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.

Announcements

• Webinar Archive: Storytimes and children on the autism spectrum
  View the archived webinar and slides here, plus find additional resources on the topic. The webinar presents background info on Autism Spectrum Disorder and puts that info into practice in libraries by demonstrating how to make storytimes effective and welcoming for young children on the autism spectrum and their families. Whether your library offers sensory storytimes especially for children on the autism spectrum and/or you wish to make your storytimes more inclusive for all young children, please view the webinar to learn more from examples of high-quality programs in the Denver Public Library.
   

• SPELL--Supporting Parents in Early Literacy through Libraries--is a project funded by a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Check out the project's progress at its website, http://spellproject.weebly.com/, including archived materials from the project webinar on Dec. 13.
   

• One Book 4 Colorado will occur again from May 6 - 20, 2013! Through this project, we will strive to give away copies of the same book to every 4 year old in Colorado through public libraries and Reach Out and Read Colorado clinics. Visit the PR Toolkit (which will be growing soon) and stay tuned for more information!

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
• Storytimes for Children on the Autism Spectrum
  Resources stemming from a March 2013 webinar from CO Department of Education, Denver Public Library, and CO State Library.

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 3 - March 2013 (PDF)
  Tween Scene, part 3
• Volume 2, Issue 2 - February 2013 (PDF)
  Tween Scene, part 2
• 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.