Job + Practicum = Outreach Success!

Combining Internship and Outreach: Volunteering at the Children’s Boo Festival, Promoting Library Resources and Engaging Families at the Outreach Event

Week 10  ( Week of October 20th , Wednesday 5-8 Friday 2-5 and Saturday 8:30 -1)

This past week, during my practicum, I was lucky enough to combine my internship with my job at Action Behavior Centers by volunteering for an outreach event at the annual Children’s Boo Festival. It was not only fun, but it also allowed me to encourage others to use their local library.

For the outreach we planned to set up a table at the front of the building where families could learn more about their local Harris County Public Library. We also planned to get kids and parents signed up for library cards and inform parents about the services and resources available at the library like some of the services the library offers, such as storytime programs, kids workshops, and summer reading programs. As many of people have no idea of all the things we have available for children at the library.

Registering families for library cards was one of my favorite parts of the outreach. It was such a joy to see faces of people when they got their library cards. It really made me feel like I was making a difference in the lives of future readers. This made me feel a part of something bigger. Helping parents learn about the resources available to their children and showing them in an exciting environment like the Boo Festival made me really see that I can have a positive impact on my community in my role with Action Behavior Centers and in my career as a librarian.

An Inspiring Experience: Eagerly Anticipating Future Opportunities to Advocate for Literacy

This outreach helped me realize I want to make a difference by connecting people to resources and information they may not have known they had access to or maybe just truly don't have access to at all. Not just in Houston, but everywhere, all around the world even. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my local library with families and to encourage them to bring their children in and teach them to love reading.

In summary, this past week at the Children’s Book Festival was inspiring and fulfilling, and I cannot wait for the next opportunity to advocate for literacy and access to information for everyone!