The Upper Arlington Public Library‘s main library is a spacious building with a stunning, light filled atrium. The Library Journal places the system at its highest ranking of five stars, a designation Director Chris Taylor credits to the libraries’ staff. With an average employee tenure of nine years, the team of 116 employees and over 120 volunteers champions the library’s mission to explore, gather and grow.
UAPL offers groundbreaking services. Listen Columbus, launching this October, will be an amazing resource to explore local musicians, stream their music and even download. Keep up to date on all the music being added via Listen Columbus’ Twitter. UAPL is also the first library in Central Ohio to offer passport services. The service offers greater convenience by being open nights and weekends, and the comfortable library environment can’t be beat! In the six short weeks since introducing, UAPL has already helped 110 people looking to possibly do service work abroad or enjoy an exotic vacation.
UAPL collaborates with a number of community-based organizations. The Upper Arlington Author Series is a partnership between the Upper Arlington Community Foundation, Upper Arlington Rotary, Friends of the Upper Arlington Public Library and UAPL. Bill Clegg, longlisted for the National Book Award, will be speaking on October 2nd. Past notable authors include National Book Award winner, Anthony Doerr, and Caldecott Medal recipient, Paul Zelinsky (brought in partnership with Upper Arlington Schools; see our post on Windermere’s Media Center). Beyond the world-class authors UAPL helps to attract, the library also fosters aspiring authors. Through a collaboration with the Upper Arlington Cultural Arts Division and the Upper Arlington Recreation Department, UAPL is hosting an all-day writers’ conference this October 15th. One last collaborative highlight includes The Stand Project. The initiative is “focused on the prevention of substance abuse and committed to standing by students and families in finding help.” With financial support from the Upper Arlington Rotary Club, UAPL has created circulating book club kits with discussion questions featuring topics on substance abuse, mental health and more.
To better serve the community, UAPL is expanding its children’s storytime area into a flexible space. By doing so, UAPL can cost effectively provide more programing and services without new construction. UAPL is excited to unveil its multipurpose space the first week in September.
Kate Porter has been with Upper Arlington Library’s system since 1998. As assistant director, she oversees public services at all three of the system’s libraries. Kate grew a love for libraries when she was a history graduate student at the University of Delaware. A few years later, she acquired her Master of Library and Information Science degree. Kate loves being involved in various projects and looks forward to helping UAPL celebrate its upcoming 50th year.
Upper Arlington Public Library’s main branch is an incredible space with a dedicated team bringing unique programs and services to the Central Ohio community. We highly recommend visiting soon!
Pickerington Public Library kicks off it’s summer reading program this month and on June 11 will host the third annual Teen Book Fest, an opportunity for readers to meet award-winning authors, like Gene Luen Yang, participate in workshops and enjoy a day of reading celebration. These events follow on the heels of the library’s Big Comic Show in May and are just a few of examples of the exciting services the library offers to create valuable experiences and opportunities for their customers.
Librarian and Adult Services Manager Donna Matturri shared some of the amazing programs and services provided by the library. The library caters to a broad audience by providing a variety of services and programs geared toward all ages.
Adult services offerings include Reader’s Advisory and Staff Picks. Customers are invited to email library staff directly and are provided with personalized reading lists, based on personal preference. The library offers an array of programs for interest groups, ranging from book clubs to crafts, financial advice and lunch and learn programs.
The Homework Help Center is not only a space for students to study and receive tutoring, the staff also offers afternoon ACT and SAT preparation programs and partners with Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical School to provide job prep and computer literacy classes.
The library features a dynamic youth services department, complete with its own mascot, Violet the Cow, designed by local artist Will Roland, who attends community events as a library ambassador. The enthusiastic group of children’s services librarians are attuned to their audience and provide programming to capture attention, including programs centered around Minecraft, Angry Birds, Lego and an annual Princess and Superhero costume party. Another popular program is Dog Tales, which, in partnership with the county animal shelter, pairs dogs with children who can practice reading aloud to a furry audience.
The passion and creativity of the library’s staff create a vibrant and welcoming environment. Staff cares about the community they serve. They pay attention and react to the interests of their customers and are rewarded with an engaged and supportive audience. Donna shared that she loves her job, thanks to a great staff who make the work easy and happy customers who make it wonderful.
Columbus Metropolitan Library‘s Ready to Read Corps, part of the library’s young minds strategic focus to encourage learning and growth, prepares some of Columbus’ most at risk youth for success in kindergarten.
By engaging not just children but entire communities, the Ready to Read Corps encourages families when they are faced with an array of challenges and affirms they are not alone. The impact is astounding and transformative.
We are honored to bring you their story during National Library Week. Every day at noon, we will add a new facet to this feature. Be sure to check back in.
In the meantime, please enjoy this wonderful video illustrating how Ready to Read helps create a foundation for a successful life.
Ryan Agnew and Stephanie Burley are two of the amazing members of the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Ready to Read Corps. Stephanie and Ryan serve children and families in the community through outreach to help ensure kindergarten readiness through literacy. They manage the bookmobile, provide home visits and develop lessons and best practices for storytime and programming.
Stephanie, a doctor of English literature and former Peace Corp volunteer, has been with CML since 2008 as a customer service representative, youth service specialist and most recently, Ready to Read specialist. She enjoys the fast-paced, challenging, and fun nature of the work.
Ryan, an accomplished artist, has taught at Ohio State and Ohio Dominican Universities and joined Columbus Metropolitan Library in 2008. He became a Ready to Read Corps member in 2013 and is passionate about his role in supporting disadvantaged families with babies, toddlers and preschoolers to be their children’s “first teachers” of foundational literacy skills.
We adore CML’s colorful and inviting Ready to Read bookmobile, lovingly named Rosie. Visiting roughly 200 homes a month and serving 500-800 families a year, Rosie, Ryan Agnew, Stephanie Burley and the Ready to Read team are changing lives.
The Ready to Read Corps also visits job and family services welcome centers, food pantries, WIC offices and pediatric centers where at risk families spend significant time. For many citizens, if no transportation to the library exists, they can’t go. Rosie bridges that gap while Ryan, Stephanie and other specialists provide encouragement, expertise and a customized collection to each visit.
Aboard Rosie, the Ready to Read Corp’s bookmobile, grown up and kids alike are invited to sign up for a library card. The library provides two options for kids and teens under the age of 17, they can obtain a standard library card, which requires a parent or guardian’s signature, or they can sign up for a kid card.
The kid card was created to remove all barriers that might prevent children from accessing the library’s collections. The card, which does not require a parent’s signature to sign up for, allows holders to check out up to five books at a time. Kids cards are not subject to fines or to being blocked due to overdue items. The library card also provides access any of CML’s 21 Homework Help Centers, library computers and research tools available through columbuslibrary.org.
The kid’s library card fosters a sense of responsibility, pride and ownership in children by allowing them to manage their library items. This summer, all children who enroll in the summer reading program will be asked to sign up for their own library cards.
CML’s Ready to Read Corps partners with several other organizations to extend and strengthen the library’s impact. Partners include Columbus Public Health, Center for Healthy Families and the Mt. Carmel Wellness & Community Center.
CML also started a pilot program with Learning Circle Education Services. The pilot evaluates library programs and patrons’ school performance, creating evidence-based metrics and ensuring continuous improvement.
Ready to Read has a measurable impact. Through a formal evaluation in partnership with The Ohio State University, CML found the program positively transforms parents’ attitudes about learning for themselves and their children.
Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Ready to Read Corps fulfills a very special purpose in our community, providing skills and opportunities not just for children, but for their parents as well. Through partnership, creativity and outreach, the dedicated and passionate team is able to help families achieve literacy and kindergarten readiness.
We are thankful to the team at CML for sharing the important work of the Ready to Read Corps and for allowing us to highlight their accomplishments this National Library Week. The Ready to Read Corps is a stunning example of the how libraries help transform young lives.