Baltimore County Public Library partnered with our local Junior Achievement thanks in part to a grant from the Maryland State Library. This grant supports Junior Achievement’s Biztown program, which is an interactive space where 5th graders from Central Maryland go for a day to learn the ins and outs of how to be a part of the economy of a town. There, the students take on a role in Biztown as anything from the CEO or CFO of a company, to the Mayor of Biztown, or to the Library Director. Staff at Baltimore County Public Library helped design the Biztown Library and develop the role of the Library Director, as well as provided volunteers to help staff it.
In addition to partnering Junior Achievement’s Biztown, the library participated in Junior Achievement’s Inspire Career Fair. Staff from the library demonstrated what it is like to work in a 21st century library with virtual reality, 3D printing and, of course, books. During this event, 8th grade school students from Baltimore County Public Schools had the chance to walk through the Career Fair and connect with library staff and professionals from other area employers. The students were encouraged to ask questions about skills, education, and background for various careers. Over the three days, we interacted with over three thousand students and were able to show them what a great place the library is to work.
Angelique Kopa works in the Collection Development Department of the Baltimore County Public Library, Maryland. She serves on the ALSC Building Partnerships Committee.
This post addresses the following ALSC Core Competencies: III. Programming Skills and V. Outreach and Advocacy.