News & Views, October 2010 (mp3 file; 4.5 MB; 4:47 min.)Serving Families; Dialogic Reading; "Mmm Good Food" ECL Kit
One of the things you noted in our discussions at ‘The Future and Your Library” is that families are changing and that, especially, they are becoming busier. In the continued discussion online last week we talked about some things you might do in order to better serve those families, and the individuals in them. Here are a few ideas:
For those students who come to the library after school because their parents aren’t home, consider providing programming for them: start a mentoring program with other community agencies, talk with the school and teachers about providing homework help (or subscribe to a homework help service), think about changing your program hours so they coincide with when you have kids already at the library.
Take programs out to where the kids and families already are. If parents and siblings are sitting at ball practice, take some books and programs out to the ball field, or to the swimming pool.
Review your hours. Are you open, and offering programs, at times that are convenient for the families in your community? Are you offering family programs, in a family-friendly environment?
Families have many activities to attend; instead of trying to “compete” with them, join them--collaborate with other agencies to provide joint programming. “Sit at the table” when events are being planned and make sure the library is included.
If you have programs for kids and teens, do you also have programs for parents and grandparents? What support do you have for self-directed and lifelong learners?
Those are some ideas to think about, but you know what will work in your community--talk to families, think outside the norm, and try something new to serve families, of all kinds.
Links from today's podcast:
Dialogic Reading: Hear and Say Reading flyers
