You've decided to take your show on the road. Where should you perform?
Here are some ideas of organizations you may contact about partnering in a storytime, presentation, or parent/caregiver workshop outreach program:
Childcare Settings
Colorado Preschool Program (CPP) provides state-subsidized preschool attendance for at-risk children who don't qualify for Head Start. Check the CPP schools directory for one near you.
Head Start Programs in Colorado
Even Start Programs in Colorado
Find other child care programs in Colorado through Qualistar or Child Care Aware.
Other Family Literacy Programs in Colorado
Homeschool Groups
If you reach out to your area homeschoolers, they may invite you to present at a group meeting, or might promote a library-based event on early literacy to their members.
Colorado homeschooling groups Another list of homeschooling organizations Resource list from the Colorado Department of Education
Christian Home Educators of Colorado has an annual conference
College and High Schools
Your local community college may offer Early Childhood Education Classes. You might contact the instructor and offer to visit one session of one of those classes and discuss library services.
Check with your local high school and ask if they have special programs or classes for teen parents, or pregnant teens. You may be able to visit a session of an existing class, or create a new program about early literacy skills for teen parents.
Your high school might offer parenting or early childhood classes to all students that you might be able to visit.
Early Childhood Councils
We strongly recommend reaching out to your county's Early Childhood Council.
You may be able to offer a class for teachers for continuing education credits, or offer to speak at a session in an existing class.
Hospitals and Other Facilities
Ask at your local hospital if there are expectant parent classes you could speak to, or ask if they would partner you in developing a new class on the importance of reading to your baby, coming to storytime, and the resources at the local library.
Check this list of Colorado Reach Out and Read locations. Is there one near you? They may be interested in partnering with the library to provide books, materials, or even volunteer readers in the doctor office waiting rooms.
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Clinics may be interested in hosting storytimes or simple presentations in their waiting rooms.
San Mateo County Library WIC Clinic Outreach
Colorado WIC Sites by County
Prisons and Jails
Your county correctional facility may be open to partnering with you to provide early literacy information to inmates. Here are a few early literacy programs from libraries around the country:
Start with a Story, from Alameda (CA) County Library
Daddy & Me, from New York Public Library
Connections, from New Hampshire Humanities Council
Baby Read, from Washington State Library
CLEL member Melissa Depper describes her regular visits to the parents at the Arapahoe County Dentention Facility.
Don't Forget
Elementary school family literacy nights--many families of school-age children have preschoolers at home
Local community events--festivals, parades, run/walks, art shows; whatever is going on in your community, call the organizers and ask if you can have a booth or a presence at their event!
Churches
American Library Association's list of partnership ideas
