Reach Out and Read-Public Library Partnerships
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REACH OUT AND READ AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES: Great Partners in Early Literacy Meredith Hintze, Program Director Reach Out and Read Colorado Beth Crist, Youth & Family Services Consultant Colorado State Library
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Explore ways to improve and expand your early literacy outcomes in your community through collaborations between public libraries and Reach Out and Read clinics. Find out about current successful partnerships in Colorado and get some of your FAQs answered here.
Transcript of Reach Out and Read-Public Library Partnerships
REACH OUT AND READ AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES:Great Partners in Early Literacy
Meredith Hintze, Program DirectorReach Out and Read Colorado
Beth Crist, Youth & Family Services ConsultantColorado State Library
What are we going to talk about?• Why should Libraries and Reach Out and Read
clinics form partnerships?
• Partnership examples
• Partnership ideas (open discussion)
• How can we help?
• One Book 4 Colorado
One Book 4 Colorado Wins 2013 Community Partnership Award!
Reach Out and Read Colorado is a prescription for literacy
Doctors give books to children ages 6 months through 5 years at well-child visits, and provide literacy advice to families.
Reach Out and Read promotes early literacy through primary care clinics because medical providers:
• Reach most parents and children • Have repeated one-on-one contact with families• Provide trusted guidance about children’s
development• May serve as the only source of formalized
support for poor families
The Reach Out and Read Model
• A brand new, age-appropriate book is given to children from 6 months and 5 years of age at every well-child visit. Doctors instruct parents to read aloud with children.
• Families receive early literacy information including anticipatory guidance and developmental milestones.
• Clinics create a literacy-rich environment in exam and waiting rooms.
About Reach Out and Read
• In Colorado, 87,000 children receive 157,000 books annually. Nationally, 4 million children receive 6.5 million books annually.
• More than 220 Colorado clinics offer Reach Out and Read.
• It works. Fifteen peer reviewed studies illustrate its effectiveness.
Public libraries and early literacy
• Storytimes with parent training component
• Outreach programs
• Family events
• Parent classes
• Classes for childcare and preschool staff
• Programs for children with specific needs
…and of course lots of books and media!
Findings from SPELL
• Form partnerships
• Work through existing infrastructures
Pediatricians and clinics are key!
• Be convenient
• Promote and cross-promote services
http://spellproject.weebly.com/
How do families benefit?
• Families receive consistent support through messaging that is shared in both settings.
• Families gain free access to books to keep and to borrow.
• Parents learn early literacy tips and info from multiple trusted sources, in culturally appropriate ways.
How do clinics benefit?
A successful partnership supports a literacy-rich environment at the clinic.
What is a literacy-rich clinic environment?
• Gently used books in the exam and waiting rooms
• Literacy themed decorations and posters
• Volunteers reading to children in the waiting rooms
• Library Information is readily available
Tri County Health Department-Aurora Pediatrics of Steamboat Springs
Community Health Services-Commerce City
Examples of Literacy-Rich Clinic Waiting Areas
How do Libraries benefit?
• Increase reach
• Cross promote services
• Promote early literacy
• Better serve parents & children
• Gain important community partners
PIKES PEAK LIBRARY DISTRICT
Reach Out and Read at the
Peak Vista Pediatrics Clinic
Peak Vista Pediatrics Clinic waiting area for children
One hour/ once a week in waiting room Storytimes Talking with parents
“The Suitcase”
Books Puzzles Library cards Brochures
Well-child Waiting Room
Benefits Publicize the library to non-users
Publicize the library to Spanish speakers
Opportunity to talk one on one with parents about early literacy
The clinic is able to address the whole child and brain development rather than just the physical health of the child.
Challenges Staffing – important to have regular staff
Staff – challenge to comfort zone
TV in space
Books in the “well-child” area
Non-English speaking parents and caregivers
First contact with the diverse families
Requirements of the clinics
How Can We Help?
• Contact lists are available clinics and libraries
• One Book 4 Colorado
• One Book 4 Colorado webinars
February 25 at noon
February 27 at 8 a.m.
http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdelib/onebook4co/index
How Can We Help?
• Colorado State Library and Reach Out and Read Colorado can help facilitate partnerships.
Resources
• How to Connect handout
• Literacy-Rich Waiting Rooms handout
• Webinar will be archived
How Can We Help?No need to reinvent the wheel! Here’s a sample of a co-branded brochure produced by the Denver Public Library:
How can we help?
What can we do to facilitate your partnership?
Recap
• Libraries and Reach Out and Read clinics benefit when they partner
• Partnership examples
• Partnership ideas
• We can help
• One Book 4 Colorado
Thank you!
Meredith Hintze, Program [email protected] Reach Out and Read Colorado
Beth Crist, Youth & Family Services [email protected] Colorado State Library
Please complete the webinar evaluation:https://www.research.net/s/ROARCSLwebinar
