Homer, Alaska is a small, rural town that sits on the shores of Kachemak Bay. Its winter days are dark and cold while summers seem endless. The town is filled with both old-timers who are here for the long haul and newcomers who might be here only a season or maybe three. Regardless of how long they stay, or how long they’ve been here, Homer families have something in common. They are mobile.
To make a living, families or just one parent, come and go. Some parents fly north to the North Slope oil fields every two weeks for work. Many families spend summers commercial fishing for salmon, herring, or halibut. Coast Guard families are regularly stationed in Homer for three years while one parent works at sea as part of their military service. To stay in touch, Homer’s families quickly adopted digital technology despite connectivity challenges, device costs, and even access to electricity.
The Homer Public Library is the heart of the community and a place where families come to stay connected in person and online. Yes, the library provides access to the usual paper and digital resources, but the library is also much more. Kids stop by after school to play games with each other, submit homework on the computers, and join dynamic programs. Families discover recommended apps along with the typical book and movie suggestions. Grown-ups apply for state benefits and jobs, file taxes online, and charge their mobile devices. Families flock to storytimes. Grown-ups learn about early literacy, parenting, and more.
For many Coast Guard families the library is a familiar beacon in an unfamiliar place. They know they will find a friendly face, free resources, and excellent, responsive programs for the whole family, but the early literacy and parenting techniques they typically hear may not apply at first glance.
Recently, I partnered with a local family advocate to help Coast Guard families see themselves in the literacy strategies we promote. We put a Coast Guard twist on the usual tips for encouraging family engagement, supporting social and emotional development, and boosting early literacy skills. From the start we approached the outreach initiative the way we do with all aspects of library work, as media mentors— someone who supports the media, literacy, and information needs of families— recognizing that these families use both traditional and digital tools to bridge the distance.
To customize the program and the information we planned to share, we first had to inventory what tools the families had available. We knew the parents at sea had irregular cell phone or satellite access and intermittent email connections. Devices like video game consoles, DVD players, and televisions were accessible on the boats. We also knew that many of them took smartphones, computers, and books on the boat. How could we leverage all of those tools to help the families stay connected and support literacy?
The hour-long event included an informal presentation and time for conversation and questions. We framed each early literacy tip and suggestion around family engagement, childhood development, and literacy knowing that at least one parent was gone for long periods of time, extended family lived far away, and these families experienced additional stress associated with regular moving and separation. We sent families home with online resources, a list of tips, and recommended reading.
Tips included:
• Share pictures from the boat trips with a child at home, during or after the trip. Email or text a description along with the photo from the boat to help show text has meaning and spark conversation.
• Have one copy of a beloved picture book at home (a library copy) and another on the boat. From the boat use a phone to share in the nightly storytime ritual (and then in person when the boat returns). Video chat mimics in-person interaction and allows even young children to learn from the conversation.
• Read the same chapter book (or watch the same movie or play the same video game) as an older child at home and then talk about it. Having children retell or discuss a story builds their narrative skills and strengthens comprehension.
Familiarity with the families’ situations and experience using a variety of media made this program successful. We established a relationship with a part of our community who is often underserved and has unique needs. We look forward to a long-term relationship with the Coast Guard community and will continue to reach out to underserved families because everyone is welcome here.
Claudia Haines has been the Youth Services Librarian for the Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska since 2010. She is the co-author of the book Becoming a Media Mentor: A Guide for Working with Children and Families. Follow Claudia on her blog at Never Shushed.
Photo is courtesy of the Alaska Coast Guard 17th Division of the city of Homer’s Chief Petty Officer Brad Venendaal with a group of schoolchildren on the Coast Guard Cutter Hickory.