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Outreach

April 26, 2008 - 3:36pm — trixie

While in-house library programs are a valuable way to get the early literacy message across, how do we reach families that don’t walk through our doors? We bring the message to them through outreach!
 
Outreach can include presenting early literacy storytimes at preschools and Head Starts and teaching parent/caregiver trainings in partnership with Early Childhood Councils. However, outreach can also mean smaller ventures like having a supply of handouts ready for informal chats with parents at a community event.
 
Outreach is a great way to get involved in and raise the library’s profile in the community and to ensure that the early literacy needs of ALL children (not just those who are able to visit the library) are being met. 
 
Check out the links in the grey box to the right as a starting point. Then...
 
See outreach-related blog posts below:

A Colorado Storytime

October 10, 2009 - 4:28pm — CLEL

A Read Aloud for Children and Parents

"A Colorado Storytime: Read-Aloud For Children and Parents" is a one-hour DVD video produced by Friends of Food For Thought. It features guest readers reading books by Colorado authors, illustrators, and publishers, in English and Spanish. Free copies (one per address) for nonprofits and childcare centers are available as supplies permit!

Johnson County Library launches a new early literacy initiative: 6 by 6!

September 28, 2009 - 11:56am — Mary K.

Johnson County Library in Kansas has recently launched a new early literacy initiative called "6 by 6".  Their website for the initiative includes parent-friendly descriptions of the 6 early literacy skills, book lists for each skill and videos of librarians demonstrating how to use fingerplays and share wordless books.  Check out the oh-so-darling animal illustrations that were created for each skill

Online Road to Reading

September 17, 2009 - 11:54am — CLEL

What is the Online Road to Reading? It's our new LSTA grant project!

Here's a description of the project from our grant application.

CLEL is Awarded an LSTA grant for 2009!

September 15, 2009 - 6:37pm — CLEL

The Commissioner of Education just announced that CLEL has been awarded one of the LSTA grants for 2009-2010! This is our second LSTA grant!

Here's our new project:

Oregon Library Partnership Adapts ECRR for Outreach

September 10, 2009 - 4:53pm — Melissa D.

On the ALSC blog today is this report about an Oregon partnership that has adapted the PLA's Every Child Ready to Read curriculum to their special outreach needs.

The Storybox Special arrives in Alamosa!

March 16, 2009 - 10:51am — CLEL

The Southern Peaks Public Library in Alamosa has debuted a new program aimed at growing the early literacy skills of children in the area.  Designed to reach children in home daycare programs, as it is often difficult for these groups to make visits to the library, the "Storybox Special" includes boxes of 20 books that are delivered monthly to each participating daycare.  In order to receive the boxes, however, the daycare providers must attend a workshop in which they

Marketing Outreach Programs

September 11, 2008 - 10:33am — CLEL

Once you've planned your outreach initiative, you need to get the word out! Here are some ideas for marketing your program:
 
The Qualistar website lists trainings for daycare providers: free class listings
 
Free marketing materials from the American Library Association
 

Partnership Opportunities

September 3, 2008 - 4:33pm — CLEL

You've decided to take your show on the road. Where should you perform? Here are some ideas of organizations you may contact about partnering in a storytime or parent/caregiver workshop outreach program: Colorado Preschool Program (CPP) provides state-subsidized preschool attendance for at-risk children who don't qualify for Head Start.

Parent/Caregiver Outreach

September 3, 2008 - 4:13pm — CLEL

 
Parent/Caregiver workshops allow the library to share early literacy information with a child's first and most important teachers: parents. It also prepares those who care for young children to share books in a way that encourages early literacy skills learning. However, not all of the parents/caregivers in our communities are able to attend library programs, so it's important that we make trainings available beyond the library's walls.
 
Here are some examples of existing parent/caregiver outreach programs:

Storytime Outreach

April 26, 2008 - 3:44pm — trixie

Storytime outreach allows libraries to provide early literacy experiences to children in the community who may not otherwise be able to visit the library. Here are some existing storytime outreach programs you may wish use as examples when planning your own program:
 
Preschools/Head Start/Childcare Centers:
 
Jefferson County Public Library Traveling Children's Library



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