Library outreach giveaways don’t have to be just pens, pencils, and keychains. With a little creativity, they can become something families will actually use, enjoy, and remember.
A Little More Swag, A Lot Less Junk
Category: Outreach
Building Better Business Partnerships for Storytime
Every month, I partner with a local business and head to their gymnastics studio to lead a brief storytime that kicks off an hour of free play. From its inception, this program has been a smash hit, with some months reaching the capacity of the studio space! The genesis of Gymnastics Storytime? Jealousy. When trying to reschedule storytime to better align with staffing needs, I was running into a bit of a problem. Families are busy, and almost everyone was busy on the same day. As I spoke with folks about dates and times, it became clear that everyone was doing gymnastics, and they were doing it for free, in the town over, with a story-reading included. Our town has its own gymnastics studio, but I’ve never heard it mentioned in the busy schedules of younger children. Well, that seemed like a big opportunity to me! I reached out to…
Junior Librarians: School Field Trips to the Library!
One thing I love about being a children’s librarian is school outreach. I love getting to know new children and families, and sharing library resources with them. School outreach is critical in our line of work and I have been trying to improve the field trips to the library. This school year, I am testing out a Junior Librarian field trip experience at my library!
School Outreach from Your Library Desk
I am consistently in awe of the incredible student-serving initiatives that librarians develop. From onsite collections to in-school reading tutors, there is always something inspiring to discover. If you’re like me, you’ve likely thought to yourself, “How in the world could I make that work at my library?”
Great Graphs!
I love using graphs during my outreach storytimes. Graphing isn’t just a fun activity. Graphs are a great storytime tool. Creating graphs incorporates math, specifically data science, into storytime and develops unique skills.
A Smattering of Youth Services Presentations at ALA Annual
There’s just a few more weeks until ALA Annual! Are you feeling ready for the conference? As of this moment, there are 1,316 programs listed on its online schedule. While it’s incredible that there are so many different possibilities to explore, navigating and deciding what you want to do and see may present a bit of a challenge. Voila, here are some highlights of the presentations ALSC is sponsoring that caught my attention for your perusal! Supporting “STEM SMART” Families: Simple Skill-Building Practices to Enhance Programming for Children and Caregivers Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 9:00 AM Is it me or are caregivers asking for more STEM programming lately? To be honest, that was not taught in the library school I attended. I think that kids can easily tell that I’m not an expert in it even if I do devote time and energy to research a specific topic. Find…
Community Partnerships: Strategies for Success (and Joy)
Librarianship is local, but partnerships aren’t just about filling program holes with local experts. Community partnerships foster collaborations that go beyond transactional relationships. Here are four tips for meaningful partnerships that have helped me build the work and world I love.
April Showers: A Storytime for Spring Weather
Some things in the Chicago area are guaranteed. First, our sports teams will either thrill or wildly disappoint. Second, Winter will feel like a year rather than a season. Finally, Spring will include stormy weather. That last certainty makes for a good storytime theme: “Water, Water Everywhere.” The preschoolers enjoyed books, music, and a demonstration of what makes those April showers occur.