Does your library offer some sort of Welcome Baby program? One of the great things about a program like this is that it can be as simple or as involved as you like!
First, decide what you'd like to provide each participant. At our library, each registrant receives a bag with book lists, bookmarks, a book for the new baby, a book for any siblings they may have, information about early literacy offerings at our library--including things like 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, story times, etc.--a few stickers, a greeting card welcoming the baby into the world and congratulating the family, and a small knit hat.
In order to keep costs down, consider partnering with local groups or businesses! For example, our Friends group provides the bags and the books given away. The knit hats were generously donated by our library's Knit & Crochet Club! Often times, they're looking for projects...and baby things are typically quick knits and oh-so-adorable.
You can also look into partnering with a local clinic or hospital to help expand your reach. Some libraries choose to provide the hospital with things to give to the parents while at the hospital, while others opt to include an invitation for the family and their newest addition to come in and get library cards. Either option is great! Just keep your budget in mind when you're deciding, as providing things to the hospital or clinic outright would lead to a much higher initial demand for the welcome materials.
Be sure to give credit where credit is due and include all participating groups, whether through a brief mention on a handout or tags, when distributing the materials. Not only will it make your partners feel appreciated, but it also increases the sense of a community's worth of welcome and support for both the new child and their parents.
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