Holy Outreach, Batman! Presented by: Betty Lawson Children’s Librarian Wayne County Public Library

1. Holy Outreach, Batman! Presented by: Betty Lawson Children’s Librarian Wayne County Public Library blawson@waynelibraries.org Sherry Christman Youth Services Consultant punkpixie@comcast.net

2. POW! Bap!

3. Holy Outreach, Batman! Precisely, Robin.

4. Find Your Inner Superhero!

5. Why Outreach? • Library Bill of Rights • Bringing the library to: • Under served groups • Children with special needs • Families in crisis/need • Non users

7. Words Matter! • All children are born learning, but…. • If a child is read to by age 3 – 1116 words • If a child is NOT read to by age 3 – 525 words • If a child is read to by age 6- 20,000 words • If a child is NOT read to by age 6 -3,000 words - The Hart-Risley 30 Million Word Gap Study – 1995

8. What are YOUR superpowers? • The face of Youth Services? • Attract a crowd? • Creative? • Approachable?

9. Breaking Barriers

10. Build Relationships! • Connect with Schools: • Credibility • Program flyers • Connect with teachers • Guest Reader • Volunteer

11. Build Relationships! • Connect with Your Community: • Credibility • Board involvement • Community reading • Books to preschools/daycares • National Library Month • partnerships

12. To the batmobile! • Go beyond your physical space • Contrary to popular opinion, • size doesn’t matter! • Show up on their turf • “If we build it they will come” • mentality doesn’t work!

13. “…in order to encourage children to come to the library, you must go where they are, honor where they come from. And understand what they love.” (Diaz, 2009, Teacher Librarian)

14. The Embedded Librarian! • Preschools • Daycares • Elementary Schools • Local Board Involvement • Children’s Museums • Housing Projects • Children & Youth Services • Victim Intervention • Programs • Life Skills Programs • Parks • PA One Book, Every Young • Child • Library field trip TO • schools • Books For Keeps • Tail Waggin’ Tutors • YMCA

15. Tween/Teen Outreach • Reach them at school: • Clubs – Anime, Language, Book • Lunch hour information table • Summer Reading Book Talks • Back to School Night • Connect with teachers!

17. Tween/Teen Outreach • Social Media: • Twitter, Instagram and Vine • Age directed content • Use library going tweens/teens • to spread the word!

18. Alternative • Outreach • Juvenile detention centers & • rehabilitation programs • Community Events: • Parades • Community days • Senior Center

20. In-House outreach? YES! • Truck Petting Zoo • Lego Club • Therapy Dogs • Family Nights • Rachel’s Challenge • Homeschool Support • Reading Star Program • One on Ones with parents • Quick Notes to Parents • Teachable Moments

22. You Got ‘em… Now what?! • Credibility! • Family Take Home Sheets • Social Media • W.I.C. • Pediatrician Offices • Ask Them! • Stay a Part of Their Lives • Be seen – Be Interested

23. Fruits of Outreach Labor • 5k’s proceeds • Free Movie Saturdays • Donations from parents • Wish Lists granted for summer programs • Great resource for community needs - Deb and Scott - VIP single mom – apt. - Out of the Darkness walk - car seat safety check - PR for other agencies /events - Early Intervention testing • Kid’s Safety Fair • Tanya / Jason / Lisa story

24. Resources • Funding issues • United Way • Scholastic Face – scholastic.com/face • Book Donations • Local businesses, also donate products - Wal-Mart, Dollar stores • National retailers, such as Macy’s and Target offer grants at the local level. • EITC-Banks and businesses • EIO- The Library • http://www.newpa.com/find-and-apply-for-funding/funding-and-program-finder/educational-improvement-tax-credit-program-eitc

25. O---Outreach feeds on outreach U---Understand the complexitiesof the population T---Time is of the essence R---Reach with urgency E---Everyone is your customer A---Attitude is of the utmost importance C---Care for the needsof the population H---The Human factor needs to be in place *Avila (2008, p.48 )

26. Our Words Matter!

28. To the batcave! • Overwhelmed? Put on your • Baby Cape! • Inaction is like Kryptonite • to Superman…don’t be • defeated!