Sunday, August 23, 2015

Examples of Libraries Parks Partnerships


Sports Objects Library Parks Partnerships


Maine Library-Maine Park
  “Our Library checks out basketballs to be used on the courts near the library.  We also have frisbees, jump ropes and hacky sacks available to borrow. The balls have been replaced many times through the years and have resulted in much good will with the kids after school. When they (the kids!) start bouncing off the walls, we suggest they bounce a basketball instead. We don’t require a card, just something of value like a backpack, instrument, cell phone, laptop. This is never a problem because the kids are only too happy to off load their stuff and let us keep an eye on it.”  link


West Torrance Library, Australia
We are lucky that we have a park right outside our windows. Staff have been known to tell a bunch of rowdy kids to take a ball, go out to the park and work off their excess energy before they come back inside and sometimes the youth staff will start or join in the game for a little while - its all part of building good relationships.


Belle Cooledge Library  Belle Cooledge Park
"...Sacramento Public Library only loans ping pong paddles, and these from one branch. One of our City Council members donated them because there’s a table in the park adjacent to the library. So far that seems to be working successfully.  " (paddles are loaned about 52 times a year)

New York Public Library  
  Shape Up NYC : NYC Parks is a NYC Parks program that offers exercise classes.  Currently it is held in several of  the Queens Public Library  Branches 



Queens Library - Langston HughesShape Up NYC: Cardio SculptWednesday5:00 p.m.-5:45 p.m.Details
Queens Library - Queens VillageShape Up NYC: Boot CampThursday6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.Details
Queens Library - RidgewoodShape Up NYC: Intro to YogaWednesday5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.Details
Queens Library - WoodsideShape Up NYC: Full Body FitnessMonday2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.Details
Queens Library - WoodsideLow-Impact AerobicsTuesday2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.Details


Print Material Library Parks Partnerships

Libraries lend books the books are read in nearby parks.
Parks have always act as defacto outdoor reading rooms for nearby libraries. And libraries have always acted as defacto "print matter parkhouses" for those same parks.

This is by far the most common library-parks partnership. It already occurs for thousands of libraries and nearby parks around the world.



 Uni Project-

  unibpl023

For the second year in a row, the Uni Project partnered with the Brooklyn Public Library, the Queens Library, and the New York Public Library to offer an open-air reading room on Governors Island. Known as Library Lawn, this library offered grass, shade, and stunning views of New York Harbor. The Uni Project provided the reading room infrastructure, while the three libraries provided staff and books. Visitors borrowed books for use on the island, registered for library cards, signed up for summer reading, and explored what’s happening in each of the three New York City public library systems. The BPL also hosted a series of Saturday programs that included storytelling, performances, and music workshops.   link


Washington Park Cincinnati Library Branch


Little Free Libraries

 Little Free Libraries Arrive in Pasco
 Avid readers on the hunt for new titles may only need to visit a Pasco County park for new literary direction.

 The county has officially kicked off a Little Free Libraries program courtesy of a collaboration between the parks and recreation department and the library system. The libraries are weatherproof bookshelf enclosures that are able to house dozens of books for anyone to borrow, a media release on the program’s launch stated....

 We are pleased to join Pasco County Parks in this national literacy movement that encourages the sharing of books and stories,” Nancy Fredericks, a member of the county’s library leadership team, stated. The hope is to expand Little Free Libraries throughout Pasco.

The program is currently available at Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park, 10500 Wilderness Park Blvd., and Key Vista Nature Park, 2700 Baillies Bluff Road. Locations will soon open at Crews Lake Wilderness Park and Withlacoochee River Park, the county said.
 link


Library and Parks Bring “Little Free Libraries” to Southside Virginia

On December 18, 2012, Danville Public Library in Southside Virginia opened the first Little Free Library along Danville Parks and Recreation’s Riverwalk trail system, highlighting collaboration between the city’s recreation and library departments. By February of 2013, nine other units were slated to open, with the majority located within parks and along the paved walking trail.

 Little Free Libraries are a great collaboration between the Libraries and Parks and Recreation and shows how matching services to community needs can be achieved,” says Parks and Recreation Director Bill Sgrinia. No stranger to collaborative efforts, Danville Public Library system has been a part of the Parks and Recreation Department for the last two years. “Parks and Recreation and Public Libraries fit well in the same department,” adds Sgrinia. “At the core, both services are rooted in people and lifelong learning.”
The Danville Public Library staff poses with the first Little Free Library in Danville, Virginia.
Library Director Shelly Janosko echoes Sgrinia’s sentiments. “The library is incredibly excited about the opportunity to share this Little Free Library project with the City of Danville,” says Janosko. “It’s a great feeling to know that we can promote the importance of literacy, share our love of reading, and carry out such a sense of community with this single project. 

In Danville, each of the 10 units have been adopted by agencies such as the Kiwanis Club, the Historical Society, and Epiphany School. Each adopting agency has vowed to maintain the collections in the library as well as the upkeep of the Little Free Library itself. Parks maintenance will install all of the units in their various locations, while the library will stock each box with its initial collection.   link


Marcellus Free  Library -Marcellus Park


Little Free Library


I talked with Robin Bolewski of the Marcellus Free Library and she said something to the effect that when she first broached the idea of a Little Free Library in the town  park, the parks dept said “No Way”. The library director then brought the idea to “their boss”, the town council who said great idea, lets do it. It has become such a success that the towns library and park are now working on other cooperative projects to benefit the community.

-A bluegrass  concert by Causual Plaid t the Marcellus Free  Library was paid for  by Marcellus Park

-Once a week, the Marcellus Parks kids play program now takes a field  trip to the Marcellus Free Library  library  to learn reading skills. 


Daly City
Daly City, Ca  has merged its libraries and parks department...

staff at all levels of the new organization will be working much more collaboratively. Opportunities are being identified across the divisions (Library, Recreation, and Senior/Neighborhood Services) to identify better ways to serve the public with the resources currently available. One example of improved service includes better access to recreation facilities and classes through coordination by staff at library facilities. Another example is sharing of expertise from one division to another, such as children’s programming.  link


Many  of these examples  are "implicit " they just happen, If libraries and nearby parks actually start  talking to each other, and have meeting where staffers (and the public too)  start asking the question  "How can parks and libraries  work together to better serve our communities physical literacy and reading literacy needs" I suspect they will find new and wonderful ways to work together, and the community will  start to get enhanced recreational opportunities that occur from these partnerships.