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When Rosalie Abbott began working as a Young Adult Services Librarian at the Sebastopol Regional Library in 2017, she learned something new. “High school students, who knew me from my previous work at our local high schools, felt comfortable asking for menstrual supplies when they were in an emergency situation at the library... which turned out to be fairly often,” Abbott said. “Immediately, I had the idea of creating a space where teens could access these supplies when needed — but the...

Because who doesn't want to visit gorgeous libraries everywhere they go? Back in June, I wrote about why you should become a library tourist . Visiting libraries wherever you go is a wonderful way to get to know a city. They're also a convenient place to take a break from walking and sightseeing, to let kids recoup and use the bathroom, and to chat with locals about their recommendations for things to do. But not all libraries are created equal. They can be big, small, public, private,...

Checkout this terrific use of material to promote Be The One at the Stephens - Davis Branch Library for kindness month. Attached is an amazing Kindness Calendar and pamphlet.

On a recent wintry night outside west Denver's Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales Branch Library, green-card holder Ricardo Flores proved that he knows more about how the United States government works than many people who were born here. Flores, who emigrated from Mexico six years ago, studied for weeks for a 100-question civics test that will accompany his December 5th interview to become a naturalized American citizen. At the library, he aced a mock exam conducted by English instructor Joanne...

In the aftermath of recent hurricanes and wildfires, the Sesame Street in Communities team wanted to reach out to provide information on our available resources to help families cope in the aftermath of natural disasters, and other traumatic experiences. Bilingual videos, articles, printables and more, are all available for free on our website at www.sesamestreetincommunities.org . Here are the links to a few topic pages that may be most useful to you as you work with families in the...

Every public library and YMCA in the U.S. may soon be equipped with Narcan, in an effort to combat drug-related deaths by expanding access to the opioid-overdose-reversing naloxone nasal spray. Emergent BioSolutions, which this month completed its acquisition of Narcan maker Adapt Pharma, will provide a free kit including two doses of the nasal spray, as well as educational materials, to each of the 16,568 public libraries and 2,700 YMCAs in the U.S., according to an announcement released...

One day, when I was in fourth grade, I received a book in my classroom "mailbox." In fact, every kid in our class received the very same book , a book that we were not required to read for school but that, rather, we were allowed to take home and keep. We were all flabbergasted. Had there been a mistake? What was this unthinkable treasure, this gift from school that required no labor in return? I vaguely recall a teacher informing us that it was a book "about math" or "geometry" or some such...

As fault lines in the US deepen every day around class, race, political party, gender, and education, libraries are quietly p roviding the social glue that society seems to lack. Most have reading programs and career resources. Some have media production studios and maker spaces. Millions use libraries for internet access, and to work. They are a first stop for immigrants, a place for parents to introduce their kids to reading—an essential gateway to learning—and where the the socially...

On a recent weekday morning, librarian Annabelle Blackman stood in front of a room full of young children at the Cesar Chavez Public Library in Oakland, Calif., singing a children’s rhyme and swaying from side-to-side. Her performance was more than mere entertainment; it was part of her weekly summer storytime that is designed to promote early literacy for infants and toddlers. At a time when youth are increasingly tethered to electronic devices, Blackman and other librarians continue to...

Libraries are being disparaged and neglected at precisely the moment when they are most valued and necessary. Why the disconnect? In part it’s because the founding principle of the public library — that all people deserve free, open access to our shared culture and heritage — is out of sync with the market logic that dominates our world. But it’s also because so few influential people understand the expansive role that libraries play in modern communities. Libraries are an example of what I...

An elementary school librarian connects her students with the world to inspire peace and take action on global issues At Tudor Elementary School in Anchorage, Alaska, “show and tell” has an inspiring twist. Instead of sharing an interesting rock or a favorite toy, they are sharing messages of peace and personal commitment to making the world a better place. And, through live video conferencing, they’re sharing their messages with students in Argentina, Pakistan, Brazil, Canada, and the...

http://www.diversitydatakids.org/ Explore hundreds of measures of child wellbeing and policy analysis from a unique information source that documents diversity, opportunity, and equity among US children.