Read on to see how a youth author found inspiration from libraries & the importance of representation.
Interviewing Library Advocates: Ernesto Cisneros, Children’s Author
Category: Blogger Public Awareness and Advocacy Committee
A Year in Partnerships
As a school librarian, I thrive on partnerships to expand my library and experiences for my students. About five years ago, my school focused on and built a Global Education program that centers around four competencies: 1. Investigate the world with intellectual curiosity and cultural literacy; 2. Recognize and value diverse perspectives; 3. Communicate with agility and engage in respectful dialogue; and 4. Take responsible action that promotes peace and justice. Partnerships help me fulfill these competencies in my library curriculum and programming, so each year, I try to find new partners while also building on my existing partnerships. In the fall, we continued our partnership with the New Orleans Public Library when our first grade visited a local branch to sing holiday carols and then participated in a storytime. This helped my students learn more about public libraries while also bringing music and joy to the patrons of the…
Interviewing Library Advocates – Stephanie Smallwood, Youth Services Coordinator for the Springfield Greene County Library District
Interview with Stephanie Smallwood, Youth Services Coordinator for the Springfield Greene County Library District discussing various ways to advocate for early literacy and libraries.
Interviewing Library Advocates: Isariya Locke, Children’s Librarian, Fresno County Public Library
Read how Isariya Locke is helping families feel seen and welcome through play and advocacy.
A Paws-itively Amazing Partnership
While many library systems across the country, including JPL, have implemented “Reading with Rover” programs, JPL has partnered with JPAWS to create programming and services that make a “Paw-sitive difference” for two-legged and four-legged patrons. I recently had the opportunity to talk to Jessica Styons, Director of JPL, and Michelle D. Brignac-Carr, Director of JPAWS, to learn about some of the “fur-real” amazing programming that are a real “treat” and that prove, through partnerships, anything is “paws-ible.”
Interviewing Library Advocates: Ashley Mireles-Guerrero, Judging by the Cover
Read on to learn how a local independent bookseller works together and advocates for their public library.
Interviewing Library Advocates: Davina Menchaca, Inclusivity Advocate
In January of 2024, I was forwarded a question from a library guest about how to get American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation services for storytime. Sadly I had never even thought about having an ASL Interpreter in my programs. What followed were a few meetings with our Children’s Services Manager, staff from the Oklahoma School for the Deaf, and Davina Menchaca, the parent who requested the services for her daughter. Almost two years after first starting the program, Davina has helped us reach Deaf and Hard of Hearing children from around the state by sharing our program far and wide. Without her, this program wouldn’t have happened. By responding to Davina’s advocacy for her daughter, we were paid back tenfold with Davina’s advocacy for our library.
Interviewing Library Advocates: Maria Simon, Youth Services Coordinator, Wood County District Public Library
Read about Maria Simon’s exciting community partnerships that help her raise awareness for the public library!