Where the Boys (and Girls) Are: Developing Effective Partnerships with Schools

I went to a workshop this week with the director of the library at the Colonie Library presented by the Upper Hudson and  Mohawk Valley Library Systems.  Presenters Mary Fellows and Sue Rokos outlined the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners Policy as a policy that recognizes the importance of cooperation between school and community libraries.  Recommended activities to achieve cooperation between the two were discussed and suggested programs and services were also provided. Many ideas and suggestions were given to develop a better collaboration between school and community libraries. Several suggestions we will try to implement are providing a multicultural storytelling and creating pathfinders for specific topics that patrons can use to find resources addressing issues important to them.  Another suggestion was to find a shared goal.  We will try to collaborate with the school to win a visit by author Jan Brett to either the school or library benefitting the whole community.  We are also collaborating with the school for their Parents As Reading Partners program encouraging students to read and businesses to support the school. The Community Library is helping approach businesses asking for support. We will also hold special events during March to encourage reading for families. I will be incorporating the elementary school program for character development into a storytelling Saturday.  I will use the theme of the month, Trustworthiness for February and read books with the theme and provide an activity related to it.