February 23, 2021 As libraries remain closed or operating under limited hours, librarians are provided many services virtually, including storytime. During this webinar, participants learned some ways they can polish up their virtual storytimes and were able to share their library's practices with others around the state and collect new ideas and feedback.

• Google Drive with Programs to Go ideas
• ALA’s Virtual Storytime Services Resource Guide
• SLJ COVID-19 Publisher Information Directory
• Tips for Recording Virtual Storytimes due to COVID-19

April 27, 2021This month we shared a brief presentation about equity in storytime and youth programming and then we talked all together about ways librarians have or plan to make their youth programs more equitable.

• Serving Patrons with Barriers to Access
• Library Walk-Through Checklist
• Facets of Equity Engagement (includes document mentioned in webinar, "Serving Patrons With Barriers to Access")
• Racial Equity in the Library Part One
• Racial Equity in the Library Part Two

Diverse Book Lists

• We Need Diverse Books
• Where to Find Diverse Books
• Diversity in YA
• Diversity in KidLit
• Latin@s in KidLit
• American Indians in Children's Literature
• I'm Here, I'm Queer, What the Hell do I Read?
• Rich in Color
• African-American Reference Guide

October 14, 2020 Storytime and other early literacy children’s programming are staple offerings for public libraries. Now more than ever, libraries need to demonstrate and communicate their value to the community. During this webinar, participants learned about ways to assess the content and effectiveness of their storytimes and ways to communicate their outcome data to community stakeholders.

• Interactivity Self-Reflection Worksheet [DOCX, 383 Kb]
• Supercharged Storytime Self-Reflection Worksheet [PDF, 43 Kb]
• Supercharged Storytime Peer Observation Worksheet [PDF, 81 Kb]

August 12, 2020 As children’s librarians, we offer storytime and other preschool programs to our patrons and are key partners with parents, caregivers, and teachers to help children become prepared for school and learn to read. During this webinar, participants learned about ways to engage caregivers in their storytime and to encourage caregivers to continue to support their child at home to master the early literacy components that children need to become successful readers.

April 8, 2020 Many children do not have the opportunity to attend formal early childhood programming and families in our community rely on the library as a safe, welcoming space for their children to play and to encounter books. Even small libraries should have some kind of early literacy play space in their library. During this webinar, you can learn some tips and techniques to maximize the space that you have available to create a place where families can read, sing, play, talk, and write together.

February 12, 2020 As children’s librarians, we offer storytime and other preschool programs to our patrons and are key partners with parents, caregivers, and teachers to help children become prepared for school and learn to read. During this webinar, participants learned about intentionality and how using storytime books, songs, and other literacy activities intentionally will support the early literacy components that children need to master to become successful readers.

• Early LIteracy Planning Toolkit [PDF, 695 Kb]
• Early Literacy Planning Tool Worksheet [Word, 579 Kb]