Literacy and Youth Services

Announcements

• Colorado Youth Services Groups 
  There are several formal and informal groups in Colorado providing ongoing learning and networking opportunities!
• Library staff new to Colorado and/or new to youth services
• This handy document outlines listservs, organizations, professional development, programs unique to CO, resources available for your library and for parents, and a timeline of youth services activities in CO.
• Colorado Public Libraries Early Literacy Framework 2020 - 2025 
• Child Abuse Prevention Resources and Ideas For Libraries
• In April--National Child Abuse Prevention Month--and year-round, these resources and ideas will help your library raise awareness of this critical issue.
• Removing Barriers to Access: Eliminating Fines and Fees on Library Materials
  This white paper, from the Colorado State Library, details research on why eliminating fines and fees, especially on children's materials, provides greater access to library materials for all residents--and how this results in little to no negative financial effect.
• Baby and Toddler Storytime Kits Available for Check Out!
  Check out (literally!) our Baby and Toddler Storytime Kits for your library! Discover all the details at the link above. 
• Reading Tips for Parents Brochure (ages 0-6)
  This brochure provides tips and activity ideas to help parents and caregivers prepare young children to be ready to read in kindergarten, and how to set a positive atmosphere for reading activities.
  English (PDF) 
• Day by Day Family Literacy Activity Calendars
  These beautifully illustrated perpetual calendars, available in English and Spanish, provide a fun early literacy activity each day for parents, caregivers, and ECE educators. ​To request free calendars, complete this online form.

Youth Services Campaigns/Events/Resources

• Colorado Statewide Summer Learning Program
  The Colorado State Library provides high-quality summer learning resources and training to public library staff across the state.
• What Young Children Like in Books
• A one-pager on selecting appropriate books for specific ages from birth-5
• Birth to Five Concise Development Timeline
  Highlights of development in young children
• Colorado Teen Literature Conference
  This annual event promotes and celebrates teen literature.
• A number of USDA-funded programs are available for libraries to provide free snacks and meals to children birth-18 serving school districts that have at least 50% free and reduced cost lunch eligibility (See CDE's Pupil Membership Data webpage for the most recent free and reduced lunch eligibility):
  • Partnering with your local Summer Food Service Program is an excellent opportunity to provide your summer program to more kids this summer; learn more about the program and find partnering suggestions.
  • The Child and Adult Care Food Program provides reimbursements for meals and snacks that nonprofits provide to children during out-of-school-time program. The program website offers more information and resources.

Literacy Promotion Resources

• READ Act information for libraries
  Background information about the Colorado READ Act and how libraries can support early literacy.
• Continuing Education from the Colorado State Library 
  The Colorado State Library offers professional development opportunities and promotes other offerings.
• StoryBlocks
  A collection of 30 to 60-second videos modeling to parents, caregivers & library staff songs, rhymes & fingerplays for early childhood.
• Early Childhood Colorado
  Your gateway to services for young children and their families, and the professionals who serve them.
• Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR) Toolkit
  A parent education initiative stressing that early literacy begins with the primary adults in a child's life. The ECRR toolkit empowers public libraries to assume an essential role in supporting early literacy.

Youth Services Groups

In Colorado

• Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy (CLEL)
  Passionately committed to strengthening children's literacy through library services and community advocacy. CLEL's steering committee currently serves as an advisory group to the Colorado State Library.
• Children and Teen Services Special Interest Group of the Colorado Association of Libraries (CATS)
   A forum for all library staff who serve children and teens to share ideas while working together to fill the need of consistently providing excellent services to patrons from birth to 18 and their caregivers throughout the state of Colorado.
• CCIRA - Informing, Inspiring, and Innovating Literacy in Colorado 
  A professional organization of educators and community members dedicated to the promotion and advancement of literacy.

• Colorado-based Email Lists

  • Colorado Youth Services email list (CYS-Lib) 
    For all youth service librarians working with children in Colorado in public libraries. School librarians are also welcome.
  • Colorado Young Adult Advocates in Libraries (C'YAAL) 
    A group of professional library staff who meet quarterly to share resources such as summer reading materials, programs, training.
  • Colorado's Programming Librarians (CoProLib)
    For Colorado library staff to exchange info on adult, teen and children's programming. Primary focus is public libraries, but staff from other types of libraries are welcome.

Colorado State Library
201 East Colfax Ave, Room 309
Denver, CO 80203-1799
Phone: 303-866-6900