Collaborative Summer Library Program posts

2021 Summer Food Service Program: What Libraries Need to Know State Library of Ohio By Janet Ingraham Dwyer, Library Consultant, State Library of Ohio & Chair, CSLP Child & Community Well-Being Committee Hundreds of libraries around the USA participate in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), a USDA-funded program that provides free meals and snacks to children ages 0-18 in communities Read More

Spreading a Little Kindness Burlington (Iowa) Public Library by Rhonda Frevert Inspired by a youth program at the nearby Keokuk Public Library, a staff team at the Burlington Public Library developed a plan for an all-ages Kindness Club set to start in March 2020. The pandemic forced a decision just days ahead of the kickoff event. Opting not Read More

Little Boxes of Hope Athens County Public Libraries, Ohio By Sarah Fisher, Youth Services Librarian, Glouster Public Library, and Tessa Evanosky, Youth Services Librarian, Chauncey Public Library, Ohio In mid-January 2020, Glouster Library had a small but mighty addition constructed out front at the end of the sidewalk, where the Read More

Hard to Imagine: Summer Reading During COVID-19 McCracken County Public Library, Paducah, Kentucky By Linda Bartley When the theme was chosen for 2020's summer reading program, "Imagine Your Story," I am sure no one on the committee imagined summer reading looking so different. COVID-19 forced us to quickly rethink our summer reading programs and how we were going to reach our patrons. Thankfully, librarians Read More

Summer Feeding During COVID Charleston County Public Library, South Carolina By Devon Andrews, Manager of Community Engagement, Charleston County Public Library, SC Photos (labeled Summer Meal 2020): from our food distribution program at our McClellanville Library that serves a rural area of Charleston County. Thanks to a partnership with the Read More

Summer Meals at the Hemet Public Library Priestley Forsyth Memorial Library, Northumberland, Pennsylvania By Kim King, Youth Services Coordinator Priestley Forsyth Memorial Library in Northumberland, Pennsylvania is located in a small town in Northumberland County. The library serves a population of 7,500. In 2015 we started offering the Summer Lunch Program at the library. Read More

Library Pantries Feed Communities! United States of America By the CSLP Child & Community Well-Being Committee and participating libraries In July 2020, the Collaborative Summer Library Program asked readers to submit a photo if they host a Little Free Pantry or have a pantry shelf in the library. Check Read More

The Public Pantry at the Woodstock Public Library Woodstock Public Library, Illinois By Martha Hansen, Assistant Director / Head of Adult Services In early February, 2019 (pre-COVID) the Woodstock Public Library staff wanted to have a small food pantry available in the library. For several years we have had a 'Cold Weather Clothing' Bin for people Read More

Supporting Food Literacy When You Can’t Gather: Read Eat Grow Gets Creative  South Carolina State Library By Rebecca Antill, Youth Services Consultant For several years, the South Carolina State Library has been supporting a statewide Food Literacy initiative that we titled “Read Eat Grow.” This initiative supports libraries in offering a variety of Read More

Feeding children in the time of COVID-19 Globe Public Library, Arizona By Adria Ricke, Director, Globe Public Library, AZ At the 2016 Arizona State Library Annual Conference, the Globe Public Library found out about the USDA Summer Lunch Buddies Program.  We learned that the program exists to provide free and healthy meals to any child 18 Read More