The 2012 ALSC Institute has been full of great, enlightening sessions so far. Yesterday, Sarah Mackey gave a wonderful presentation about the Ready to Read Corps at Columbus Metropolitan Library. She and her coworkers have been taking early literacy training directly to parents, in the places they frequent, such as beauty salons, nail salons, laundromats, social service agencies, and even their homes! The parents have been especially receptive to these at-home meetings, treating them as early literacy parties. Plus, these parents get fun early literacy kits to use with their children at home.
This is just one example of the wonderful innovations fellow librarians have to share at the ALSC Institute 2012. It’s so uplifting to hear how librarians are making a difference in families’ lives.