Our modern libraries give the option of technology and internet access and provide everything from downloading music to checking out books to take home,” she said.

MCPS officials shared similar sentiments.

“Public libraries are a creative, accessible resource for our students to continue learning and exploring in their out-of-school hours,” Interim Superintendent Bowers said. “The Library Link program builds on that natural relationship between public schools and libraries by proactively helping our students get access to library cards,” he said.

“We commend Montgomery County Public Libraries and Montgomery County Public Schools for transforming President Obama’s national library challenge into a local reality for our students,” Board of Education Member O’Neill said. “Library Link brings together two of the most important cornerstones in every community — public schools and public libraries — to give students greater access to millions of books, online resources and more,” she said.

County Executive Leggett will attend a White House conference on Jan. 19th to discuss and share Montgomery County’s efforts to support President Obama’s ConnectEd Library Challenge: Answering the Call.

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Maureen Chowdhury

About Maureen Chowdhury

Maureen Chowdhury is a multimedia journalist with Montgomery Community Media. She can be reached at mchowdhury@mymcmedia.org and on Twitter at @MediaMaureen. Maureen authors the blog Sound Check on MyMCMedia.
View all posts by Maureen Chowdhury

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