Hello, this is Melody Kinnamon, Health Librarian and KPHA member. One of my goals in promoting the Kansas Reads to Preschoolers partnership is to make the event doable. The phrase, “After all is said and done, a lot more will be said than done,” keeps popping into my mind. So instead of just cheering you on I would like to suggest some easy steps to take to make things happen.
First, just call or stop by your local public library this week and introduce yourself if you haven’t already. If your public library is a large, multi-branch system ask to speak to the Youth Services Librarian in charge of programming. Share your interest in the Kansas Reads to Preschoolers event and let them know you would like to partner.
Second, suggest one way you can partner, just to get the ball rolling. Maybe all you can do is help promote your local library’s Kansas Reads to Preschoolers programs by displaying their flyers in your building. That still is something! Maybe you can invite them to read Up, Down, and Around to the children attending an immunization clinic or to the adults attending a prenatal/parenting class or a childcare licensing meeting. Adults need to be reminded of the importance of reading aloud to children and this would be a terrific opportunity for the library to reach out to the community.
I look forward to hearing what your plans are for Kansas Reads to Preschoolers event scheduled for November 14-20, 2010. Check back for more ideas for partnering!
Sincerely,
Melody Kinnamon, Johnson County Public Library, Overland Park, KS. kinnamonm@jocolibrary.org