Partnership between schools and public libraries Allows new international students To receive library cards when registering for school

Header--Montgomery County, Maryland. Press Releases

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Contact: Betty Valdés, 240-777-0017;
or Nivea Berrios, 301-230-0686

For Immediate Release: September 12, 2000

Partnership between schools and public libraries
Allows new international students
To receive library cards when registering for school

Thanks to an innovative partnership between Montgomery County Department of Public Libraries (DPL) and Public Schools (MCPS), newly arrived international students and their families will be able to obtain a Public Library Card when they register at the MCPS International Students Admissions Office.

This innovative approach between the Public Library and the Schools facilitates the registration process for numerous families new to the county by assisting them with multilingual staff, information and handouts.

Announced today by DPL Director Harriet Henderson and School Superintendent Dr. Jerry Weast, the service is part of the "September is Library Card Sign-up Month," a campaign to remind parents that a library card is the most important school supply.

"Research and studies show that children who are read to in the home and who use the library perform better in school and are more likely to continue to use the library as a source of lifetime learning," said Henderson.

"We are pleased with this opportunity to partner with MCPS and the International Student Admissions Office in this important effort," Henderson said. "This initiative will ensure that every international child -- and students returning home from studies abroad -- attending our public schools will have a library card for the academic support they will need during the school year.

"The library card will also provide the entire family with access to print and non- print library materials, collections in English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese, sources of information to learn English, recreation and programming at their neighborhood libraries," added Henderson.

"The public libraries in Montgomery County are an invaluable resource for supporting the school system's early literacy initiatives," said Dr. Weast. "I am so pleased that access to this wealth of materials now will be made easier and more convenient for international families moving to the community."

The partnership was developed by Betty Valdés, Community Affairs officer for the Public Libraries and Nivea Berrios, supervisor of the International Student Admissions Office. For more information about the international students program, call 301-230-0686.

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