Press Release

For Immediate Release
Maggie Killackey Jurgensen
Chicago Public Library
(312) 747-4051

CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY PROMOTES EMPLOYEE EDUCATION AND ADVANCEMENT THROUGH ANNUAL ALL STAFF INSTITUTE DAY
May 1, 2007

In order to promote and encourage professional development of all its employees, the Chicago Public Library presents the 13th annual All Staff Institute Day (ASID), a series of programs and lectures on a wide range of topics designed to support employee performance. This year’s topics include Customer Service, Security, Relationship Development, Body/Health Connections to Reading and Database Navigation. All Staff Institute Day will be held on Wednesday, May 2, 2007, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State Street.

The City of Chicago has made reading a top priority and the Chicago Public Library plays a key role in advocating and nurturing the importance of reading. “Creating a City of Big Readers” starts at birth and Chicago Public Library staff at all levels will learn early practices that parents can adopt to ensure their children will be successful readers. Additionally, there will be two sessions by a noted professional on the Economic Power of Reading.

The Chicago Public Library’s Adult Summer Reading Program will be introduced at this year’s ASID. Intended to promote family literacy in collaboration with the Chicago Public Library’s annual Summer Reading Program for children, programs will focus on Chicago history. The Chicago Public Library will be partnering with the Chicago History Museum to encourage Chicagoans of all ages to read and discuss well-written books with their families, friends and neighbors.

“The Chicago Public Library’s All Staff Institute Day is the largest in service library training program in the United States,” commented Commissioner Mary A. Dempsey. “A day of intensive training on library policies, operations and new technologies gives our employees the coaching and support they need to grow as professionals and continue to provide patrons with excellent service.”

While Chicago Public Library staff at all levels are given the opportunity to train on a variety of subjects throughout the year, ASID allows all CPL staff to share ideas and information, meet new colleagues and visit with old friends.

The Chicago Public Library is comprised of the Harold Washington Library Center, two regional libraries and 76 neighborhood branches. The Chicago Public Library offers a rich resource of books, DVDs, audio books and more, provides free access to the Internet and WiFi in all of its locations, as well as free public programs for children, teens and adults.

The Harold Washington Library Center, Carter G. Woodson Regional Library and Conrad Sulzer Regional Library are all open 7 days a week, the remaining 76 branch libraries are open 6 days a week and patrons can access all of the libraries’ collections online 24 hours a day. For more information, please visit the website or call the Chicago Public Library Press Office at (312) 747-4050.