A volunteer fair is able to recruit volunteers and increase public awareness of their mission while the library is able to connect its patrons with meaningful service opportunities.
Author: ALSC Liaison with National Organizations
Partnering Through StoryWalks®
Looking for a project to generate new partnerships? How about a StoryWalk®? These deconstructed picture books, assembled page by page, onto signs along walking paths are ideal outreach activities. StoryWalk®, first developed by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont, promote literacy, a healthy lifestyle and so much more. Signage provides space for partner recognition on each page, too. For a permanent StoryWalk® installation, partnering with local government and parks and recreation departments are a good starting point. Prepare to speak about your project at a council meeting to gain support and funding. If the installation will be at a local park, the parks and recreation office will be key in maintenance of the project. These departments may have a website to help promote the project as well. StoryWalk® is flexible and mobile, too. Stakes or yard signs can be used to create temporary installations of a StoryWalk® project, suitable for festivals,…
Educate Girls and Change the World
“One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world.” Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Young Malala – the girl who survived a brutal assassination attempt – has spent most of her life fighting for the right to learn … not only for herself but for every child, especially girls. Studies around the world consistently show that educating girls can break the cycle of poverty – in just one generation. Even the White House is getting involved: First Lady Michelle Obama made recent international headlines with Let Girls Learn, a global initiative to enable adolescent girls to complete school. The First Lady speaks for #62MillionGirls! As a leader in the girls’ education movement, Girl Rising is working closely with FLOTUS to enable and empower girls. In 2013, the film of the same name, debuted with nine stories of nine girls facing nine challenges around the…
Taking the Lead in Helping Kids Become Good Digital Citizens
Digital citizenship. It’s a complex subject that I’ve thought a lot about in recent years- and one that I’ve been figuring out how best to address in my role as a public librarian. For our kids to be contributing participants in the Digital Age, they need to be informed about a whole host of issues such as internet safety, privacy and security, cyber bullying, digital footprints, information literacy, copyright and creative credit, and more! So when Mariah Cheng, one of my regular patrons who also happens to be an elementary school teacher, approached me about teaching a series of digital citizenship workshops at the library for children and parents I jumped at the opportunity to partner with her. Mariah had recently become a Certified Educator through Common Sense Media’s Digital Citizenship Initiative which offers training and curriculum for free to K-12 educators so that they can teach their students and…
Partnering with Homeless Serving Organizations
Located in an urban area, my library has a large population of people experiencing homelessness. All of the schools in the area are Title 1 funded schools, which also indicates a high level of need for transitional housing and other services for families. Although we regularly see homeless populations in the library, I wondered why we don’t see more and what we could do to make these potential patrons feel welcome and aware of not only our warm building in winter months but also our wealth of resources and programming for families. I developed a loose plan to visit the shelters and homes that serve families, provide a storytime, talk about resources and distribute library cards. I honestly thought it would be a cinch to get the shelters on board. But I was setting myself up for difficulties. I had an elevator pitch that largely skipped why this might…
Getting Ahead with Head Start
Head Start and Early Head Start programs support the comprehensive development of children from birth to age 5, in centers, child care partner locations, and in their own homes. In fact, did you know that Head Start just realized a milestone 50 year anniversary? This five minute video gives you a quick history of this important community organization. You can find a Head Start agency in your community by looking at their site locator. Many libraries partner with Head Start sites by sending library staff to the center to conduct early learning story time sessions. Sometimes, a center might have a grant to provide transportation services, so that they can bus students directly to the library for story time or other play based sessions. One way I like to partner with Head Start is to work with their county based administration office, where I can provide trainings and workshops to staff…
Back to School Connections
Recently I attended a meet-and-greet at one of our local public libraries. This library is located near one of our elementary schools. Along with my fellow district librarians, I’d been invited to the event as a kickoff to the new school year. Although it was – and still is – a busy time for school librarians (book displays, helping teachers, moving shelves, getting virtual and physical spaces ready), I thought it was important to attend. Indeed, I was so very glad (and honored) that I did! Along with the pastries (my favorite was the blueberry coffee cake) and coffee, there were enthusiastic introductions and reconnections. We met staff members, heard about recent summer programming, and upcoming kidlit author visits. (I’ve already put them on my calendar.) I was given an “I Love My Library” button. I think I’ll wear it every day! (Image courtesy of the author) A tour of…
What’s Next?
For many of us, the beginning of the school year starts a new cycle. Which programs and projects will continue, what changes will we make and do we have the time and staff to make it all happen? This is a refreshing process for me and one I look forward to each and every year, but this year I’m heading into it with a new gusto! I attended a session at ALA in San Francisco called, “What I Stopped Doing.” This session was essentially one librarian’s story about taking a step back and evaluating what she was doing. She had things she enjoyed, things she didn’t enjoy, programs that are sacred cows for libraries (story time), and a variety of new things she wanted to add to the mix. The problem is, how do you add to the mix successfully, when do you walk away from a specific…