Strong Community Connections

Tompkins County Public Library (TCPL) in Ithaca, New York, has numerous and diverse partnerships through out the community.  In a video produced by TCPL, in June of 2012,  The Strength of Community Connections at Tompkins County Public Library, Susan Currie, Director  of TCPL,  boost that, "Everywhere I look our community through out the entire county is connected. And we want the library to be a resource for our entire community."

TCPL highlights eight partnerships that are benefiting the community:

1.  Family Reading Partnerships- The library gives all newborns a copy of Lola at the Library and an invitation to apply for a library card for their new baby.
2. Kids Discovery the Rail- Promotes early childhood literacy through a partnership with the local school district.
3. Academic Partnerships-  Sharing resources and expertise with a local community college and university.
4. Greater Ithaca Activities Center- Placement of youth volunteers at the library.
5. Lifelong Center- Provide tax services to seniors and people with low income.
6. MLK Community Build- Provide location for panel discussions.
7. Challenge Workforce Solutions - Placement for youth and adult volunteers to gain work experience.
8. Ithaca City Asylum- Provide exhibit and event space.

All of these partnerships service a specific purpose which meets a need for the community.   Please watch the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dGmAkWkcmE, for a detailed view of how each of these partnerships strength the community. 

All information was gathered form the video, The Strength of Community Connections Tompkins Public Library at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dGmAkWkcmE.

Defining Partnerships

Williamsburg Regional Library(WRL) in Virginia has adopted a unique way of  describing the various levels of partnerships between the library and community organizations.  WRL's usage of dating terms to describe the levels of partnerships is quite cleaver and detailed. This information may be useful to a library trying to expand or begin community partnerships.

 Instead of trying to reword this information i have listed it exactly as it appears at http://www.wrl.org/about-us/community-partnership-program:

PARTNERING IS A STRATEGIC TOOL:
Williamsburg Regional Library collaborations with community partners strengthen the library's ability to fulfill its mission and helps the library  meet the needs of all members of the community.  The library's partnerships

•  flow out of the library's mission and vision
•  are a library-wide strategy
•  are centrally coordinated
•  are a formal process

DEFINITION OF A PARTNERSHIP: Libraries have collaborative relationships with many community entities. To acknowledge the importance of all library-community relationships, but to differentiate between the levels of library-partner involvement, the Williamsburg Regional Library has defined the term "partnership" to include four types of relationships: glances, dates, engagements, and marriages.
GLANCE: any overture or contact between the library and a community group.
DATE: an agreement between the library and a community partner to accomplish a specific short-term activity or commitment.
ENGAGEMENT: an agreement between the library and a community partner to work together toward a marriage after an initial experimental phase. Engagements are temporal: they either evolve into a marriage, dissolve, or downsize to a date.
MARRIAGE: a formal agreement between the library and a community partner with compatible goals, to share the work, share the risk, and share the results or proceeds. The library and the community partner jointly invest in resources, experience mutual benefits, and share risk, responsibility, authority, and accountability. Marriages are formed for the long-term benefit to the partners.
POTENTIAL PARTNERS:
*Businesses
*Civic Groups
*Nonprofit organizations - local, state, national
*Schools and colleges
*Libraries
*Government agencies - local, state, federal
REASONS TO USE THE PARTNERSHIP TOOL:
*Reach new library users
*Reach current library patrons in a new way
*Tap into community assets and strengths
*Gain support for library resources/programs
*Gain valuable feedback
*Create new library resources

From Partnering with Purpose (Libraries Unlimited, 2004)
For more information about the library's partnership program, please contact
Janet Crowther, Outreach Services Division,  jcrowthe@wrl.org, 757.259.4066

For more information about Williamsburg Regional Library visit http://www.wrl.org/about-us/community-partnership-program.

Living History Cemetery Tours

I remember when I was younger my mom took my siblings and me to one of the local cemeteries.  When we got there, my old kindergarten teacher was at the gate dresses in a Civil War era dress greeting everyone who walked in (she was very interested in Abe Lincoln and after she retired she would visit area schools and the local historical society and teach about him).

Scattered throughout one or two of the older sections of the cemetery were men dressed as Civil War soldiers who would give an account of actual veterans buried there.  They told about their lives and the battles they saw and what happened to them after the war (if they survived, that is).  Now, about fifteen years later, don't remember exact details about their lives but I remember realizing that the Civil War was an actual event that involved real people who lived in my town.  They were buried right there.  I was already interested in the Civil War because of my kindergarten teacher but I remember that as one of the moments that solidified my interest in history, specifically  military history.

Similar living history cemetery tours are not uncommon.  A simple Google search brings up events from all over the country.  Some are held around Halloween. Some are summer events.  Some specifically feature a certain era or event like the Civil War.  Others may tell stories about individuals linked to a local famous (or infamous) person.

Libraries and local archives typically contain a wealth of knowledge about the history of the city where they are located.  Even a collection of newspapers can shed light on past events and people.  Librarians and archivists can partner with a local historical society or community theater to host a cemetery tour and call for volunteers.  It could also be advantageous to partner with a local school - either high school or college.  The students could research individuals buried in the cemetery and then compose a brief biography to memorize and portray.  The event would have its volunteers while teaching students about how to use a library and/or an archive to research.  The students or other volunteers can then share what they learned with their friends and families.

This kind of an event also teaches people about the place where they live and can encourage the community to invest in it.  Cool things have happened everywhere but not everyone knows about them!

Partnerships between Libraries and College Organizations

Jefferson County Public Libraries believes that "community partnerships strengthen libraries". Phi Gamma Delta  Fraternity members from Colorado School of Mines volunteer at Golden Library providing free tutoring in all subjects. This partnership was formed when the engineering fraternity contacted the library seeking a service project opportunity for the organization. This partnership provides an opportunity for the fraternity members to be of service to the community by sharing knowledge with students. The library serves as a safe location for this to take place, as well as being able to add tutoring services to their programs at no cost to the library.

Jefferson County library produced a video called Community Partnerships Strengthen Libraries. View video below. All information was gather from this video.

Literacy Grants for Rural Libraries

The Children's Literacy Foundation has provided grants for rural public libraries in Vermont and New Hampshire to purchase children's books for their libraries, as well as storytelling presentations for local preschools and elementary schools in those towns.  

Through their Rural Libraries program, CLiF provides resources to rural libraries (located in a town of 5,000 residents or fewer) to encourage literacy.  Each library that is approved for the sponsorship receives the following:

• $2,000 in new, high-quality children’s books for the public library (selected by public librarian)

• 25 new books for the school library (selected by school librarian)

• A total of four storytelling presentations at the elementary school and childcare centers

• Brand-new books for all participating children from birth through grade six 

(Children's Literacy Foundation, 2014)

This sponsorship allows rural public libraries and school librarians to purchase materials they may not have been able to afford otherwise.  Providing children with new materials is a great way to spark or encourage an interest in reading.  The storytelling presentations are another way to engage students and build literacy skills.  

While this particular program is only available in Vermont and New Hampshire, similar programs and grants to encourage literacy exist, and they are just a small example of the many resources that are available to libraries willing to do a little research.

Children's Literacy Foundation. (2014). Rural libraries sponsorship webpage. Retrieved from http://clifonline.org/literacy-programs/rural-libraries/

Art at the Library: The Gratiot Quilt Trail Project

I always enjoy seeing art in libraries, especially art produced from local artists.  Art provides something additional to view in the library, has the capacity to draw in people who may not typically visit the library for other reasons, and gives local artists a chance to showcase their work to a broader audience.  My local library, the Ferndale Public Library in Ferndale, Michigan, displays art in several areas of the library.  

I was happy to see that the newly proposed Gratiot Quilt Trail Project intends to include quilt blocks in the county libraries.  "The purpose of the Gratiot Quilt Trail project is to promote tourism, the arts, the history of quilting, the history of our local farms and businesses and to better connect our rural areas and the towns of Gratiot County." (Sowle, J. 2014).  The quilt blocks will be designed and painted by local artists, with the intention of creating a quilt trail for people to follow throughout the area.  The blocks may be displayed on barns, businesses, and township halls as well as the libraries.

This is a great way for the libraries to partner with the community because it allows them to brighten up their space with local art, to be seen as a vital part of the community, and to perhaps attract additional patrons to the library.

Sowle, J. (2014, November 11). Quilt Trail Coming to Gratiot County. Morning Sun News. Retrieved
from http://www.themorningsun.com/general-news/20141111/quilt-trail-coming-to-gratiot-county

DIY at the Library

Library crafts may go hand-in-hand with children's librarians and story time but that doesn't mean that they should get to have all the fun! Library crafts aren't just for kids!

If your library already has a book club, take a page from the children's librarian and find a simple craft that coordinates with the book.  Try offering knitting or sewing classes - there may even be someone at a local craft store who may be willing to teach them.  If your library has helpful books and patterns make sure your patrons know that those resources are there.  If there are other potentially unknown crafting/DIY materials available, advertise them:

No fooling - you can now check out cake pans! Full story: http://t.co/krocd7ULzg http://t.co/I6wz76QtUz
— Rock Island Library (@RILibrary) March 21, 2014

There are plenty of tutorials on Pinterest for holiday crafts.  Offer a chance for parents to get ready  by making fun and festive decorations.  Create a facebook page or some other way for the community to suggest ideas for a crafting night held at the library.

Fun events like craft nights could be a way for a library to attract people who may not like to read and may not be inclined to use the library.  When librarian Linda Davis began an teen/adult craft program, the total attendance at the end of the year was 450 people!

Genealogy

One of the best ways that a library can draw in members of the community is by offering resources and tips for genealogical research.  According to Ancestry.com, 87% of Americans are interested in learning about their genealogies. The popularity of television shows where celebrities learn about their ancestors such as Finding your Roots and Who do you think you are? show that not only are people interested in where they came from but that the idea is popular enough that production companies can make a profit by showing footage of strangers' genealogical results.

Source: http://www.skipease.com/blog/genealogy/family-tree/

The Detroit Public Library offers tips on ways to get started and other resources to aid researchers who don't know where to start or have gotten stumped.  The Mitchell Research Center in Hillsdale, Michigan keeps local history records, obituaries, city directories, and other useful records for researchers as well as offers classes on how to get started and how to use the physical resources that they collect.

There are online resources such as Ancestry.com that make it easy for people to search from home and to access non-local materials but libraries can still offer classes and advertise the materials that they do carry.  It's very possible that people want to learn about their family trees but just don't know where to get started.  Friendly and capable librarians can help point them in the right direction.

Bibliocycle

What do you get when you combine books, a bike, and a librarian?  The answer is Bibliocycle, a unique partnership between Boston Public Library and Boston Bike created to promote "healthy minds and bodies" to Bostonians.  This outreach program was launched during the summer of 2014 in effort to take the library to the streets and to encourage physical activity.

Librarians rode bikes with a book trailer in tow to farmers markets, fairs, and community events. Patrons were able to check out books, sign up for a library card, and see demonstrations of Boston Public libraries digital resources. This partnership enabled librarians to go into the community to expose people to some of the resources that BPL offers; as well as to encourage visitation to one of the many brick and mortar branches.  In addition representatives from Boston Bikes provided biking and healthy living tips.

For more information on this partnership between Boston Public Library and Boston Bikes go to http://www.bpl.org/press/2014/07/10/bibliocycle-rolls-outsuccessfully/ .

References

Boston Public Library. (2014.) Bibliocycle. Retrieved October 21, 2014, from http://www.bpl.org/press/2014/07/10/bibliocycle-rolls-outsuccessfully/

Pine River Library: A Library Built by the Community

The Pine River Library was selected as the Library Journal's Best Small Library of 2014.  The library serves just under 9,000 people in the community of Bayfield, CO.  The library staff has developed many unique ways to meet the needs of their community.

Through partnerships with a local firm called Southwest Ag,  BP, and dozens of volunteers, the library was able to build a 17,000 square foot outdoor space featuring a community garden, greenhouse, fruit orchard, and five outdoor learning areas.  The library offers classes in cooking, canning, and preserving the food people grow.

Another focus of the library is technology.  The PRL has a technology-lending program which allows patrons to borrow laptops, ereaders, GPS devices, tablets, MP3 players, and video cameras.  There are 50 devices total with a circulation of more than 1,000 annually. Through this program, library patrons are able to try devices before they buy them, and it allows the PRL to increase the circulation of its digital materials. There are a number of technology classes offered through the library.

The local school district, the Bayfield School District, has monthly late start days in grades K-5 for teacher development.  During those late start days, the librarians go to the school and provide a story time for the students while the teachers are in training.

The library offers many programs, including exercise classes, free movies (Bayfield has no movie theater), movies on an outdoor screen, a free babysitter training course offered through the American Red Cross, and a focus on programming for teens, including a monthly event with music, games, and activities for teens in grades 6-12.  The library is open 62 hours a week spread over all seven days.

It is clear that the Pine River Library serves as a hub of its rural community.  I feel this is important for any library, but especially a rural library in a community which does not have as many resources and opportunities as a more populous area.  The library staff are willing to move outside the walls of the library to reach out to community members and find out what they need and how the library may best meet those needs through community partnerships.

Meet the Contributors: Nakenya

My name is Nakenya. I am a first year Masters of Library and Information 
Student at Wayne State University.  I want to work as a children/youth service librarian in an urban library. I am also interested in digital preservation. I enjoy introducing children to different opportunities through literature and hands on projects. On this blog, I will explore the various aspects of Community Partnerships in Library and Information Science.   

Meet the Contributers:Megan

Hello!  I am Megan and I am a first semester student in the Masters in Library and Information Science  program at Wayne State University.  I plan to become a children's librarian once I finish my degree. I enjoy working with children and watching them learn new things.  I also do not believe I will ever grow out of children's books!

For the blog, I am looking forward to exploring creative partnerships between rural libraries and their communities.  I am especially interested in how rural libraries meet the needs of their younger patrons.

Archive Sleepover

It's not often that I wish I could go back to middle school but this week I've often found myself thinking that very thought.  On Monday, the US National Archives posted this tweet:

Got a young explorer who dreams of a night at the museum? Sign up for our next #ArchivesSleepover, OCT 18! http://t.co/M8iQwHER13.
— US National Archives (@USNatArchives) September 29, 2014

The included link has information about their upcoming Sleepover at the National Archives for children ages 8-12.

The opening line on the informational page asks, "Have you even wondered what happens in a museum after the building closes and the lights go out?" which draws on the popular Night at the Museum series where a security guard at the Smithsonian gets to see the exhibits come to life when the doors close the night.

The sleepover promises to give participants an evening where they can explore and play games and learn about "mysterious shipwrecks, the wild West, and the rugged Arctic" as well as have access to many of the records housed in the building.

An event like this can draw in kids that are beginning to be interested in history and learning about the past. Actors dressed as historical figures are there to answer questions and games and songs make learning fun. Getting to spend the night next to documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and the Bill of Rights could make learning about them in class more relatable.  Experts agree that children learn best when they are actively involved in the experience.

This is an idea that a local library or historical society could easily implement. Even if children can't snuggle with anything quite as remarkable as the actual Declaration of Independence, you can host an event that teaches them about local history or focuses on a specific author or genre. Making the resources available and appealing to children shows them that knowledge can be fun!

Meet the contributors: Julia

My name is Julia and I am a current student at Wayne State University.  My goal is to get my Masters of Library and Information Science with a certificate in Archival Administration.  I am still in the beginning of my program but when I graduate I hope to get a job in a Special Collections library.  I worked in Special Collections at my undergrad so I am especially interested in academic archives but I may broaden my perspective a bit over the next two years.

Like Megan, Maeve, and Nakenya, I will be exploring Creative Community Partnerships within the library system.  I will try to focus my posts on archives and Special Collections but as I research I just might find some other fun tidbits!