Norfolk, VA (June 16, 2010). On Friday, April 23, 2010 the Virginia Public Library Director’s Association awarded Norfolk Public Library with the Outstanding Service Innovation Award for its Community Help Card. The Community Help Card is a wallet size card that provides contact information for referral services, city resources, and crisis hotlines.

With the increase in business at the Norfolk Public Libraries, more customers are asking for help with finding community services and resources to help them with the disruptions in their lives caused by the economic downturn. In response to these requests for assistance, NPL created the Community Help Card to link people directly with community resources in Norfolk. We also provide additional information links to community resources on our website at www.npl.lib.va.us/lean/lean2.html. Our online collection of community resources includes services available locally, statewide and nationally.

We have distributed almost 10,000 cards to the public since September 7, 2009. Community Help Cards are available at all NPL locations, and can be made available to community organizations and businesses for distribution as well. For more information, please call the Norfolk Public Relations Department at 757-664-7328 ext. 340.