We’ve asked libraries across Colorado to submit program they’ve run in the last year that they’re proud of and they want the rest of us to see and celebrate. Sharing stories in books is great… but what about our stories? The stories of the ways our libraries bring the community together, enrich the lives of our neighbors, and serve the people who live and work in our cities and towns.
Holly Van Hoy, Youth Services Associate Librarian answered our call and we’re excited to let them tell you about Alamosa Library’s Play, Learn, & Grow Family Night in their own words.
Library Name: Alamosa Public Library
City/ Town: Alamosa, CO
Program Name: Growing Readers Together “Play, Learn & Grow” Family Night
Date/ Date Range of Program: November 15, 2023
Intended Audience: All types of caregivers of children ages 0-5 (specifically Family, Friend and Neighbor caregivers, or FFN)
Description:
We partnered with Alamosa’s Immigrant Resource Center to bring Growing Readers Together’s (GRT’s) “Play, Learn & Grow” workshop to the community room of a local housing complex where many migrant agricultural workers and families who have immigrated to the US live. The Library put together GRT’s “Play, Learn & Grow” Bilingual Activity Kits (Sp/Eng) for each caregiver and the IRC provided dinner.
How did you come up with the idea for this program?
The “Play, Learn & Grow” workshop template is available at no charge to all libraries on the CO Dept. of Education’s website. There are project ideas; supply lists; additional printable resources; and engaging videos in English and Spanish, presenting research-backed info with informal caregivers of children ages 0-5 in mind. We planned to offer these workshops as part of our GRT grant project. When we had low attendance for these workshops in our Library, we decided take it on the road!
What partners (if any) did you work with in developing or implementing this program?
We partnered with the San Luis Valley Immigrant Resource Center, who already host programs at this site. The IRC was kind enough to hire a favorite local food truck to provide dinner free of charge to participants. Shout out to Phil and Angelica at SLV IRC, who work hard with their coworkers for their clients each and every day!
What about this program did you find successful? How did you measure the success of this program?
I felt this program was successful because we had a multigenerational turnout, from infants to grandparents, all enjoying the activities, working together, eating together, reading together and laughing together. I received verbal feedback such as, “When can we do this again?” and, perhaps most importantly, “I have another idea for the Library,” which said to me that this community member sees the Library as a partner.
Final Thoughts:
If something doesn’t “hit” the first time in the Library, maybe it will work out in the community! Take it on the road!
Holly has permitted us to share their contact information so that anyone interested in reaching out to them about their program can do so. It is an incredibly generous offer of which you are invited to avail yourself if you’re inspired by their work and want to celebrate them or if you have questions about ways you can follow their lead.
To reach Holly, email them at hvanhoy@ci.alamosa.co.us
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Colorado State Library (and the readers of this point as well, no doubt) understands how time consuming, emotionally draining, costly (in so many ways), and challenging it can be to run a program or project. Sometimes they fail gloriously… sometimes they fail with barely a whisper. It can be hard to recover from that. You’ve worked so hard!… and it just didn’t work out. Be gentle with yourself. Self-reflect. Pick up the pieces. And then get to the next thing. It’ll be worth it.
For all those other times, be sure to celebrate. Brag about it! Feel good about yourself, the team that collaborated on your work, and the community members who participated with it. Celebrate your hard work and the value that you contribute to your community.
Tell us the story of your program just like this library did here. Submit your library’s program for a Program Spotlight featured here and shared as far as Colorado State Library news reaches.
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