Community Baby Showers
San Francisco Public Library, Calif.
Innovation Synopsis
We celebrate our youngest users with festive baby showers that increase library awareness for new parents. These showers are aimed at families of children ages zero to two and promote the library’s early literacy tools including baby-focused programs and collections and provide families with information about other support services in the community.
Challenge/Opportunity
SFPL sought to grow greater connections to young families and more community engagement with local family agencies. Thanks to a collaborative effort among library youth programmers and branch librarians, each shower was infused with the spirit of the neighborhood, from the food to the fun activities. Additionally, family-focused community service organizations were invited to participate in the shower and help the library connect with and promote to young families. Community spirit blossomed at each event.
Key Elements of Innovation
Each Community Baby Shower starts with a beautiful invitation, widely shared at the library and via partner agencies. Each event featured a baby rhyme time program rooted in early literacy practices, a baby play area, a baby-inspired craft activity, decorations, refreshments, a raffle and community agencies tabling with resources. Each family receives a Talk Read Sing tote bag containing early-literacy gifts and materials. We also hosted CHP car seat safety checks outside at each event.
Achieved Outcomes
SFPL has developed a successful and welcoming event for expectant parents and parents of infants to see the library as a dynamic space for their growing family. Over the course of two hours each of the three library locations hosted hundreds of participants. Other branch libraries are interested in trying this event and community agencies are asking to participate again.
Branch Library Numbers:
- Ingleside, June 2018: 400 participants
- Sunset, May 2019: 260 participants
- Visitation Valley, June 2019: 320 participants
