Stop by the library and read a great book, listen to a guest
speaker, watch a movie, browse your favorite magazines or check your
email. While you are there, read all the
latest newspapers, borrow an audio book, fill out a request for a book you’d
like to see in the collection, make copies or send a fax. Don’t forget to join a book club, or the
gardening club, or the chess club.
Certainly plan to check out audio books, print books, movies, magazines
or video games for your personal enjoyment at home, until your next visit. Your local library has so much waiting for
you!
All of what the library offers when you visit is satisfying,
but it is what the library does beyond its doors that will amaze you. Reaching out into the community is an
integral part of library services; a part that most librarians love. Here are just a few of the community partnerships
currently in practice in southeast Michigan libraries, and probably in a
library near you!
Starfish
The Starfish Early Learning Resource Center, a subdivision
of Starfish Family Services, is partnering with local libraries to bring story
times and parenting classes to local communities. Starfish, founded in 1963, is a nonprofit
organization serving Metro Detroit families by preparing young children for a
successful start in school through story times and playgroups. Because the group recognizes the importance
of parents and caregivers in the long-term success of a child, they offer
parenting classes to teach important skills.
The Starfish Early Learning Resource Center is currently partnering with
the following Southeast Michigan libraries, utilizing library space to provide services
library patrons:
1.
William P. Faust Public Library of Westland,
Westland, MI 48185 Next
Program: Aug 4, 7, 14, 2014 http://www.westland.lib.mi.us/kids/events/2014-08
2.
Leanna Hicks Public Library, 2005 Inkster Rd.,
Inkster, MI 48141 Next
Program: July 28, 2014 http://www.inkster.lib.mi.us/events.html
For more information, and a link to scheduled classes
presented by the Starfish Early Literacy Resource Center, please click on the
following link: http://www.starfishonline.org/elc.html
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is the largest single supplier of
blood and blood products in the United States.
The Red Cross collects 6.5 million units of blood from approximately 4
million donors nationwide every year. This
means that the Red Cross needs donors, and libraries have them. Partnering with libraries means using the
library’s meeting rooms, and that the library help with a bit of advertisement,
but all of this is worthwhile to these community partners:
- Gerald R. Ford Library, 1000 Beal Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Donate on: July 22, 2014 http://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/
- Salem South Lyon Library, 9800 Pontiac Trail, South Lyon, MI 48178 Donate on: Aug 11&12, 2014 http://ssldl.info/
- William P. Faust Public Library of Westland, Westland, MI 48185 Donate on: Aug 13, 2014 http://www.westland.lib.mi.us/kids/events/2014-08
- Huntington Woods Library, 26415 Scotia, Huntington Woods, MI 48070 Donate on: Aug 20, 2014 http://www.huntington-woods.lib.mi.us/
- Plymouth District Library, 223 Main St., Plymouth, MI 48170 Donate on: Aug 25, 2014 http://plymouthlibrary.org/
These libraries and more support the American Red Cross
Southeast Michigan Blood Services Region by securing life-saving blood
donors. (Consider donating… you’ll feel
good knowing you've helped change a life!)
MAP
Have you heard about a new way to explore the history and natural
wonders of Michigan? The Michigan
Activity Pass, or MAP, presented by The Library Network, is a year-long partnership
between Michigan's public libraries (over 600 of them!) and 60 cultural and art
organizations. The program provides
learning experiences for library card holders of all ages!
Library users with a valid library card can print a pass
from home or at the library. Some of the
participating organizations offer complimentary or reduced price admission;
others offer discounts in their gift shop or other exclusive offers. Once you print your pass, be prepared to use
it. The Michigan Activity Pass expires within one week from
the day it is printed. Each library will have five passes for each of the
participating organizations available.
For a complete list of organizations to visit, please click
on the following link: http://tln.lib.mi.us/map/Files/MAP%202014-2015%20brochure%20v2.pdf
Click here to print a Michigan Activity Pass: http://www.eventkeeper.com/prmaps/code/index.cfm?mn=628322
_____________________________________________________
It is really important that communities take advantage of all resources available,
especially their own libraries! It is
equally important for LIS professionals to seek partnerships within the communities in which they work. Big or
small, we all can make a
difference... one partnership at a time!
Thanks for taking the time to read about how libraries and
communities are working together. Please
leave a comment about any of the partnerships listed above, or about any others
you would like to share!
- Cari
References
Starfish Family Services, 30000 Hiveley, Inkster, MI. Retrieved from website: http://www.starfishonline.org/index.html
William P. Faust Public Library of Westland, Westland,
MI. Calendar of events. Retrieved from website: http://www.westland.lib.mi.us/kids/events/2014-08
Leanna Hicks Public Library, 2005 Inkster Rd., Inkster, MI. Calendar of events. Retrieved from website: http://www.inkster.lib.mi.us/events.html
Information Literacy Community Partnerships Toolkit. ALA Special Presidential Committee,
2000-2001. Retrieved from website: http://library.austincc.edu/presentations/CommunityPartnerships/communitypartnerships1.html
American Red Cross – Southeast Michigan Blood Services, 100
Mack Ave., Detroit, MI 48201. Information
retrieved from website: http://www.redcrossblood.org/make-donation-v5?distance[postal_code]=48185&field_sponsor_code_value=&elt=48185
The Library Network MAP Program. Brochure can be found here: http://tln.lib.mi.us/map/Files/MAP%202014-2015%20brochure%20v2.pdf.
