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SLO 5, ARTIFACT 4:
Blog Post on Outreach Service Link to blog post: https://storianblog.wordpress.com/2018/03/03/reaching-out/ In 2018, I wrote a blog post about my time as a library outreach volunteer with the Alamance County Library System in North Carolina. Doing outreach was extremely rewarding and deepened my desire to serve marginalized communities. Volunteering with Alamance County dispelled many preconceptions I had had about the demographics of outreach patrons. As I noted in the blog post, “I had expected that nearly all my patrons would be retired women or school-age children. In fact, several of the people I have served are middle-aged men, and I have no children patrons at all right now. For some reason, I had also assumed that my patrons would be interested mostly in books; however, they often want music, videos, and artmaking tools as well. In fact, some outreach patrons do not read books at all.” Another surprise to me was that, in the residential homes that I served, the caretakers of the homebound residents were often interested in receiving outreach services. While the caretakers were not homebound themselves, their work responsibilities made it difficult for them to leave the homes. I had many enlightening conversations with the caretakers in the time that I spent serving them. In my year of volunteering, I learned that one of the most meaningful aspects of outreach is the relationship between the library staff and the patrons. Sometimes a listening ear and an encouraging word can do more for people than a book, a video, or any other library material. I had moving exchanges with my outreach clients, during which we encouraged each other along our respective life paths. Having grown up in rural North Carolina, I understand how critical public library services can be for people living in small, isolated communities. Doing outreach work was a valuable experience that made me aware of the transportation access and health obstacles that people encounter when trying to secure library materials. The knowledge I gained will be valuable throughout my career as a library and information professional. |