BHSU PROFESSOR AND STUDENTS INSTALL FREE COMMUNITY LIBRARIES IN SPEARFISH BUSINESSES

BHSU Associate Professor of Elementary Education Dr. Sydney Haugland and students in her Children’s Literature class recently installed free community libraries in several Spearfish businesses as part of their Family Bookshelf Project on Mar. 4 and 6. The project aims to support BHSU students in community-based project opportunities and authentic course application, while improving access to books and enhancing literacy in Spearfish.  

“Community and family engagement are vital to the work of the College of Education. This project gives our students the opportunity to put theory into practice while serving the community and emphasizing early literacy,” said Dr. Jarrett Moore, Dean of the College of Education at BHSU.  

In collaboration with six local businesses, including Common Grounds, Good Earth Natural Foods, Jitter Joint Play Cafe, Killian’s Food and Drink, Lucky’s 13 Pub, and the Original Spearfish Breakfast House, the Family Bookshelf Project created designated spaces with children's literature books and conversation cards for families and visitors. 

"Many readers 'sneak' the act of reading and talking about books or ideas into small moments of their day. To increase literacy experiences for children, this project aims to help preservice teachers and families notice where these small moments exist throughout all parts of the day, such as the time before visits and meals, or sitting down together at a table to converse,” said Dr. Haugland.  

To prepare the libraries, students worked together to curate a collection of books across various genres and reading interests, promoting engagement for children of all ages.  

"I had a great time putting these book libraries together, and it’s a great way to give back to the community,” said BHSU student Jalen Hohm. “It will also help children to grow their love for reading. I hope that the community has as much fun reading these books as I had putting them together.” 

Each book contains a QR code to gather comments and requests about the collection of books. The project plans to use this information as they add new books to the libraries each semester. “Overall, we want children to be curious and interested in the collection of books,” added Dr. Haugland.  

"I am excited to give back to my community, especially as I step into the education space. Having worked in the restaurant industry for over 10 years, I've seen first-hand the power of creating a welcoming and enriching environment not only for adults but for children as well,” said BHSU student Saidee Short. “Integrating books into these spaces will offer opportunities for play, learning, and connection.” 

Throughout this project, students in Dr. Haugland’s class also learned how teachers build reading libraries for their own classrooms, and the many benefits for children in having a sense of community around reading experiences. “Students learn more in these kinds of environments because it's easy to see how meaningful and important their work is,” said Nicholas Van Kley, director of the BHSU Center for Faculty Innovation.  

The Family Bookshelf Project is funded and supported by the United Way of the Black Hills and the South Dakota Statewide Family Engagement Center. “When students, schools, families, and communities come together, children thrive,” said Maria Kemp, Family Engagement Learning Specialist at the South Dakota Statewide Family Engagement Center. “With the help of this community literacy initiative, we’re excited to see families engage in reading and meaningful conversations throughout Spearfish.”