NJ State Librarian Named 2008 Librarian of the Year

In reaction to the news of being named Librarian of the Year, Blake said, “While this award from Library Journal is personally a great honor for me, it really reflects the spirit of cooperation and support among the library, business, government and academic communities that thrives here in New Jersey and which bodes well for the future of our state.”

Under the direction of Blake, one of the ongoing goals of the State Library, working through the New Jersey Library Network, has been to foster an increase in literacy skills among all ages of the state’s residents. The State Library has actively supported summer reading programs for children and young adults for the past five years. In addition, over the past two years the N.J. State Library has allocated four hundred thousand dollars in federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to fund pilot literacy programs in 24 different communities. These programs serve as models for other libraries.

Diversity issues for libraries have also been one of the priorities addressed under Blake’s leadership, and $87,000 in grants were provided to four New Jersey library systems this year to develop programs and materials specifically designed to help speakers of English as a second language. This is particularly relevant in New Jersey, where census figures indicate that almost one in five of New Jersey residents was born in a foreign country.

Blake recently convened a Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Future to explore not only the changing ethnic make up of New Jersey’s population but how libraries can meet projected demographic changes that include serving groups of library users who are increasingly diverse and older. The task force is also studying other trends that futurists see and exploring ways libraries can fully use technological advances to better serve the public.

While at the helm of the State Library since 2001, Blake has overseen marketing efforts to gain public support for the work of libraries in the 21st century. This past spring, NJSL partnered with INFOLINK (Eastern New Jersey Regional Library Cooperative) to issue the “Super Librarian” comic book designed to serve as a literacy tool and attract younger customers to libraries across the state. The comic book was the culmination of an effort by the New Jersey Library Network to change the image of librarians and libraries that had started with the creation of the Super Librarian character several years before.

The State Library has sponsored and run a number of contests designed to attract public interest and awareness of how libraries are changing. Most recently the library wrapped up the “Three Reasons Why You Love Your Library” comic and video contest on the Web’s YouTube, with voting on New Jersey Library Network Web site at www.njlibraries.org.

As reflected in the numerous letters supporting Blake’s nomination for the honor, many library and community leaders in New Jersey note that Blake has an eye for good ideas and programs on the local level. When she spots a good idea, she supports it fully with funding and the staff resources of the State Library. It is recognized that the State Librarian has a long history of collaborating with the New Jersey Library Association, the leaders of four regional library cooperatives and other organizations in the state. Each of the Regional Library Cooperative (RLC) executive directors acknowledged the State Library’s support under Blake’s leadership.

Karen Hyman, executive director of the South Jersey RLC, points out that its successful QandANJ.org virtual reference service and the Trading Spaces library merchandising project were South Jersey ideas that Blake transformed in their earliest stages with State Library funding and support to be offered statewide and recognized nationally.

Among some of the other programs noted by the RLC directors were the Central Jersey RLC’s recruitment and leadership program; the Highland RLC’s “Valuing Libraries” workshops; and INFOLINK’s “One Community NJ - Diversity Libraries conference. Many of these programs have not only been held statewide but in other states around the country as well.

Blake accepted the Library Journal Librarian of the Year Award on Jan. 11, during the American Library Association’s Mid-Winter Conference in Philadelphia.