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The “Raising Readers through Programs and Outreach”
initiative illustrates the Pueblo of Pojoaque Public Library’s
commitment to a critical community need: basic literacy.
The program came about as a result of the library’s
facilitation of meetings, surveys, and interviews, all of
which pointed to the need for pre-literacy and reading incentive
programs that involve parents and caregivers in the early
childhood learning process. The project develops and presents
library and outreach programs emphasizing pre-literacy for
pre-school children and their families, develops and implements
reading incentive programs for school age children, and expands
the library collection with materials that address pre-reading
skills and promote pre-literacy.
Through this program, the Pueblo of Pojoaque Public Library
has established itself as a leader in strengthening relationships
within the native cultural community by bringing entire families—children,
parents, and caregivers—together for storytelling and
reading activities with staff. Although initial attendance
was quite low, the addition of a Youth Services Librarian
(made possible by a grant from IMLS) has dramatically increased
attendance and interest in reading and storytelling workshops.
In just seven months, the Youth Services Librarian conducted
103 storytelling sessions with 1,132 attendees. The librarian
expanded the storytelling activities beyond the library through
visits to schools and early childhood centers. Now, when he
arrives at a preschool, the children enthusiastically declare
“The LIBRARY is here!” and quickly take their
places on the reading rug.
At each session, the librarian provides a list of recommended
titles for parents to read outside of the library with their
families, along with take-home handouts that emphasize the
pre-reading skills covered by that day’s session. The
books, songs and activities in the program are all based on
recommended titles from the “Every Child Ready to Read”
(ECRR) program, which also integrates participant evaluations,
the results of which help staff measure the impact of the
lessons and provide recommendations for future workshops.
The impact of the program on the local community has been
dramatic, as circulation rates of the library’s books,
particularly children’s books, have increased significantly.
Such evidence that Pueblos are reading more books outside
of the library is particularly energizing to library staff
and the overall community as well.
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Century Skills profile: Philadelphia Museum of Art
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