Quick facts about the Pop Up Library
· The Pop-up Library program has been developed by Houston Public Library (HPL), in partnership with the Children’s Museum of Houston (CMH). This program builds on CMH’s previously funded Family Literacy Involvement Program (FLIP) which instructs parents how to improve their young children’s learning abilities. The Pop-Up Library is designed to reduce the effects of summer reading loss in children, Kindergarten through 3rd grade. Importantly, it represents a systematic change to Houston Public Library’s early literacy programming, one that enables us to assist underserved, disadvantaged families where they are, rather than waiting for them to come to us.
· The Pop-Up Library is a transportable tent with accessories. It’s designed for families with young children and brings library materials, resources and programming into public spaces.
· During a Pop Up Library event, each child will receive the following:
o A free book with the Pop Up Library bookplate in it.
o A free pass for a family of 6 to the Children’s Museum of Houston.
o A punch card. If the child does three of the 6 activities on the card, they turn in the card at Central or their neighborhood library and receive another free book.
o A Pop Up Library survey and a FLIP kit survey.
o An extender activity to take home.
o Please send all punch cards and surveys to:
§ Central Library, NL Administration, Suite 629, Attention: Mary Wagoner
· The Pop-Up Library will be staffed by Pop Up staff that has been trained to facilitate on-site learning programs for the parents and children. The units are to be most heavily used during the “summer slide” months of June, July and August, but will also be incorporated into library outreach activities as part of the program’s sustainability plan.
Requesting a Pop Up Library program:
· Please ask staff to refer customers to this link, http://www.houstonlibrary.org/hpl-mobile-express, for booking the program. The customer will complete a request form. HPL Pop Up and Community Engagement staff will contact the customer and make arrangements for the delivery of the program
· The program may be booked for an audience of 25 children in Grades K through 5. We can book classes or groups back to back. An adult from the organization must be present at all times during the event.
How does this involve Central and Neighborhood Libraries?
· When the child has completed an item on the punch card list, please punch the card. On the third punch, accept the card and give the child one of the give-away books. Please stamp the punch card with your location code and return it to Central Library, NL Administration, Suite 629, Attention: Mary Wagoner
· Pop Up Library staff will track inventory by the number of books we send to a location and the number of punch cards returned to us.
· Ask the child or family if they have a survey to turn in. Please stamp the survey with your location code and return it to Central Library, NL Administration, Suite 629, Attention: Mary Wagoner
· Encourage children and families to check out a FLIP kit.
· If your location is running low on give-away books, please contact Mary Wagoner (mary.wagoner@houstontx.gov). It is easier for us to track emails than telephone calls.
· Every Neighborhood Library, Central, Discovery Green and the Parent Resource Library will receive a supply of books and a one hole punch between May 28th and May 30th.
