Library Services for New Parents: Eleni Glykis of Red Bank Library Offers Programming and Outreach Ideas

By Lisa Bruckman

Eleni Glykis, Director of Red Bank (NJ) Public Library, offered librarians a wealth of programming and outreach ideas designed to deliver much needed community and informational resources to those pregnant or transitioning as new parents, during her presentation at the NJLA’s Adult Services Forum, held Oct. 22, 2019, at the Holmdel Library and Learning Center.

Glykis’ presentation, Library Services for New Parents, was culled from personal interactions experienced as an adult services librarian. She found future parents may have great financial and medical needs at a crucial time in the physical development of their in-utero child(ren). Public libraries can aid their communities proactively by guiding pregnant adults and teens to family social services, community providers of obstetrical and gynecological (OB/GYN) care, and nutritional and emotional counseling. Programs delivered in Spanish or a language shared by many members of the local community add further value to the community service offered.Some urban public libraries host community baby showers where area residents can bring less-worn, previously used items for future parents during the community gifting events. On November 9, 2019, Johnson Free Public Library in Hackensack, NJ, held its first ever “Community Baby Shower,” and invited parents of newborns (aged 0 to 6 months) to register for participation in the program.

Other successful library programs for new parents include:

• “Storytime for New Mothers” which focuses on the mental and physical health needs of mothers, offering a problem-solving local network, evidence-based health information relevant to mothers and parenting issues, and a glimpse of forthcoming developmental stages in those children attending.
• A Baby Café hosted by a board-certified lactation consultant
• Meet the Doulas class giving information and an introduction to local doulas
• Baby Yoga classes

Outreach to new parents can include: visiting local pediatrician and OB/GYN offices, partnering with a local hospital (in their labor and delivery unit) or with local day care centers, advertising to mom groups connected through social media or local newspapers, and providing events at local offices for government nutrition programs (WIC and SNAP).

Similarly, proactive event planning can focus on enhancing the literacy and tutoring skill set of parents and future parents. Such events can help children achieve better academic outcomes, and increase the children’s probability of life success. Glykis mentioned that library-generated parent/child workshops have offered local professionals as mentors to parents and guardians, who are the first teachers of children.

In this way, libraries can facilitate early childhood intervention and teach strategies for healthy child development as well as implement good early literacy practices in the community.

Other possibilities for library-initiated educational programs include an expanded homebound delivery service with kids’ book bag programs to circulate materials for new babies or sick children; family reading partnership kits sometimes including butterflies, magnifying glasses, etc., or a Books for Baby program rewarding registration for newborns with a gift bag which includes a book for toddlers, reading tips, and as a parenting magazine.

Lisa Bruckman is a Reference Librarian in New Jersey who teaches library instruction classes at Union County College. She also has worked as a Reference Librarian at North Brunswick Public Library and as a substitute Librarian at Westfield Memorial Library in Westfield, NJ. She previously worked as a School Media Specialist.