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

• One Book 4 Colorado project kicks off in libraries and health clinic April 18-29.

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)
  A grassroots consortium of states working together to provide high-quality summer reading program materials for children at the lowest cost possible for their public libraries. The Colorado State Library is a member.

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.

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 Colorado 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 be a real benefit to teens in your community, and also to your library.

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.

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.

"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 1, Issue 4 - April 2012 (PDF)
  Thrive by Five, part 4
• Volume 1, Issue 3 - March 2012 (PDF)
  Thrive by Five, part 3
• Volume 1, Issue 2 - February 2012 (PDF)
  Thrive by Five, part 2
• Volume 1, Issue 1 - January 2012 (PDF)
  Thrive by Five, part 1

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

Programming Ideas, Resources, & Funding

• Performer List (XLS)
  Recommendations from CO public library staff who have used these performers in the past. To add to the list, email Michelle Gebhart.
• 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.

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.