Service Learning at the Library

Did you know today is National Make a Difference Day? Now you do! Check out this article from Tiffani Roltgen with suggestions and actionable ways you can make a difference! 

Dear Youth Librarians,

My name is Tiffani Roltgen, and I am the library director/teacher librarian at New Century School and Verona Area International School in Verona, WI. Over the years, my K-5 students have been involved in a wide variety of community service projects. Not only do students practice planning, leadership, writing, and creativity skills, they also build community connections and see themselves making a difference in the world. Public libraries can join the fun by providing these free/low-cost opportunities for their patrons. Here are some ideas and inspiration to help facilitate service learning at the library!

STEP 1: IDENTIFY a need or problem to solve and connect with community partners to ensure the project is making a difference and adding value. These organizations below are often in need of support:

• Badger Honor Flight - write letters of thanks and safe travels to veterans

• Letters Against Isolation - write letters to lonely elders

• Ronald McDonald House Pop Tabs - provide containers for collection at the library and get patrons involved with tracking, weighing, and counting

• Acts of Kindness Boards/Walls - decorate your library’s walls or windows with acts of kindness 

• Senior Center Decorations - passive seasonally-themed craft station with a purpose

• Centerpieces/Placemats for Community Meals - passive upcycling craft station with a purpose

• Earth Day Bags - share an environmental message on paper bags provided by local grocery stores or decorate reusable cloth bags 

• Acrostic Poems - show gratitude and honor educators or others with these creative works of poetry

STEP 2: ORGANIZE your project to align with a national celebration day such as: 

• Make a Difference Day - Fourth Saturday in October

• National Day of Community Service - November 4

• National Random Acts of Kindness Day - February 17

• National Volunteer Week - Third week of April

• Earth Day - April 22

• National Day of Gratitude - August 20

Pair with favorite read alouds or display books about kindness such as A Flood of Kindness by Ellen Leventhal; Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light by Apryl Stott; and When We are Kind by Monique Gray Smith. 

STEP 3: SECURE funding if needed. Be sure to look into Thrivent Action Grants. Members who have 1 or more Thrivent products are eligible for these $250 grants every year. They are a great way to kickstart small projects, and the application takes only a few minutes to complete. Costco and Walmart also have short mini grant applications that can be submitted at your local store. 

STEP 4: SHARE your impact on social media, on your library website, and in the library. Ask patrons what ideas they have for service learning. Watch your acts of kindness ripple throughout the community! 

If you have successfully implemented other service learning projects in the library, please email me your suggestions. They may be featured in a “Service Learning in the Library: Hands On, Hearts On” presentation proposal for the upcoming WEMTA Conference. 

Yours in service,

Tiffani Roltgen

roltgent@verona.k12.wi.us

Photo Credit:   

Krista Brinkmeier Photography