Asset Building at the Salisbury Library

by | Jul 3, 2018 | Community Partners, Events

The newly built Salisbury Library is home to a plethora of asset building opportunities for youth in the area, offering everything from yoga, to baby massage, to reading with therapy dogs.  Terry Kyrios, Director, Joan Cox, Children’s Librarian, and the library staff provide educational and empowering programs for young people. Staff work hard to support young people, and do especially well in servicing the infant to 5 year old age range. The Salisbury Public Library staff are working hard to build assets in their community. Recent data showed that only 19% of youth in our region regularly read for pleasure. By supporting youth and shaping youth into life-long readers and learners, they are promoting one of the 40 Developmental Assets®, reading for pleasure.  By running programs that engage youth and families the library is also an opportunity for youth to find positive peer influences, build relationships with other adult role models they might not have otherwise met and feel that they are valued by the community.  Creating opportunities for youth never builds just one asset, but builds many, and creates strong community connections that will help youth and family feel supported.

Upon walking into the Children’s Activity Room, I was immediately aware of the warmth and openness of their programming. Joan Cox is constantly brainstorming new ways to increase access and exposure to the library. Since the library has received its new location, the staff have been working hard to draw people in and continue to grow their membership. In the Children’s Room, Joan Cox provides a wide range of activities to families and children. She runs a Baby Drop-In Program to help connect young families. She also runs a 2 & Under Story Hour and a Story Hour for all children. Her Children’s Room is colorful and filled with children and young families. One of her popular programs called “Sit, Stay, Read” involves a therapy dog named Prince who listens to stories read by children. Kids can sign up for 15-minute time slots, helping them to gain confidence in their reading skills and practice reading aloud. Prince visits the library most Thursday afternoons.

The Salisbury Public library also provides outreach during the summertime! Beach StoryTime is located at the beach Center on Broadway (near the carousel).  Stories and a craft will always be provided. This year, Joan is adding a new element to the program and bringing their therapy dog, Prince, for Beach Story Time! Prince is excited to make new friends! The first beach story time is Tuesday, July 17th from 10-11am. The ECAB Network is excited to support the efforts of the Salisbury Public Library in their strong asset building and ability to connect families within the Salisbury community. Their efforts to instill confidence in youth through programming is truly admirable. We can’t wait to see how the Salisbury Public Library continues to build assets in the future, and we look forward to future partnerships.

To learn more about programming at the Salisbury Library click HERE!

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About Us The Essex County Asset Builder (ECAB) Network creates regional connections and supports for individuals, families and organizations from Amesbury, Georgetown, Newbury, Rowley, Salisbury and Newburyport, in using a positive youth development approach to help youth thrive. Positive Youth Development Being a part of the ECAB Network brings local and regional opportunities.  Locally, communities have access to trainings, data, and best practices, and receive guidance on implementation and outreach strategies that build positive youth development possibilities.  Communities also get the benefit of regionalizing efforts, where networking, combining resources, current policies, and a shared vision strengthen the towns and cities as well as the region. History Recently, the communities of Amesbury, Georgetown, Newbury, Rowley, Salisbury and Newburyport came together to form the Essex County Asset Builder Network.  Funded by a three year grant, the goal of this Network is to create a common language of asset- based youth development (creating protective factors). It has been shown that youth who have more assets are less likely to engage in risky behaviors.  This grant will use the 40 Developmental Assets framework to build these protective factors and reduce risk behaviors by focusing on both the youth and the environment that shapes them. The community partnership will enhance the great work already being done to support youth and families, as well as expand community supports, opportunities, and resources. Additionally, the grant will collect and disseminate regional data, coordinate shared resources and bring educational opportunities for various sectors of the community. Goal To spread the philosophy and practice of the positive youth development approach through implementation of 40 Developmental Asset framework within communities across the region. We will accomplish this goal by: Mission To use a positive youth development approach to build networks within each community and across the region that help decrease risk behaviors in youth and produce a healthier community. Vision A network of communities that welcome, value and empower youth through meaningful opportunities and collaborative efforts to support and strengthen youth assets and increase healthy decision making.