Baltimore County's Lockwood Receives Urban Player Award

-- Library Journal, 4/13/2006

Lynn Lockwood, assistant director of the Baltimore County Public Library (BCPL), will receive the Urban Libraries Council (ULC)/SirsiDynix Urban Player Award for 2006 for helping to create a coalition of community agencies to support emergent literacy in the county. Lockwood will accept the award, which carries a $1000 cash prize, at ULC's annual membership meeting in June in New Orleans. The Early Childhood Action Committee developed an action plan called "Focus on the First Years" to enhance the well-being of children across the county. BCPL participated by initiating an emergent literacy program that helps parents and caregivers understand and stimulate literacy development in their babies and toddlers.

The library created a new position, called early childhood coordinator, to manage the program, which now supports emergent literacy in nonlibrary settings. "Lynn's work shows how today's public library can leverage its resources to address critical issues and make urban areas more vibrant and more livable," said ULC president Martìn Gómez. "Lynn showed that the role of public librarian is no longer behind a desk; it's out in the community, making a difference." The award was established in memory of Betty Jane Narver, former chair of ULC's Executive Board and former trustee of the Seattle Public library.