PLA Blog

After recuperating for a week and getting back in the swing of things, here are some of my notes from a session I attended.
(I apologize, I came in late to this session and was unable to get the speakers’ names)
The title came from a statement made by journalist Cynthia Tucker quoted in the Conference program: “it’s easy to forget that there are people too poor to have a car, a credit card or a checking account, people stranded outside the magic circle.” This was said in regards to the Katrina evacuees, but in fact, this is the reality for many who are “too poor, isolated, displaced–people locked outside of circles of privilege.”

The discussion centered around New Orleans statistics and experiences, but could refer to any part of the country. Some interesting points were made.

The role of the library:
- Create access- find ways to engage people; libraries are for those who love books, but those with need are not of the book-loving culture. We must do outreach into the community.
- Technology is important, use it to engage the population, especially the young.
- Library should be used as a combined open space with other social services
- Form strong partnerships and become advocates: what happens when a librarian gets angry?

Other speakers spoke of how no life is completely inside the magic circle; a hard fact they discovered post-Katrina when individuals and institutions of all economic and cultural strata were hard hit. They discussed the lack of communication, the undependable nature of technology in times of natural disaster, and concluded that libraries must have a crisis communication plan for the event of such disaster, so that there is a way to contact everyone.

Recently, the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County celebrated the Day of the Children / Day of Books, in concordance with many international literacy groups. DOC/DOB celebrates literacy at an international level. I had the opportunity to ask Alicia Williams, the coordinator of the program and bilingual outreach services specialist at the library, a few questions about their successful day.

Steven M. Cohen - Who took part in Day of the Children / Day of Books? Did you work with any community partners? Parents? Schools?

Alicia Williams - I recruited several groups/persons who are active in the community to participate. I invited Jose Hernandez, who is a parent advocate for a popular CMS (our public schools) TV show about diversity, Del Fallar is a lady who is prominent in the Asian community who came, [and] Mecklenburg County Commissioner, Jennifer Roberts came. All three of the these people came and spoke about the significance of bilingual cultures and the importance of implementing bilingual literacy into our children’s lives. I also invited a Latino dance group named, Ballet Las Amerícas to perform. They performed at the beginning of the celebration with dances from different Latin American countries as well as Spain. I coordinate a parent/volunteer program called Conexiones que Cuentan. This program serves Hispanic children ages birth-5 in preparing them for school. The parent/volunteers are trained in how to be their child’s first teacher. I have 16 volunteers in this program who lead these community programs. I had 7 help me out. I also asked librarians who work at ImaginOn (where we had the celebration) to help out. My two co-workers who also work with the Hispanic community helped out in leading some activities. I invited a local Hispanic artist to come and do a painting session with the children. This worked out very well.

SMC - Was there a national/international organization that helped you plan the event?

AW - Here in the US, the National Latino Children’s Institute has adopted this as a national celebration. They have a kit where you can get the proclamation for Dia which we used and translated it into German and French. It was already in Spanish and English. This is the component I borrowed from this agency. I did apply and receive a grant from EL PUEBLO (Raleigh, NC) who gave me a grant for $400 to buy books for every child attending. They are a great resource. They also gave out at the celebration goodie bags for the children as well as bookmarks. I also bought books. Each child who attended received a book. PET DAIRY donated milk and OJ for this event. So, when we had our storytime session, they all had cookies and milk.

SMC - Where did you get the idea to do your unique interpretation of the program?

AW - I figured we needed several representatives from the community who could serve as leaders to the parents attended and emphasis the importance of bilingualism. Also, the activities I figured we needed to have activities for all children. So, we had a painting session for younger children, a piñata for the older children, and then a parenting session where they recounted rhymes, stories, and songs of when they were children. I just thought about what would be fun and how to get a community into a facility that would normally be shy to come to a library. This celebration attracted mostly persons from the Hispanic community, but when we marketed the program, I made sure to emphasize the celebration was international. Children’s author, Pat Mora visited PLCMC for a book festival a couple of years ago. Her and I spoke in depth about Dia and how to implement something here in Charlotte, NC. So, I ran with it and it turned out great.

SMC - How many children/parents attended? How was the turnout?

AW - There were about 500 people we served that day. I would say that we had about 350 children and then 150 parents.

SMC - How can librarians connect with the community like you did? What goes into the planning?

AW - I think I have a different connection with the community than the typical librarian. This is because I am not a librarian, I am a bilingual outreach specialist and with my program, Conexiones que Cuentan, I am in the community daily. I think it starts with knowing the community you serve or trying to serve and it takes going out into the community and gaining their trust and confidence.

Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking to the Homer Township Chamber of Commerce. What stood out during the day, however, was how well the library participates in the community they serve:

1) The director of the library, Sheree Kozel-La Ha, is a past president of the Chamber.

2) Via a grant, the library sponsored my presentation at the Chamber.

3) They took the time to make sure that the members of the Chamber toured the new bookmobile, which was parked right outside the community center where the talk took place.

4) The library handed out notepads with calculators. Even more impressive, a business card was placed inside the notebooks with a link to their business center page.

I toured the bookmobile before the presentation and was amazed. There are a few more pictures with additional notes here.