We’ve asked libraries across Colorado to submit program they’ve run in the last year that they’re proud of and they want the rest of us to see and celebrate. Sharing stories in books is great… but what about our stories? The stories of the ways our libraries bring the community together, enrich the lives of our neighbors, and serve the people who live and work in our cities and towns.
Marie Bayer, Adult Location Librarian, answered our call and we’re excited to let them tell you about the Lakewood Branch of Jefferson County Library’s Library for All in their own words.
Library Name: Jefferson County Library, Lakewood
City/ Town: Lakewood, CO
Program Name: Library for All
Date/ Date Range of Program: Monthly, Ongoing
Intended Audience: Adults with developmental disabilities
Description:
This program is held at several Jefferson County Library locations, but my responses are specific to the Lakewood Library. Here is a description from the library’s website:
The library is more than a collection of books; it’s a place where everyone can learn, play and create! We welcome adults with disabilities and their caregivers to make crafts, create art, play games, explore the library, and enjoy music, stories and guest speakers. Each program is tailored to the audience’s unique interests and ability levels. Library for All is a special gathering of adult patrons with Developmental Disabilities who love each other and our time together.
This time together is meaningful and fun for all. Each month, for engagement, staff make buttons related to the theme of that day and attach to participant’s lanyards. This is an easy way to see how many months patrons have attended.
A few of the fun monthly programs from 2023 include:
- In April, we had a presenter lead participants in painting watercolors, which were later displayed on a special art wall that we have for Library for All.
- At our October meeting, we had ghoulish donuts and scary juice boxes. We played music trivia and made pony bead pumpkins and paper plate ghost faces.
- In November, we featured a slide show of participants having fun over the past two years since restarting it after the pandemic.
How did you come up with the idea for this program?
I actually did not come up with this idea. I just took it over after the pandemic. Jefferson County Public Library has had this program for 5 or 6 years.
What partners (if any) did you work with in developing or implementing this program?
Developmental Disabilities Resource Center (DDRC) in Lakewood – most participants belong to this program. We also receive support internally from our Diversity, Equity & Inclusive department.
What about this program did you find successful? How did you measure the success of this program?
We do keep statistics of the number of participants each month. We also evaluate success based on the comfort level our patrons feel coming to the programs as well as coming into the library on off days. We also informally survey the group annually and ask the group what they liked and what they would like to see in the future.
Marie has permitted us to share their contact information so that anyone interested in reaching out to them about their program can do so. It is an incredibly generous offer of which you are invited to avail yourself if you’re inspired by their work and want to celebrate them or if you have questions about ways you can follow their lead.
To reach Marie, email them at marie.bayer@jeffcolibrary.org
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Colorado State Library (and the readers of this point as well, no doubt) understands how time consuming, emotionally draining, costly (in so many ways), and challenging it can be to run a program or project. Sometimes they fail gloriously… sometimes they fail with barely a whisper. It can be hard to recover from that. You’ve worked so hard!… and it just didn’t work out. Be gentle with yourself. Self-reflect. Pick up the pieces. And then get to the next thing. It’ll be worth it.
For all those other times, be sure to celebrate. Brag about it! Feel good about yourself, the team that collaborated on your work, and the community members who participated with it. Celebrate your hard work and the value that you contribute to your community.
Tell us the story of your program just like this library did here. Submit your library’s program for a Program Spotlight featured here and shared as far as Colorado State Library news reaches.
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