This project will provide continued support to the Rehoboth Beach Public Library. Located a few blocks away from the beach in downtown Rehoboth, the library provides residents and out-of-town visitors with access to a plethora of reading materials, technological services, and programs for adults and children. The donations we receive help us to expand our collections, hire performers for our special events, and keep the building operating.
Literacy and the ability to access free information are vital to thriving in today's world. In late 2017, the Delaware News Journal reported that nearly half of all third graders in Delaware could not read at grade level. Moreover, in order to effectively social distance during the current COVID-19 pandemic, our communities need digital resources and ways to connect with each other through virtual programming more than ever.
The Rehoboth Beach Public Library currently provides access to books, music, and films to the community through our curbside pickup services, as well as homebound delivery. People can send us documents to print and schedule a time to pick them up. We also provide access to digital media through Overdrive and Hoopla. Our virtual events include educational workshops, weekly yoga classes, story time on YouTube, and music performances by local artists.
Additional funding will help our library to continue operating and offering our services to the public for free, both during and after the pandemic. Based on the U.S. Census Bureau's statistics, we serve a population slightly under 2,000 residents, but as part of a statewide consortium of libraries and a town that attracts seasonal visitors, our reach is even wider. Donations allow us to improve our collection of books and DVDs, hire performers for our programs, and general operating costs.
