East End Libraries Helping to Build Census Awareness
Libraries across Suffolk County are working with their communities to get the word out about the 2020 Census.
The Suffolk Cooperative Library System is deploying its Livebrary.com outreach bus, known as the SLED (Suffolk Libraries Empower Discovery), to various libraries across the East End throughout the month. An incomplete Census count will directly impact the funds that state and local governments receive for programs.
Census educators and library staff will be on board the bus and available to answer questions, as well as help residents fill out the census.
“Libraries recognize the critical importance of a complete consensus count for our region and appreciate the support and assistance of Suffolk County, the Long Island Foundation, and the Census Bureau with making sure that happens,” said Suffolk Cooperative Library Director Kevin Verbesey.
The bus was at the Hampton Bays Library on September 2, the Cutchogue Library on September 5, and the Westhampton Beach Library on September 8.
The next East End stop for the bus requires a ferry ride. It will be at the Shelter Island Library from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 17. “Shelter Island has a very low response rate for the Census this year and we would like to help increase that number,” the library said on its website. Anyone who completes the Census will be entered into a raffle to win a gift card.
Next up will be the Rogers Memorial Library in Southampton on Saturday, September 19, the John Jermain Memorial Library on Monday, September 21, and the Floyd Memorial Library in Greenport on Wednesday, September 23. The bus will be on hand near the libraries from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Then on Thursday, September 24, the SLED bus will be at the corner of Jessup Avenue and Village Lane, also from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Library Staff and Board Trustees are excited to partner with the Suffolk Cooperative Library System, the Village of Quogue and the Quogue Police Department towards the mission to ‘get the word out’ and to help Quogue residents make an impact by ensuring that the Quogue community receive full representation and resources,” Jenny Bloom, the director at the Quogue Library, said.
The Suffolk Cooperative Library System received a grant from Suffolk County and the Long Island Community Foundation that is helping support the Census efforts.
The Southold Library is also planning a visit from SLED on Monday, September 28, with a time to be determined.
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