Did Anyone Notice What Daley Did for Literacy?

By Betsy Mikel in Add category on Apr 21, 2011 5:40PM

As Daley’s on his way out, there’s a lot being said about what he did (or didn’t do) for our city. While most of the hot topics include Chicago Public Schools, privatization fiascoes and police commissioners, not much is being said about his contribution to Chicago’s literacy culture, claims James Warren from the Chicago News Cooperative.

In his column, Warren goes on to praise some of Daley’s work in libraries and literacy. The One Book, One Chicago citywide book club can be attributed entirely to Daley; the program celebrated its 20th selection and has been organizing public author appearances, discussions, programming and other events since 2001.

Other accomplishments Daley’s made in the name of Chicago literacy that Warren mentions: launch YOUmedia, a youth center for digital learning and literacy housed at Harold Washington Library that has welcomed 5,000 teenagers since 2009 and build and renovate 55 libraries across the city.