By Mackenzie Manley, Content Specialist, Downtown Main Library
We insist on being a library for all. All minds. All modes. All needs. More than 2.4 million visits are made to the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library each year from customers living in and working in our diverse, vibrant, and unique neighborhoods. Our series Meet a Library Customer shares the stories that minds of all kinds have each day at CHPL.
Glance at Outreach Children’s Librarian Krista Hiatt’s desk and you’ll find themed books for storytimes, puppets, fun stamps, resource handouts, and more. Her work — alongside other outreach staff — takes the library to the community, including schools across Hamilton County.
That includes Hollie Miller’s preschool class for medically fragile students at Roselawn Condon. Hollie's half-day preschool can have up to six students in the morning and then another six in the afternoon. Her students often require one-on-one nursing and are non-speaking.
Krista and Hollie have known each other for over 15 years. When they met “many moons ago” while Krista visited schools through CHPL, they formed a personal bond through their shared experience of being pregnant at the same time — they were due just a week apart.
In years past, Hollie taught in standard classrooms. When she took her current role nine years ago, Hollie said that Krista was open to learning about how to best work with the medically fragile population. Krista did her own research and “went above and beyond” in service.
“That’s one of the things [Krista] has adapted to so well,” Hollie said. “Not everyone understands how to engage a student who isn’t verbal. Krista has done an amazing job with that. She asks questions still, and we try to facilitate some level of response.”
To facilitate said response, Krista might use items like a tablet or BIGMack switch, a device that enables individuals with disabilities to communicate with a press of a large button.
“She does a great job of honoring each one of them and where they’re at,” Hollie continued.
Teacher Collections
Part of Krista's service as an outreach children’s librarian are Teacher Collections.
Teachers can request everything from nonfiction to picture books to support their classrooms’ needs. Materials also include multiple copies for classroom sets, audiobooks, and accelerated readers. Collections may be picked up at the branch of your choice or delivered to your classroom!
“Visiting Hollie’s class has been tremendously rewarding as I get to share my love for books and reading. Children in her care are medically fragile making visits to the library difficult,” Krista said. “For me, it is a privilege to be their connection to the library. I love being able to spend time with them in a one-on-one setting or in small groups.”
Of course, kids interact with literature in schools, but, as Hollie put it: “No one knows literature like your children’s librarian.” Not only do children’s librarians stay well-versed in the latest books and music, but they also have access to it.
“It’s not uncommon for Krista to bring in books with her and be like, ‘Hey! This is going to be right up your alley.’ Most of the time, it’s the first time I’ve seen the book,” Hollie said. “If it’s not a classic or [wasn’t published] when I was buying a ton of books for my own kids, I might miss it. Krista being here prevents that from happening.”
Classroom Visits: A Bridge to the Library
Library staff connect with classrooms by providing engaging, age-appropriate information on a range of topics, from fostering literacy skills and promoting a love of reading to demonstrating library resources. The Library can visit schools, daycares, afterschool programs, and more!
This is especially important for medically fragile students, who may use a ventilator, be in a wheelchair, or have other necessary equipment, which can make going to a physical Library branch more difficult.
“It’s hard enough to make it to doctor’s appointments or things you absolutely must have,” Hollie said. “She is the face of the library for a lot of my families.”
Aside from classroom visits, Krista has attended other school events to do tasks such as helping families sign up for Summer Reading.
“They’re happy when she’s here. They’re engaging with books to a better degree,” Hollie said. “She has a lot of interactive elements, and she adapts those [to the students’ needs].”
For example, many of Hollie’s students have critical vision impairment, or neurologically based blindness. Krista adapts materials to make them accessible to students.
Some of the activities Krista does with classrooms include music with instruments, tactile elements like flannel storyboards, reading from a book, and arts and crafts. One of Krista’s crafts — colorful birds made from paper plates — was hung in the hallway on a string. Displayed above were photos of the students, including some featuring Krista.
Meeting Classrooms Where They’re At
Part of regular classroom visits is about being flexible. Krista explained that outreach librarians do not know the kind of day their class has had until they walk in. Hollie reflected that there have been times in her class where Krista has walked into a medical crisis.
“She jumps in and tries to engage with the other kids while staff is centered around a seizure,” Hollie said. “She is very at home with all of that.”
According to Hollie, no matter the circumstances, Krista does her thing and does it well.
“Being able to provide quality programming to every child is integral to their independence and success,” Krista said. “The opportunity to support teachers who go above and beyond for their kids is an absolute joy for me. Being an outreach children’s librarian is the best job in the world, and I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
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