Innovative Outreach Ideas

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Ok everybody, we just experienced a Twitterstorm of ideas!

Katie, our friend over at Secrets & Sharing Soda AND Storytime Secrets tweeted about her need for two great innovative outreach ideas that she can implement before September. Now, concerns about the feasibility of this expectation aside, plenty of tweeps jumped in with great ideas and Mel--ever thinking Mel--noted that someone should grab these ideas from the ether and jot them down for everyone's benefit.

So here we are with round one. Keep an eye on Katie's blog for more ideas and some follow-up on what she ends up doing!

Mary, of Miss Mary Liberry fame (who happens to BE an outreach librarian) suggested:
--Teen outreach at a comic book store--maybe during Free Comic Book Day (May 5th 2012), Teen Read Week (Oct. 14-20, 2012) or Graphic Novel Week (Not sure when/what this one is).
--Outreach to senior citizens: Senior St., where librarian reads to seniors at nursing home
--Afterschool programs outreach: Boys and Girls club, etc. where librarian provides activities, crafts etc.
--Outreach to children in trailer parks, homeless shelters, community centers

Seth (Voices Inside my Headphones) suggests some online outreach--maybe a bookclub or something along those lines.

Laura (Bib-Laura-Graphy) suggests looking into local shelters for family/domestic violence, or a local Children's Hospital (or even children's department of general hospital).

Mel (Mel's Desk) had the idea to look at the library's goals and try to develop a 'sister program' with something adult services is doing. She also suggested looking into churches that offer temporary housing,
and WIC offices as possible outreach locations.

Lisa (Library Lady) suggests in-home daycare providers and public parks as possible outreach destinations.

And finally, a few ideas from yours truly:
--First Job Program (aimed at highschoolers) on getting (and keeping!) a very first job (to make this outreach instead of in-house, you could partner with local tech school or Optimists club or maybe even Chamber of Commerce for your community!
--Farmer's Market booth to promote library services/educate people about fresh/local food
--Hospital's birth education classes/groups or MOPS--targeting parent education rather than kids.
--Coordinate some kind of program for senior citizens/nursing home residents. "Ray of Sunshine" visits from families with young children to elderly folks, or kids reading to seniors.

So many great ideas!