Summer Outreach Toolkit

Community Connectors

Outreach activities help libraries foster community relationships and build partnerships. This section of the toolkit is focused on partners and community relations.

Ideas for Local Partnerships

Minocqua Public Library, WI

Submitted by Erica Dischinger, Youth Services Coordinator

I have partnered with many community organizations and businesses on programs, including StoryTimes at Minocqua Winter Park, Minocqua Fire & Rescue, Minocqua Police Department, Minocqua Museum and Earth Good Pottery and Painting.  I have also had a booth at community events such as the farmer’s market, American Pond Hockey tournament and Beef-A-Rama, our community’s largest festival of the year. I have reached out to a variety of places to host summer reading programs as well, including Kemp Natural Resources Station, Trout Lake Station, a mini golf business that hosted a story walk and our high school’s climbing wall for a climbing and crafts program, to name a few. I’m sharing a link to our Facebook page below to view more photos of our outreach partnerships.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083298549442
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1aqKrgEjPftfGLSPeoOUjcoGvBeQ9pQal (picture collage of Minocqua Public Library Outreach events)

Delaware County Libraries, PA

Submitted by Cheri Crow, Youth Services Coordinator

Working with a local museum, the partnership will include the museum doing an art program that our libraries can book for summer, the museum will take over our storywalk with unique artworks and activities for kids to discover color in the art, and we will attend one of the museum’s free first Sundays and provide an activity for kids and library information.

Minocqua Public Library, WI

Submitted by Erica Dischinger, Youth Services Coordinator

I held StoryTime at a local grocery store. They gave us a tour, allowed the kids to “stock” butter and “scan” an item. They also got to do a scavenger hunt to earn a free cookie coupon. This StoryTime was held to kick off the launch of a new dramatic play center at my library with a grocery store theme. It definitely promoted the store and got a few new faces to come out for a library program.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1-AzFPC-bLasC5eFM1XMTfX94L8TLSNll (picture from Grocery Store storytime)

Cleveland Bradley County Public Library, TN

Submitted by Abbie Collins, Bookmobile Associate

A great and unexpected partnership we’ve found in our area has been through community/neighborhood associations. We work with the president of the association to bring outreach to a local park in their community on days/times when they have events. We also help them keep their Little Free Library stocked with library discards that we use for giveaways. They do summer community potlucks that we plan on bringing representation from the library to this summer. 

South Carolina State Library, SC

Submitted by Leigh Ramey, Youth Services Consultant

Several libraries in South Carolina partner with their local minor league baseball teams to offer tickets to games as a summer reading prize. This partnership can also include visits from baseball players and/or the mascot for storytime and other special events like summer reading kickoff parties. In addition, some baseball teams offer special opportunities for summer reading participants to walk the field in a parade before a game. Kids love the excitement of being recognized on the loudspeaker and getting to meet some of the players. In one county, staff dressed up as “cheer-readers” with signs and banners to congratulate and celebrate the kids on a job well done!  

Prairie River Library District, Lapwai Branch, ID

Submitted by Julie Seely, Materials & Patron Services Manager

We have partnered with the local tribal health clinic. We have books in their waiting rooms and have partnered with them for different events. We have done book displays in their clinic and displays in the library matching their events so they can direct patients to the library. 

Herington Public Library, KS

Submitted by Susan Mueller, Children’s Librarian

Herington Hearts Core Community is a local group that helps people find resources to help with food insecurity, budgeting, education, etc. The library offers regular programs (Story Times, creating easy/cheap/educational toys, computers for education, etc.) to assist these families, helping lift them out of poverty. Last Christmas, each family made a wreath to strengthen family togetherness.
https://www.facebook.com/heringtonhearts
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZEmKMvKI_HbLwirxZgpkwHIww2JJgfCa/view (Pic of wreath making)

Joy Walker Library at Roby Consolidated Independent School District, TX

Submitted by Amelia McBeth, Library Coordinator

Southwest Dairy has a mobile classroom; they come to schools and libraries, let the children meet a cow, and teach about where milk comes from and how it is brought from the cow to the table. They also send .pdf files of a coloring book and lesson plans beforehand.
https://www.southwestdairyfarmers.com/pages/mobile-dairy-classroom  

Brandywine Hundred Library, DE

Submitted by Silver Zieber, Library Assistant

The Iron Hill Museum and Science Center is a small Natural History and a little known State of Delaware Anthropologic Educational gem that also teaches about Indigenous history of the immediate area of Newark Delaware and beyond. Lecturer teaches on a variety of  subjects to many age groups, from pre-k to nursing homes and everyone in between.
https://www.ironhillsciencecenter.org/ 

Organizations to Partner With

Nurse Family Partnership

Submitted by Cheri Crow, Youth Services Coordinator, Delaware County Libraries, PA

The Nurse Family Partnership is a national resource that may be in your area. They work with pregnant mothers. They are able to talk with mothers about resources in their community.
https://www.nursefamilypartnership.org/national-resources-for-moms/ 

Association for the Education of Young Children – local state chapters

Submitted by Kristen Gearhart, Bellevue Public Library, ID

Many states have an Association for the Education of Young Children (ex. IDAEYC for Idaho or CAEYC for California). These groups are here to help the advancement of education for young children and parents in the community. They work well with libraries and schools to offer classes, trainings or programming focused on the 0-8 age group.
https://www.naeyc.org/ 

Library Services for All

Outreach activities help libraries connect with communities that aren’t regular library users. This section of the toolkit is focused on building relationships with specific communities or groups.

Homebound Services
AARP Voice Volunteers

Submitted by Raquel Reyna, East Travis Gateway Library District (Del Valle Libraries), TX

Trained AARP Friendly Voice volunteers will provide a call to say hello and check in with the older adult community.
https://www.aarp.org/home-family/friends-family/friendly-voice/ 

National Library Service – Talking Books

Submitted by Raquel Reyna, East Travis Gateway Library District (Del Valle Libraries), TX

NLS is a free braille and talking book library service for people who are blind or have a visual, physical, perceptual, or reading disability that prevents them from reading or handling print materials. Many states have local affiliates.
https://www.loc.gov/nls/ 

Incarcerated Community Members

Inside Books Project

Submitted by Raquel Reyna, East Travis Gateway Library District (Del Valle Libraries), TX

The Inside Books Project publishes a Resource Guide with helpful resources targeted to people in prison and their loved ones.
https://insidebooksproject.org/resource-guide 

Webjunction Webinar

Submitted by Lisa Mosley, Sequoyah Regional Library System, GA

Supporting communities impacted by incarceration through library services Webinar (to be a recorded webinar accessible on Webjunction). This webinar will explore how libraries can effectively support individuals and families affected by incarceration—whether through outreach to local jails or providing services to those re-entering society. Learn about successful initiatives, funding opportunities, and service models that address the lasting impacts of incarceration.
https://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/impacted-by-incarceration.html 

Roleplaying Games in Correctional Facilities

Submitted by Krista Briggs, Massena Public Library, NY

This is an article about tabletop roleplaying games in correctional facilities.
https://www.vice.com/en/article/how-inmates-play-tabletop-rpgs-in-prisons-where-dice-are-contraband/ 

Children’s Literacy Foundation – Children of Incarcerated Adults

Submitted by Krista Briggs, Massena Public Library, NY

This program helps incarcerated adults stay connected with their children through literacy. CLiF provides resources to inspire confidence around reading, and to encourage the practice of reading together.
https://clifonline.org/literacy-programs/children-of-incarcerated-adults/ 

Blind and Visually Impaired Community Members

Accessibility Tips and Tricks

Submitted by Jennifer McGill, New Mexico State Library, Santa Fe, NM

• Items and games specific to the blind. Includes games blind and people with vision can play together. https://www.unicornsodadesignstudio.com/ 
• Braille games and toys for the blind. https://www.maxiaids.com/category/braille-games-and-toys 
• Making Your Website Accessible for Color-Blind Users. https://accessiblyapp.com/blog/color-blind-accessibility/ 
• Website including various everyday applications and accommodations for people with colorblindness. As well provides links to resources for various vision accommodations. https://accessibility.psu.edu/audience/audience/colorblindness/ 
• This is the page to the National Library Service’s children’s resource page. Children with low vision, blindness, handicaps and print disabilities such as dyslexia can qualify for the service. As well, summer reading materials are posted every Mid-May and follow the same theme as the CSLP.

https://www.loc.gov/nls/services-and-resources/resources-for-children/ 

National Library Service – Talking Books

Submitted by Raquel Reyna, East Travis Gateway Library District (Del Valle Libraries), TX

NLS is a free braille and talking book library service for people who are blind or have a visual, physical, perceptual, or reading disability that prevents them from reading or handling print materials. Many states have local affiliates.
https://www.loc.gov/nls/ 

Beyond the Building

Getting out of the library building and into the community is a fundamental part of outreach services. This section of the toolkit is focused on strategies for connecting your community with the library outside of the library.

Ideas for Mobile Libraries

Apache Junction Public Library, AZ

Submitted by Megan Carbiener, Outreach Supervisory Librarian 

One of my favorite partnerships that gets us out into the community during our very hot summers is working with the pool. We bring our Mobile Library to the pool during kids free swim, have storytimes at the pool, and attend their pool safety day with books. 

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/LmUgWBAP628YB8Uq/
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Hc_BJ3zEBJDItSzARFlI0PjKY-2JWnd2 (photo of Apache Junction Public Library Mobile Library)

Funding Outreach

Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant

Submitted by Amelia McBeth, Joy Walker Library at Roby CISD, TX

The Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant is funded annually through the ALA, and is specifically designed for outreach programming. Applications typically open in December and close at the beginning of February.
https://www.ala.org/tools/programming/LTCEG 

Lois Lensky Covey Foundation

Submitted by Lisa Mosley, Sequoyah Regional Library System, GA

The Lois Lensky Covey Foundation offers two types of grants: 

• Providing grants for the purchase of children’s books to public or private organizations which operate bookmobile programs within the United States. 
• Providing grants to innovative literacy programs in Baltimore, New York City, Sacramento, and the San Francisco Bay area. 

https://www.loislenskicovey.org/ 

Dollar General Family Literacy Grant

Submitted by Lisa Mosley, Sequoyah Regional Library System, GA

Provided to organizations that support whole family in literacy if they provide the following: 

• Adult Education Instruction
• Children’s Education
• Parent and Child Together Time (PACT)

https://www.dgliteracy.org/grant-programs/ 

Dollar General Youth Literacy Grants

Submitted by Lisa Mosley, Sequoyah Regional Library System, GA

Schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations who help K-12 students that are below grade level or having trouble reading are eligible to apply. Grant funding is provided to assist in the following areas:

• Implementing new or expanding existing literacy programs
• Purchasing new technology or equipment to support literacy initiatives
• Purchasing books, materials or software for literacy programs

https://www.dgliteracy.org/grant-programs/?#youth-literacy-grants 

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards Donation Grant

Submitted by Lisa Mosley , Sequoyah Regional Library System, GA

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards Round Table’s (CSKBART) Donation Grant was created to help build collections and bring books into the lives of children in preschool programs, faith-based reading projects, homeless shelters, charter schools, underfunded libraries, and other community organizations.
https://www.ala.org/cskbart/bookgrant 

Literacy Opportunity Fund

Submitted by Lisa Mosley , Sequoyah Regional Library System, GA

The Literacy Opportunity Fund awards grants up to $6,000 to literacy organizations of all types and sizes that are doing direct work with adult students. Apply for a grant to fund your organization’s general operating expenses, such as salaries or teacher stipends, supplies or equipment, space rental, and more. Or, apply for a Literacy Opportunity award to fund a particular project, event, or new programming development.
https://www.proliteracy.org/grants-funding/literacy-opportunity-fund/ 

The Carol Hole Conference Travel Grant

Submitted by Lisa Mosley , Sequoyah Regional Library System, GA

Awarded annually to recipients in the amount of $500 to be used towards travel and accommodation expenses and complimentary conference registration to the ABOS (Association of Bookmobile and outreach Service) Annual Conference during the year they are selected.
https://abos-outreach.com/carol-hole-conference 

Stephen T. Riedner Grant for Life Enhancing Library Programs for People Living with Dementia

Submitted by Lisa Mosley , Sequoyah Regional Library System, GA

The Stephen T. Riedner Grant for Life Enhancing Library Programs for People Living with Dementia presents a citation and a grant of $2,500 each to two libraries to support the creation of new services and/or new programming to directly serve those living with dementia.
https://www.ala.org/rusa/stephen-t-riedner-grant-life-enhancing-library-programs-people-living-dementia 

Demco Grant Search

Submitted by Amelia McBeth, Joy Walker Library at Roby CISD, TX

This is a free grant listing database, specifically for library and education grants, hosted by Demco. It includes grants for many broader purposes, but also some focused on outreach.
https://www.demco.com/services/free-grant-search 

Professional Grant Writer Blog

Submitted by Amelia McBeth, Joy Walker Library at Roby CISD, TX

This site offers professional grant writing services for hire. The blog page has many articles with grant writing tips, including common mistakes to avoid.
https://www.professionalgrantwriter.org/blog 

Outreach in Action

Outreach happens in libraries around the country (and world!) This section of the toolkit is focused on stories of successful library outreach programs.

Books & Brews Book Club

Submitted by Megan Carbiener, Apache Junction Public Library, AZ

One of our favorite outreach programs in the Summer is our Books & Brews book club at a local pub & grill. They give us 10% off and we have so much fun discussing books in all genres with young adults up to adults that are retired 55+.

Java & Trivia

Submitted by Megan Carbiener, Apache Junction Public Library, AZ

A successful program that we tried for the first time in summer 2024 was Java & Trivia, which was a trivia night for teens & adults at a local coffee shop. We had a great turnout with drawings, prizes, and trivia that supported this local coffee crew. They had a reduced price menu and even led a round of coffee trivia too! 

Outreach to Schools

Public library partnerships with schools are crucial for supporting young learners. This section of the toolkit is focused on supporting the unique relationship between libraries and schools.

General Resources

From ALA: https://www.ala.org/alsc/aboutalsc/external-relationships/schoolplcoop

CSLP School Outreach Toolkit: https://programs.cslpreads.org/2024-school-outreach-toolkit/ 

Success Stories from the Field

Minocqua Public Library, Minocqua, WI

Submitted by Erica Dischinger, Youth Services Coordinator

I go into the local schools and provide StoryTime for 4K students.  I have also had booths at school events, such as STEAM Day and Garden Day.  I’ve provided pumpkin parties as a reward for a fall reading challenge that our library created and students participated in with their classes as well.  I also record and send small video clips of myself “book talking” certain titles to the schools twice per year for younger and older kids.  During COVID, I provided “Kinder Kits” with early literacy activities since I couldn’t go into the schools for StoryTime.  The link below is to our Facebook page where photos have been shared.

Minocqua Public Library, Minocqua, WI

Submitted by Erica Dischinger, Youth Services Coordinator

I went to “chili day” at the local school. I brought my Plinko board with prizes related to chili ingredients that kids could win, as well as a book recommendation form disguised as a “chili menu” that kids could fill out and bring back to the library. We will then pull books for them based on their interests (form is shown in picture #2).  We only have the chili menus in hard copy, but I’ll attach our garden-themed menu below instead.

Link to menu: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sIRyjCb0lMINfJB0j8yi9GUr7VFwclbQ/view 

Benzie Shores District Library, Frankfort, MI

Submitted by Heidi Gatzke, Youth Services Librarian

I go into classrooms on a regular basis and provide a short storytime. I work with the teachers and try to follow a theme they are focusing on in class. I can visit several classes in a day, going from one to the next.

Benzie Shores District Library, Frankfort, MI

Submitted by Heidi Gatzke, Youth Services Librarian

“Readers: Our Leaders” is a program with the local elementary school. From January to May students read for pleasure and track their reading with me. I give out prizes throughout the semester and give out big prizes at the end of the year for the students with the most minutes read, the classrooms with the most participation, etc. They cannot count reading they do for school, but only pleasure reading.

Benzie Shores District Library, Frankfort, MI

Submitted by Heidi Gatzke, Youth Services Librarian

At a previous library, where we had a bookmobile, we took it twice a year to the schools for an open house. We would park in the parking lot and each class would come out during the day to take a tour of the bookmobile, check out materials if they had their library cards and get some info about the library. I’d play a game with the kids before the tour to get them excited about the items we had to offer. 

Apache Junction Public Library, Apache Junction, AZ

Submitted by Megan Carbiener, Outreach Supervisory Librarian

We perform a skit or dance that has to do with the SRP theme at all the schools in our city before school is out. During assemblies we wear silly costumes so they remember us and tell their parents, rather than passing out flyers that might get lost or not be memorable. 

Cleveland Bradley County Public Library, Cleveland, TN

Submitted by Abbie Collis, Bookmobile Associate

Tennessee (and I would assume most other states) has a Master Guide for Summer Programming in schools. This document has all kinds of different examples of outreach initiatives made by schools in TN to get students enrolled in their summer school program/ summer learning camps. It also has a breakdown of the different kinds of summer programs the schools in TN offer and helpful information on the kind of curriculum/learning the students in attendance are working with. Could be helpful in building partnerships where the library can support those programs. 

2022 Tennessee Guide: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/education/asd/summer-programming/2022_mastersummer_programming_guidance-FINAL.pdf 

Summer 2026

In this section of the toolkit, you will find general outreach ideas and resources for next summer. 

Summer 2026: Unearth a Story / Desentierra una Historia – Dinosaurs/Archaeology/Paleontology 

Partners and Presenters

• Local museums, especially natural history and archaeological museums – host a library program at the museum or bring the mobile museum to community gathering space. Small museums can be a great resource.
• Local colleges and universities – host a program at the school or invite a guest lecturer to talk about dinosaurs, archaeology, paleontology, local history, etc. at a community gathering space. 
• Connect with local gem societies or museums.
• Partner with local schools on a writing project where students “unearth” their own stories and write about them.
• Local history centers and societies – host a program at the center or bring a speaker to a community gathering space. 
• Local, state, and national parks – go on a field trip to learn more about the park. 
• Local Master Gardeners to talk about soil and planting things, or the life cycle of local crops.
• Investigate local and indigenous history resources.
• Connect with local earth scientists and learn about the geology of your community.
• Connect with local writing groups about crafting a memoir. 

Ideas for Outreach Programs

• Feature genealogy or local history.
• Learn about your state’s official dinosaur (if your state has one)
• Investigate local history – try a walking tour or dive into local lore.
• Take a field trip to a cemetery and add to the findgrave.com database as a service project or make etchings of gravestones.
• Visit an excavator or other large digging vehicle.
• Host a seed swap offsite at a local community garden or gathering space.
• Host a fake crime scene where participants have to solve clues to unearth the mystery of the crime.
• Make and bury a time capsule in your community.
• Visit a garden and talk about the stories behind the things growing in it.
• Have dirt-themed snacks (like gummy worms in oreo-cookie crumbles)
• Host traveling museum exhibits in a community gathering space. 
• Walk around and discuss burrowing animals and underground life.
• Take a tree walk and discuss different root systems with an arborist. 
• Get an inflatable T-Rex costume (great for a teen volunteer) – just for fun.
• Hunt for buried treasure and make pirate maps.
• Learn about local geography and visit important geographical features.

Programs to do Outside

• Fossil digging kits
• Cracking geodes 
• Create petroglyphs
• Play games with T-Rex grabber claws 

Virtual Museum Visits

• Archaeological Institute of America:   https://www.archaeological.org/virtual-education-resources/
• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour 
• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Deep Time Enhanced Virtual Tour Fossil List:https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour/current-exhibits/deep-time-enhanced-virtual-tour-fossil-list  
• Natural History Museum, Los Angeles County, virtual tour of Dino Hall: https://nhm.org/stories/virtual-tour-dino-hall-english 
• Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology, California: https://www.alfmuseum.org/education/virtual-experiences/
• La Brea Tar Pits, California: https://tarpits.org/virtual-field-trip 
• Arizona Museum of Natural History: https://www.arizonamuseumofnaturalhistory.org/for-educators/virtual-museum
• University of Alberta Paleontology Virtual Museum Tour: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/science/about-us/virtual-tours/paleontology-museum.html
• Field Museum SUE the T. Rex Virtual Tour: https://www.fieldmuseum.org/our-events/sue-the-t-rex-virtual-tour-for-classrooms
• Natural History Museum of Utah: https://nhmu.utah.edu/virtual-field-trips/past-worlds
• National Park Service Dinosaur National Monument (Colorado & Utah): https://www.nps.gov/dino/learn/education/learning/index.htm
• Museum of the Rockies (Montana): https://museumoftherockies.org/schools-educators/virtual-programs
• University of Kansas: https://biodiversity.ku.edu/nhm-from-home
• PBS Kids Adventure at the Dinosaur Museum Virtual Field Trip: https://www.pbs.org/video/adventures-at-the-dinosaur-museum-virtual-field-trip-73yjvh/ 

America 250 Outreach Resources and Ideas

• Host a Block Party with American 250!

We’re creating the largest synchronized Fourth of July celebration in U.S. history: America’s Block Party. This July 3 and 4, communities across the country will gather for live music, shared moments, and local celebrations that reflect the spirit of Independence Day.

Bring the celebration to your community! Register to host an official America’s Block Party and get access to a digital toolkit with ideas, resources, and materials to help you plan your event. Whether it’s a neighborhood gathering, a local concert, or a community celebration, hosting is a way to take part in the 250th and create a shared experience where you live.
Register to host a party (and receive access to the toolkit) here.

• America Gives!

Be a part of America 250’s America Gives! Help make 2026 a record year for volunteering across the U.S. America 250 offers a platform for volunteer organizations to document their volunteer hours, along with ideas and organizations to help others. More information is available here.

Other Items of Note

• Local history programs might pair well with America250 programs.
• A new Ice Age movie is coming out in February 2027.
• A great time to feature historical fiction, dinosaur books, books about above and below, etc.
• June1 is National Dinosaur Day
• Prehistoric Life in National Parks Coloring Book: https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/DownloadFile/647880