Chapter 9: Let’s Learn Together Outside

Families Playing, Building Relationships, and Connecting with Their Community in Nature

Included in How Public Libraries Build Sustainable Communities in the 21st Century Vol: 53, Advances in Librarianship

Chapter Abstract:

Libraries provide ideal learning spaces within communities. By partnering with them, families are able to access equitable programming that promotes Family Engagement with the library and beyond. The program—Let’s Learn Together Outside (LLTO)—was implemented by libraries to provide support to low-income caregivers and their preschool-age (3-5 years) children during vocabulary- and conversation-building activities created to promote outdoor learning and increase participants’ sense of wonder, imagination, and creativity during play. This free programming scaffolded caregivers’ understanding of early literacy and oral language skills while they learned alongside their children about exploring nature. The three stand-alone, interactive sessions utilized a consistent structure and were implemented at eight libraries, located in Kentucky, Ohio, and Michigan. With thorough, practical training experiences and professionally designed materials, staff were able to connect with families in ways that sustained learning outside the library walls.

Volume summary:

Public libraries, through their mission, vision, and position in the community, play a significant part in building community sustainability and are already positioned to serve as a “backbone support organization” for collective impact initiatives. However, their efforts are often unrecognized by local governments and other social justice organizations. How Public Libraries Build Sustainable Communities in the 21st Century, through research, case studies, and personal narratives representing both national and international perspectives, examines the capacity of public libraries to impact social change at the community level. The overarching goal is to change the narrative with community stakeholders by presenting illustrative examples of how public libraries are driving community change and how these efforts align with the UN SDGs.

Co-wrote chapter—from submission proposal to final proofread—with lead staff for the project. Reviewed data, synthesized information, clarified with lead staff and verified content with additional staff. Led the revisions and formatting requirements based on editor and publisher feedback.

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