The Nampa Public Library has been writing the book on community partnerships for decades. The library partners with Nampa schools to provide materials, programs, and spaces to inform, enrich, and support the community.
Each year they provide an informative library booth at Family Nights, Literacy Nights, and Back to School Nights across the district. Their facility also is a popular field trip destination, as well as a fertile learning ground for student interns.
“We partner with the NSD because of their importance in the community supporting and educating students and their families, and the district’s willingness to encourage literacy and library use,” said Claire Connley, library director. “It takes many to educate the youth and when libraries and schools work together, everyone benefits.”
The Nampa Library has provided weekly programming for the district’s Migrant Summer School for several years, and the Bookmobile staff regularly visit New Horizons Dual Language Magnet School. They also work with Nampa Early Childhood Learning Center to provide monthly story times and host Ready! for Kindergarten programs as a joint effort with the Idaho AEYC (Association for the Education of Young Children).
In Their Own Words
In an ongoing partnership with Union School, the Nampa Library hosts two interns under the direction of Cami Jeffries, giving them an opportunity to learn vocational and social skills while gaining volunteer experience.
“This internship program has been wonderful, providing the library with a little extra help with programs, organizing, digital access and such while providing relevant job experience and social interactions for the high school students. One of our goals is teens learning valuable life skills and this partnership is helping us reach that goal while benefiting the students. We had two interns last year and have two interns this year and want to continue the partnership.
“Additionally, Cami’s whole class came in to assist library staff in creating and putting up summer reading decorations as a service project. This partnership is leading to another opportunity for Union High School to work directly with the library and the Smithsonian Institution with a teen service challenge that only a few high schools are offered.”
How to Connect
It is easy for teachers and administrators to get involved with the library. Contact Laura Abbott, Public Services Manager ([email protected] or 208-468-5805) or Jeannette Leroy, the Bookmobile Manager ([email protected] or 208-249-2761) and ask about program partnerships, whether at the library or at the school.