MLA 2018 - Embedded Librarianship, Eradicating Achievement Gaps

I attended the Maryland/ Delaware Library Association’s Annual Conference on May 2 through May 4 at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake in Cambridge, Maryland. One session that I attended was called “Embedded Librarianship, Eradicating Achievement Gaps” which produced ideas for non-traditional outreach locations within a community. Librarians from three different library systems presented about how they partnered with locations such as local barbershops, movie theaters, social services offices and correctional centers to promote reading and library services at those locations.

At the various locations, the partnerships worked in different ways. The librarians read to children and left books and flyers at barbershops and WIC locations. Some of the barbershop owners became really involved in the program and would offer free haircuts for children that read a book and created a book report.  In the jail, they worked with an inmate to teach him the importance of early literacy for his child, so that he could utilize the skills when he is released.  After working with him multiple times, the librarians recorded a video of him reading a story and played it at the library for his child. At the movie theater, the librarians performed a storytime and projected the pages of the books on the screen. They provided popcorn for participants and a craft after.

The librarians discussed what went well and what challenges they faced while creating these partnerships. It was extremely beneficial to have the barbers be supportive of the program. They realized that at that location they needed to expand the material to include teenagers. One challenge with that partnership was staff availability because most of the children come to the barbershop in the evenings and weekends, which is when most libraries are not fully staffed. There were many challenges when working with the jail, because of safety and privacy issues as well as a high turnover of inmates, which meant finding a participant was difficult. In the end, the library only worked with one inmate, but were hoping to work with more.

The session was beneficial because it gave me some ideas of new ways to reach the families of the Brooklyn community who may not use the library. The librarians spoke about how bringing the library to outside locations, many families realized how many resources that the library provides that they would want to use. Library staff can create partnerships with different businesses and services throughout their community to introduce members to the resources that a library provides.

Heather Yost

Brooklyn Branch