Susan B. Neuman - Giving Our Children a Fighting Chance: Poverty, Literacy, and the Development of Information Capital

We owe our deep gratitude to so many individuals over the years who contributed to our efforts. First and foremost, we would like to thank Richard Cox, former vice president of the William Penn Foundation, whose vision and foresight helped to create the comprehensive community-based initiative that supported the modern urban library system in Philadelphia. He and his foundation were committed to closing the gap between disadvantaged and advantaged children through greater access to resources and information. We are also extremely grateful to Ken Finkel at the foundation who was central in helping us get this project off the ground. During the course of our conversations there were many times we encouraged them to be more public about their grant-giving activities to the city, and the tremendous benefits that accrued from these efforts. Their response to us was to let their good works speak for themselves. We hope that this book provides some evidence of their incredible dedication and commitment to improving the lives of children and adults in Philadelphia.

We could not have conducted this work without the support of two giants in the field of library services. Elliot Shelkrot, former director of the Free Library, was an impassioned supporter of branch libraries and their promise for providing free and equal access to information resources to the neighborhoods in Philadelphia. Hedra Packman, head of Childrens Library Services, made it all work. One of the foremost leaders in community library services, she worked tirelessly, along with her colleague Theresa Ramos, to ensure that Philadelphias children receive the benefits of every grant opportunity from homework help to summer programs, to technology innovations and special programs. These women stand alone in their determination, grace, and dedication to children.

We wish to thank the wonderful librarians and LEAP leaders at the Lillian Marrero and Chestnut Hill libraries. Librarians Sara Palmer at Lillian Marrero and Kate Bowman-Johnston at Chestnut Hill were infinitely gracious and always willing to answer our questions throughout our work. LEAP leaders Elaine Kumpf and Dunia Kravchak, as well, helped us learn about the neighborhoods and after-school programs. Watching them interact with students, while always maintaining their sense of humor and delight in their work, was a pleasure to observe.

This type of field work could not have been conducted without our able and talented research team. We would like to thank William McKinney, Joseph Gonzales, Samantha Longdin, Sam Pack, Hannah Ashley, and Rachel Stern, our urban ethnographers for their very careful and detailed observations. We benefited tremendously from Mary Hickert Herring, ethnographer extraordinaire, for her impressive knowledge of Philadelphia and its neighborhoods. In addition, we are especially grateful to Jeremy Sparig, visual ethnographer, who seemed to be able to capture the essence of an observation with his camera. His work is shown throughout the book.

We also appreciate our friends and colleagues who reviewed previous drafts and chapters of the book. Colleagues Tanya Wright, Ashley Pinkham, Tanya Kaefer, and Andrea Pampaloni willingly gave of their time to provide insightful comments. Colleagues in policy, business, research, and practice helped us to view our work from many different perspectives and gave us much food for thought. We would like to thank Richard Rothstein, Marie McCormick, Liz Alperin Solms, Noreen ONeill, and Dean Rosencranz, as well as our anonymous reviewers, for their very thorough and perceptive comments.

Finally, we thank our greatest fans, Russell and Mike, who were always willing to listen to one more story, and one more draft. They continued to encourage us throughout the many years of data collection and reflection and we are forever grateful for their inspiration and support.

Poverty, Literacy, and the Development of Information Capital

Like a bright beacon on the hill, the Lillian Marrero public library rises majestically above the deserted buildings and bulldozed voids below on Germantown Avenue. Here in the heart of what is known as the Philadelphia Badlands, makeshift garbage dumps line the sidewalks. The tall grass that surrounds abandoned lots does nothing to obscure the stacks of tires, worn stuffed chairs, and piles of bottles, bags, and take-out containers indicative of the profound decline in the economy of this part of the city since its heyday in the mid-20th century. Although its a stunningly beautiful summer day, one that normally would draw you outdoors, theres not a seat to be had in the library. By 10:15 a.m., you can hear the hum of dozens of people speaking in hushed tones, groups gathered around the computers, and some 40 others scattered throughout the library, browsing the stacks or reading quietly at one of its nine tables. Every 15 minutes or so, a library staff member sweeps through the room tucking in the vacated chairs, picking up trash and discarded books, and readying the room for the continuing onslaught of new patrons.

Grabbing the #23 bus, and traveling just 6.6 miles from the Badlands, youll find a strikingly similar scene at the graceful Chestnut Hill library, next to the old trolley turnaround. Its front doors are located only 20 feet from the same busy two-lane Germantown Avenue, but its tiny carefully tended gardens inside the wrought-iron fence and under a canopy of century-old shade trees gives it the feel of a sylvan oasis far removed from traffic. Inside, here too, the library is bustling with about 20 adults, either at the computers or selecting books. On this fine warm day, more than 20 preschoolers are cuddled along an architects replica of a trolley filled with benches and murals that hearkens back to the day when trolleys were the primary means of public transit on this Avenue.