Name: Maureen Watson
Role: Library Outreach Worker Bookstart and Early Years
This role is varied and involves working in an outreach capacity plus organising and delivering inhouse Story times and Rhythm and Rhyme sessions.
Currently my activities involve promoting the Library service to families with pre school children in the Rochdale borough. A major part of my role is promoting Bookstart and Bookcrawl. This is outreach work that takes me into many Early Years settings in the borough ie. Nursery Schools, Nursery Classes, Private Nursery provision, Children's Centres and Playgroups.
Every setting is visited at least once thoughout the year to gift the Bookstart Treasure Chest to eligible ¾ year olds. The gifting sessions involve stories, rhymes and puppets. Sharing the excitement of getting a Treasure Chest and reinforcing the message that a love of books is a gift for life. The visits are a good opportunity to pass on information to Early Years staff about the Library service and Bookstart.
The service is appreciated by Early Years professionals, parents and children and it is lovely to return each year and receive a warm welcome. Parents are encouraged to attend the gifting sessions but due to other commitments they are not always able to so a letter explaining the visit is sent home with the children with information and contacts for Library services and Bookstart.
Promoting and planning special events eg Bookstart Day and Bedtime Reading Week etc are also part of my role.
Working in different locations requires good organisational skills and the flexibility to work in partnership with various agencies and professionals. An important part of this role is building relationships with parents and families and professional services within the Rochdale borough. To be successful in this role it is essential to have a good sound knowledge of child development and be sensitive to the diverse needs of families and children and to be able to engage positively across a wide range of organisations and people. Experience in early years care, education and child development provide the knowledge and understanding to enable observations of key child healthcare and educational milestones.
The most rewarding aspect of the job is to see individual children, parents, families and Early Years Workers benefiting from the support of the service on offer. Developing good relationships and seeing children develop into confident learners who love books and reading.
No two days are ever the same so the role is varied, fun and interesting.
9.00am
First job of the day is to check emails etc. Collect equipment needed for outreach work and pack the car.
9.30am
Gifting session at local nursery. Reading stories, singing rhymes and gifting the Bookstart Treasure Chests to children and parents.
11.00am
Deliver Bookstart information to Children's Centre and short meeting with staff passing on information etc.
11.30am
Back to Library to prepare for afternoon Storytime session. Set out children's area with activities and toys etc. Prepare craft activity for session.
12.30pm
Telephone calls to book outreach work and gather any information that has been requested.
1.00pm
Lunch break
1.30pm
Gather books, props and puppets for afternoon session and make sure everything looks attractive, inviting and interesting for families.
2.00pm
Welcome families to session and make sure any new families are given all the information they require. Enjoy the activities with children and parents.
3.00pm
Session ends. Encourage parents and children to choose books if they haven't already done so. Time to chat with any parents and children whilst tidying library and preparing for Sing and Rhyme Time that runs the following morning.
3.30pm
Quick cup of tea and go into office to do admin work and catch up on any messages that need dealing with. Prep for following days work.
5.00-5.30pm
Home time.
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