The New York State Library offers a website entitled Information Lifelines provides access to library and statewide e-resources to help patrons access online support services.
The Lifelines site supports civic engagement in a digital world and provides a reason for using broadband as a tool for daily living. Resources for families and children, older adults, veterans, career support, and municipal services, such as the temporary disability benefit screening, have been rolled into one-click web tool for information discovery.
In a difficult economy, library patrons are seeking support for services from library staff more than ever. The State Library has launched the Lifelines website to help New Yorkers find high quality and relevant information for key services and as a supporting resource for library staff in a time of personnel cutbacks, library closures and the reduction of library staff available to prepare guides for patrons seeking guidance and support.
The Information Lifelines site can also be purposed as a helping hand or teaching tool for libraries in working with special populations to help build confidence in navigating the Internet. The site links to outreach pages within the State Library and many external resources that New Yorkers may want to consult to cope with a challenging economy.
Visit the Information Lifelines site and send your comments and suggestions for developing this resource to Elizabeth Carrature, the Division of Library Development, The New York State Library, by email: ecarratu@mail.nysed.gov or by phone: 518-486-2888.
New State Library Lifelines is Cool Site for August 2010
