On May 25, 2017, the Aspen Institute hosted a dialogue with over 30 Colorado business, government, nonprofit, education, and library leaders to explore the changing role of libraries in a knowledge-based society, and how these highly trusted institutions can build smarter, healthier, and more resilient communities across the state.

The report Colorado Rising to the Challenge provides recommendations and identifies 10 opportunities for strengthening library-community partnerships and overall community resilience, and ways in which public libraries and other community organizations can work more effectively together.

The Colorado State Library partners with Colorado State Parks and Wildlife and 298 public and college libraries throughout Colorado. With a library card, Coloradans can borrow, for one week, an outdoor backpack with state park pass and educational materials #CheckOutColorado.

298 partner libraries & average of 165 checkouts per week

Quotes from participants:

"The pass is wonderful and a great idea for any family unable to afford much of anything such as our family."

"When checking in to the park/our campsite, we got to have a really great conversation with the park ranger about new services in libraries and what a great partnership that was.

"We used the Colorado state flower guide to find out names of many different flowers." — Ruth, age 9

"I have been city-bound for way too long. I used to visit State Parks often. It has been so long (years) since I have been out in nature. Life has been tough lately, this was an unexpected surprise that filled my heart with joy and hope. Thank You!"

97% likely to recommend a visit to a state park

85% “This park experience helped us learn more about nature.”

94% changed their view of what libraries have to offer

Through a grant from the Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation, the Colorado State Library (CSL) partners with 15 public libraries in south and eastern Colorado to undertake Growing Readers Together (GRT). This pilot project offers local support to informal Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) childcare providers to increase early literacy activities for the children in their care.

98% of FFN providers strongly agreed the early literacy suggestions from librarians were helpful in building literacy experiences for their children.

98% will continue to use the ideas offered by through the GRT program when spending time with the children in their care.

Over 94% of FFN providers thought the experiences with GRT were appropriate for the age of the children in their care.

Over 50% reported the literacy building guidance and activities were generally new to them.

FFN providers mentioned the following features as a benefit to participating in GRT:

• You learned something you can share with the children in your care (91.3%).
• You feel more confident to help the children in your care to learn (88.9%).
• You will spend more time interacting with the children in your care (e.g. read, talk, sing, write, play; 91.3%).
• You are more aware of available resources and services provided by the library (93.8%).
• You will visit the library more often with the children in your care (87.7%).

A statewide book give-away for 75,000 four year olds, One Book 4 Colorado involves public libraries throughout Colorado as well as partners with the Governor’s Serve Colorado and other partners and funders throughout the state. #OneBook4Co

Library staff surveyed agreed, strongly agreed –

98% the book giveaway helped their library promote reading among young children

88% the program provided an opportunity to reach out to other agencies interested in childhood education

76% participating children talked about the book with others

56% now more families view libraries as a resource for books and activities related to childhood reading

54% parents showed an increased awareness of the importance of childhood reading

50% the program brought new families into the library

Colorado State Library offers leadership, standards, and professional development for public library directors and trustees. Of the board training, public library directors and trustees surveyed indicated …

96% rated the training as excellent or above average

71% indicated that they gained new knowledge

60% remarked that the new knowledge will aid them in improving their service to the public

The School Library/Digital Literacy Instructional Specialists empower educators to have the teaching skills needed to create meaningful, collaborative, and challenging learning opportunities so that their students can thrive in today’s world. Professional development participants surveyed indicated …

96% are likely to share what they learned with others

94% improved their knowledge on the subject

92% are likely to apply what they learned

Because some students experience summer slide and summer is a great time for recreational reading, Colorado State Library is a member of a grassroots consortium of states working together to provide high-quality summer reading program materials for children at the lowest cost possible for public libraries. CSL also provides workshops for library staff, an online reading record for small community registration, and a teen video contest.

76% of survey respondents indicated that the summer reading resources met the library staff needs.

69% indicated that the resources will improve their libraries’ ability to provide services for the public

122 participants in workshops

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