An Online Discussion of Alliance Building
for Effective Support of Young Readers
March 2 - March 9, 2001
Can an active network of community agencies boost children's literacy skills and encourage their love of reading? Kathryn Ryan, Head of Children's Services at the Newport Public Library, tells a success story about the Newport Partnership for Families, a summer reading program that reached beyond its traditional audience to "at-risk" children, and higher than expected achievement on standardized tests. She will be joined in our discussion by other active members of the alliance: Roberta Emerson, Director of Volunteers in Newport Education (VINE), and Samantha Kilroy, Coordinator of the 21st Century Grant, Sullivan Family Center, New Visions for Newport County.
Christine Arouth (left) and Kathryn Ryan (right)
at YMCA for Teddy Bear Clinic. Arouth is Director
of the Sullivan School Family Center, which
cosponsored the event with several other agencies.
"People today are hungry for community," says Sarah Long, ALA's Immediate Past President. The theme of her presidency -- and of the January/February 2001 issue of Public Libraries -- is Libraries Build Sustainable Communities. Many of us are a bit wary of the tremendous commitment of time and energy needed for public library youth services to collaborate with outside agencies when we are short of time, short of space, short of staff, and already have so much on our plates. You will see acknowledgment of that in Kathy's Story. But you will also see something else: the community we help build sustains us. There may be tangible benefits (as demand for the Newport Public Library's children's services has grown, resources have also grown). There are almost sure to be intangible benefits, as we find ourselves energized by the very projects and partnerships that absorb so much of our energy. And, as Kathy says, the children are worth it.
Kathryn Ryan sits on the ESL committee of the Newport Partnership for Families and on the board of VINE, and has served as vice president of the Newport County Council for Community Services. She has been vice-chair/program chair for the New England Round Table of Children's Librarians (NERTCL) and a 10-year member of the Rhode Island Library Association (RILA) Conference Committee; and she is a founding mother of the Rhode Island Storytellers in Concert. She graduated from GSLIS in 1984, and is a member of Beta Phi Mu.
Roberta Emerson is Director of Volunteers in Newport Education (VINE).
Samantha Kilroy is Coordinator of the 21st Century Grant, Sullivan Family Center, New Visions for Newport County.
If this were a face-to-face program, there would be a talk:
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Kathy's Story: From summer reading to outreach
And there would be handouts:
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Outcomes: Numbers show that summer reading makes a difference
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Partners and Allies: The Newport Partnership for Families
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Links and Bibliography: Resources for alliance builders
And there would be a discussion. We will have a week-long online discussion with Kathy, Roberta, and Samantha (March 2 - 9, 2001). Drop in when you like, read other people's ideas, leave a message of your own, and check back later. To participate, register with Gale Eaton (geaton@uri.edu) or Jessica Smith (j811s@hotmail.com). You will be added to the discussion list LSCCPD@pete.uri.edu for the duration of the program only.
Finally, like many of our continuing professional development events, this program is part of a GSLIS course:
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LSC535: For members of the online course on Public Library Youth Services, a little general background on alliances
(Pages created by Gale Eaton, with major content by Kathy Ryan
and much technical help from Jessica Smith and Allynn Wilkinson. February,
2001.)