Librarian Roseanne Cerny explains why libraries need latchkey programs Read more about Queens Library's youth services . More services to seniors The U.S. population is getting older, according to the Population Reference Bureau . As seniors retire, they have more time to read. For many seniors who live alone, the library is a comfortable place to be with other people. An ALA -sponsored study reports that more and more public libraries are getting connected to the internet.
Special software allows users to read non-Roman script.
According to the U.S. Department of Education , one-fifth of American adults have only basic literacy skills. Public librarians, because they are often perceived as non-judgmental and welcoming, are in a special position to fight illiteracy. Read about the Queens Borough Public Library's Adult Literacy Programs , which involve formal instruction, conversation groups, and collections for new readers. Read Queens Borough Public Library director Gary Strong's speech asking city government to reconsider these budget cuts. Some of the library's most innovative programs, such as the Latchkey program and WorldLinQ, received partial funding from private sources because public funds would not suffice.