Over 100 State Agencies And Non-Profits Cooperate To Help Delawareans In Need

Press Release

Governor Jack Markell stressed the importance of information sharing among government agencies and non-profit groups to help Delawareans in need. At a meeting of the Community Resource Exchange today, Gov. Markell pointed to the Exchange, itself, as a shining example of what can be achieved when libraries serve as a linchpin to enable organizations to work together that do not normally do so.

The principal goal of the Exchange is to bring social service organizations, agencies and public libraries together as partners to maximize their resources. The Exchange has already been very successful in helping individuals and communities solve problems and achieve their full potential. Through this combined effort, Delawareans will eventually be able to walk into their public library -- physically or virtually -- and find the services they need all in one place.

"The brilliance of this program may be in its simplicity," said Governor Markell. "Despite it being a simple concept, I haven't seen anything similar being done anywhere else."

In speaking to the librarians and organization representatives, Governor Markell noted that the work the Community Resource Exchange is doing fits well into his top three policy priorities -- creating jobs, making government function more efficiently, and improving Delaware's educational system.

The Exchange was formed by the Delaware Division of Libraries in mid-2008 as the national economic downturn began to worsen significantly and the need for services increased. Its creation was an outcome of a previous grant for libraries from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which is now supporting Delaware libraries in applying for Round 2 Federal Stimulus Funds.

The American Library Association noted that the most unique aspect of this partnership is the very active partner listserv where the partner organizations share up-to-the minute information about new services and events of possible interest to the public.

The Exchange focuses on services in four major areas: basic needs, children and families, employability, and health. Other critical issues outside of these four areas, such as senior services, volunteerism, and legal aid, are being addressed, as well. Please visit http://delawarecre.pbworks.com/ for more information.

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