Presenter: Name: Michelle H Martin

Title: Beverly Cleary Professor for Children & Youth Services
Organization/School: University of Washington Information School

Program Description
Using the concept of the National Council of Teachers of English’s African American American Read-In, Michelle H. Martin designed an African American Read-In as a service learning component of a University of Washington (UW) MLIS class. Inspired by this model, Jennifer Ching, a student in the UW MLIS Program at the time, has designed 10 culturally-specific read-ins at her school so far since 2021 that have involved numerous community volunteers and 500 students in each program. This session will inspire participants to host their own culturally-specific read-in events for school or public libraries using several different potential models, and it will provide a mini-toolkit that will enable them to plan their own read-in celebrations effectively. Book resources and planning ideas will be provided in the session.

Learning Objectives
1. Participants will understand what a culturally-specific read-in is and the many forms it can take
2. Participants will learn strategies for planning a read-in for their community or school
3. Participants will gain valuable resources for putting together their own read-in

Program Outline
- Land acknowledgement
- Introduction to the presenters and the types of culturally-specific Read-Ins they have offered
- Overview of the NCTE African American Read-In Initiative
- Purpose of Read-Ins: addressing the “why?”
- Service learning or School library event
- Benefits of hosting culturally-rich read-ins Read-Ins
- Planning Read-Ins:
Words of caution - the when & how of programming
Nuts and bolts for in-person or virtual
Finding readers and/or guest artists
Budgeting, fundraising & friendraising for Read-In events (if necessary)
- Quick planning time: how would you plan a Read-In for your school/library/community, and who would it celebrate? What resources do you have? What resources would you need?
- Impact of Read-Ins: evaluating the impact & sharing your successes
- Q & A
Mirrors for All: Creating Culturally Rich Read-In Celebrations

Grade Level: Not grade specific

Session Strand: Literacy

Description: Using the concept of the National Council of Teachers of English’s African American American Read-In, Michelle H. Martin designed an African American Read-In as a service learning component of a University of Washington (UW) MLIS class. Inspired by this model, Jennifer Ching, a student in the UW MLIS Program at the time, has designed 10 culturally-specific read-ins at her school so far since 2021 that have involved numerous community volunteers and 500 students in each program. This session will inspire participants to host their own culturally-specific read-in events for school or public libraries using several different potential models. Book resources and planning ideas will be provided in the session.