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School Outreach from Your Library Desk – ALSC Blog

Guest Blogger

Eleanor Howell-Shryock (she/they) is the Head Children’s Librarian, managing family and outreach services at Burlington Public Library in Burlington, Washington. They are the Chair Emeritus of the Washington Library Association’s Children and Young Adult Services Section. They are excited to highlight some of the unique challenges and opportunities of working in small and rural libraries for the ALSC blog.

School Outreach from Your Library Desk

October 20, 2025| Guest Contributor

I am consistently in awe of the incredible student-serving initiatives that librarians develop. From onsite collections to in-school reading tutors, there is always something inspiring to discover.  If you’re like me, you’ve likely thought to yourself, “How in the world could I make that work at my library?”

School partnerships and your capacity for out-of-building work are highly dependent on your library, your staffing model, and your partners. With limited time and staff for outreach programming, my team keeps an eye out for any opportunities to involve off-site patrons in on-site initiatives. These projects have been some of the most effective in efficiently utilizing staff time, reaching caregivers, and showcasing our outreach work to library stakeholders.

Expansive Programs

Libraries already excel at offering passive programs, competitions, and displays to engage patrons outside of scheduled programming hours. These projects, with a little planning, can be retooled to serve a more expansive audience.

Contests

Last winter, we held a sweater design contest. Children were invited to take a sweater template to decorate and return their completed submission.

Always in search of outreach activity ideas, I took our contest on the road. Crafting supplies in hand, I invited classrooms and after-school programs to design and complete a submission during our visit. The same could be accomplished by providing
the template to partners and having them complete designs without library staff present.

Not only did this allow me to speak about the library and our space, but it also dramatically increased participation. The sweaters made for a fantastic display that spread across the children’s area! Many children visited the library for the first time to find their design on the wall.

Interactive Displays

Displaying contest submissions isn’t the only way to include students in in-library displays! During March, our children’s area hosts a March Book Madness bracket. Each week, library visitors can vote on which titles should advance to the next week. In the library, we’ve used stickers and thrown paper into baskets to cast votes. Outside the library, I teamed up with school librarians to share the results with their students each week. They gave students a chance to vote and sent their totals to me to be added to the in-library count.

Expand your RSVP List

Stuffed animal sleepovers are always a blast! By inviting patrons to leave their beloved stuffed animals overnight, you can ignite the imagination of young ones by posing their animals all over the library (while strategically highlighting library services). Traditionally, families drop stuffies off at the library to start their evening of fun, but if you have school partners who are game to join in, you can easily have students drop their stuffies off at school.

Stuffies return home with some goodies and a printout featuring pictures of their adventures. This printout, almost guaranteed to be looked at by families, was a perfect showcase for more information about the library and an invitation to visit.

This can quickly become a big one! Just look at our over 100 stuffies!

A few tips for feasibility: Ask your partners to label stuffed animals with each student’s name and classroom information. Limit the event to certain grade bands. If you have more than one school participating, consider doing multiple events, one for each school. Allow yourself more time by extending the program’s duration. Stuffed animal spring break, anybody?

In Closing

Even if you’re beholden to a desk schedule that keeps you in the library, don’t hesitate to reach out to partners to see if any of your upcoming library programs might be of interest to their students. With your partners, you can brainstorm ways to include a wider audience. What programs are you offering in the library that can be modified and marketed to allow for easier off-site participation?

(All photos by Eleanor Howell-Shryock, ALSC Member)

Continue/Read Original Article Here: School Outreach from Your Library Desk – ALSC Blog

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Sparking Young Minds with Forensic Science and Storytelling

Guest Blogger

Sparking Young Minds with Forensic Science and Storytelling

September 29, 2025| Guest Contributor

What do fingerprints, footprints, and fiber analysis have in common?

Picture a group of kids huddled over a table in your library, dusting for “mystery” fingerprints they just read about in a story. Their eyes widen as the patterns appear! It’s discovery, excitement, and learning all at once.

Fingerprints, footprints, and fibers found at crime scenes are types of forensic trace evidence. They help solve mysteries and uncover what happened at a location. Kids love solving mysteries—and they love playing detective. These clues can spark curiosity and imagination while introducing cause and effect.

From Crime Labs to Library Tables

My background in biotechnology and forensic science, combined with my passion for STEMM education, has shaped how I bring science to life for children. Kids of all ages are naturally curious, especially when they’re solving mysteries or exploring the world around them.

I asked myself: How can I capture the thrill of scientific discovery in a way children can enjoy and understand?

The answer came by blending playful storytelling with hands-on science activities. Each letter of the alphabet became a chance to introduce a real-world forensic concept—from “A is for Analysis” to “Z is for Zero Contamination.” One of the biggest challenges was taking complex science and translating it into language kids could understand, without losing its meaning.

Librarians face similar challenges. Turning complicated ideas into age-appropriate, engaging content is a powerful way to bring STEMM into storytime and library programming. Whether it’s exploring forensic mysteries with fingerprint kits after reading a picture book or hosting a scavenger hunt for “evidence,” these science activities can be both fun and educational.

Why Forensic Literacy Matters in Early Education

Forensic science isn’t just about solving crimes—it’s about developing observation, reasoning, and ethical thinking. Introducing these skills early can help children become thoughtful problem-solvers for life.

By bringing forensic science activities into early
education, we give children tools that go beyond
the lab. These hands-on lessons encourage logical
reasoning, attention to detail, and critical thinking,
all while turning science into a fun and interactive
experience.

Simple Forensic Activities for Library Programming

Looking for easy ways to bring forensic science into your programs? Try these:

• Fingerprint Fun: Have kids “dust” for their own fingerprints using pencils, tape, and paper. Pair this with a mystery-themed picture book.
• Fiber Detective: Provide small fabric samples and magnifying glasses. Kids can compare fibers to guess which “suspect” they came from.
• Animal Track Hunt: Hide paper animal tracks around the library and challenge kids to match them to the right animals.
• Fruit DNA Extraction: For older children, extract DNA from strawberries—a simple way to connect biology to real-world science.
• Invite a Local Expert: Host a Q&A with a forensic scientist or local law enforcement to help inspire future investigators.

These activities support inquiry-based learning and align with science standards in fun, meaningful ways!

Encouraging Lifelong Curiosity

During a recent STEMM demo, a child looked up at me wide- eyed and asked, “Can I be a scientist too?” That moment reminded me why early exposure matters. Children often see themselves in the roles we show them—whether that’s a storyteller, an explorer, or a scientist.

Librarians can open those doors. Every mystery solved during
storytime, every question encouraged in a program, helps build a
generation of critical thinkers, innovators, and problem-solvers.

Continue/Read Original Article: https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2025/09/sparking-young-minds-with-forensic-science-and-storytelling/

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