Youth and Family Services
 

Beth Crist

Colorado State Library
201 East Colfax Ave, Room 309
Denver, CO 80203-1799
Phone: 303-866-6908
FAX: 303-866-6940
Email: crist_b@cde.state.co.us

Beth's Twitter

What does Beth do?

As the Youth & Family Services Consultant, Beth provides consulting and training on child development, library programming and activities as well as public/school library collaboration

Supports children, teens & families by coordinating statewide initiatives for early literacy, summer reading & other campaigns.

Summer Reading Program

• Colorado Statewide Summer Reading Program
  The Colorado State Library provides high-quality summer reading materials, mini-grants, and training to public libraries across the state.
• Impact of Summer Reading Programs in Colorado Libraries (PDF)
  Findings from academic studies that prove that SRPs improve student reading & achievement. A summary of figures from programs in Colorado libraries.
• Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP)
  The Colorado State Library is a member of this grassroots consortium of states working to provide high-quality summer reading program materials for children at a low cost to public libraries.

Early Literacy

• StoryBlocks
  A collection of 30 to 60-second videos modeling to parents, caregivers & library staff songs, rhymes & fingerplays for early childhood.
• Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy (CLEL)
  Passionately committed to strengthening children's literacy through library services and community advocacy
• Colorado Early Childhood Councils
  Bringing partners together to coordinate, increase & improve the education, health & parenting resources available to young children & their families.
• Early Childhood Colorado
  Your gateway to services for young children and their families, and the professionals who serve them. Fact Sheet (PDF)
• Kindergarten Readiness Brochure (ages 4-5)
  What children should know to function well in kindergarten, tips for parents & caregivers. English and Spanish.
• Reading Tips for Parents Brochure (ages 0-6)
  How to read to children and set an atmosphere for reading activities. English & Spanish.
• Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR)
  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.
• Early Literacy Online Resource Guide (PDF)
  Vivienne Houghton, DU Fellow, developed this guide.
• Early Literacy Skills: Getting Ready to Read, From Birth to Age 2 (PDF)
  Presentation at the 2011 Fall Youth Services Workshop by Becky Campbell, Pikes Peak Library District

Professional Development

• Professional Development from the Colorado State Library
  The Colorado State Library offers professional development opportunities and promotes other offerings.
• Colorado Library Consortium (CLiC)
  CLiC offers a variety of workshops and online training for CO libraries.
• Online Training Opportunities
  Here are some ideas for ways to keep up with professional development with limited funds.

Support for K-12 Students

• AskColorado
  Colorado's virtual librarian service, available 24/7 in English and Spanish. Chat online in real time with an information expert.
• K-12 Student Achievement Resources
  Prepared by the Colorado State Publications Library.

Teens

• 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, and training.
• Gaming Program Pack (PDF)
  Originally distributed by the State Library at the 2008 CO Association of Libraries conference.
• Colorado Blue Spruce Award
  Recognizes the most popular books among middle and high school students in Colorado. Teens nominate and select the winners.
• Colorado Teen Literature Conference
  This annual event promotes and celebrates teen literature.
• Teen Advisory Groups
  Teen Advisory Groups (TAGs) can benefit teens in your community as well as your library.
• Teen Read Week
  Get ideas for the 2012 Teen Read Week from librarians across the country from this CSL in Session Webinar.

National Youth Services Groups

• Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)
  Dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children.
• Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)
  A division of the American Library Association offering online courses on a wealth of subjects for librarians including a number of tech-specific courses.

Programming Ideas, Resources, & Funding

• 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
  A flexible program that promotes early literacy.
• Performer List (XLS)
  Recommendations from CO public library staff who have used these performers in the past. To add to the list, email Ashley Conaster.
• Services for Homeschoolers
  Ideas & resources for public libraries to provide services to Colorado’s large homeschooling population.
• Promotional Campaigns
  State and national campaigns that encourage children and teens to read and use the library.
• Public Performance Rights for Films
  This brief introduction explains basic copyright issues involved when showing films in a library.
• Funding Resources for Youth Services
  Budgets are tight for libraries statewide, and nationwide. These are ideas and sources for grants, in-kind contributions, and more.

"YS News" newsletter

Features articles on learning development, summer reading updates, timely tidbits like grant opportunities & interesting resources, children's & teen literature news & info on what's going on in CO libraries.

• Volume 2, Issue 1 - January 2013 (PDF)
  Tween Scene, part 1
• Volume 1, Issue 12 - December 2012 (PDF)
  Elementary Reads, part 6
• Volume 1, Issue 11 - November 2012 (PDF)
  Elementary Reads, part 5
• Volume 1, Issue 10 - October 2012 (PDF)
  Elementary Reads, part 4
• Volume 1, Issue 9 - September 2012 (PDF)
  Elementary Reads, part 3
• Volume 1, Issue 8 - August 2012 (PDF)
  Elementary Reads, part 2
• Volume 1, Issue 7 - July 2012 (PDF)
  Elementary Reads, part 1

If you have topic suggestions or want to write an article or share info about your programs, email Beth Crist.

Reading and Literacy

• Children & Libraries en Español (CHILES)
  Provides resources, ideas, and support to non-Spanish-speaking children's librarians who serve Spanish-speaking children.
• Children's Literacy Initiatives
  A variety of statewide activities and involvement to spotlight library services in support of children's literacy.
• Colorado Council of the International Reading Association (CCIRA)
  A professional organization of educators and community members dedicated to the promotion and advancement of literacy.

Email Lists for Youth Services

• 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.
• National Email Lists
  National email lists with a focus on youth services from infants through teens.