REACH was created to provide a positive environment for youth development in an underserved, unincorporated area of Alameda County, CA. Over 20% of the youth live in poverty; rates of teen violence and teen pregnancy are among the highest in the county (which includes Oakland). The social, economic, and environmental realities young people face each day place them at increased risk for poor health and educational outcomes. REACH’s holistic goal is to improve the social determinants of health, and to support wellness in the community. REACH is a 31,500 square-foot facility that serves youth age 11-24, free of charge. The Library shares space at REACH with a health clinic, fitness room, dance studio, amphitheater, computer lab, media studio, employment center, education center, childcare center, and a youth-employed café. Since opening in May 2013, REACH has attracted 2,500 members and serves an average of 200 kids daily. One initial challenge was educating REACH planners about the role the library could play, not just in lifelong learning and literacy, but in supporting and developing programming on health, education, youth development, and more. We also have found new users; a recent survey of the 2,500 youth members showed that 56% got their first library card at REACH.

The Library is a flexible space. We are housed in main area of the first floor; our comfy seating, and books, magazines and DVDs are among the first things you see walking into REACH. When needed, our gondola shelves are pushed up against the walls to make room for audiences for poetry readings, lectures, and other events, which we initiate and co-sponsor. Our REACH librarian does everything, from troubleshooting the self-checkout machine to teaching PowerPoint classes in the computer lab. When our librarian isn’t on site, other REACH staff pitch in; we reciprocate by lending a hand with other programs (our librarian recently taught a yoga class). We have each other’s backs. This is what “library” can mean! This summer we are launching reading groups within the SHEP (Shared Evaluation Pedagogy), which emphasizes dialogue. We have seen great success with this method in serving incarcerated youth (an average of 7.5 grade levels of improvement in reading comprehension in four months), and are excited to bring this model to the REACH community. Key partners are the local school district, and a non-profit serving at-risk TAY (transitional age youth). One of our biggest successes at REACH has been the collaboration with on-site Youth Counselors (Clinical Case Managers) who are embedded in all REACH programs and services. The library held a series of book discussion groups on Luis Rodriguez’s Always Running: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A. One of the Youth Counselors, Daniel, himself a former gang member, attended all the book discussions and helped facilitate dialogue on issues that emerged. When the Library hosted Luis Rodriguez at REACH (160 attendees), Daniel MC’ed the event!

Recently our library at REACH was invited to present to over 150 attendees at a Future of Libraries: Libraries Reimagined conference that focused on new models of library service. As a result, we’ve given tours of REACH to dozens of colleagues throughout California. A major lesson we have learned is that true collaboration takes time, including building communication and trust. Our early involvement facilitated the collaborative spirit needed for this long-term partnership. Partners are amazed at the flexibility of the library to adjust to this multi-faceted community environment, especially when many thought our role would be limited to checking out books. Some of the programs we’re planning for the upcoming months include: Summer Lunch at the Library, Summer Reading Game, Soda Free Summer, book clubs and author events, computer classes, literacy classes, parent education workshops, bilingual storytimes, and workshops including the National Center for Youth Law, California Highway Patrol’s Start Smart Teen Safe Driving, bike repair, and health eating. Our library at REACH plays a critical role as part of this multi-agency collaboration. REACH offers an upstream (preventative) approach to impacting challenges in the community. The aim of all staff is to enact an effective, multi-faceted program that builds youth development, health and wellness, community power, challenges discrimination, directs institutional change, and addresses social inequity. Providing library service in alignment with these goals means we go far beyond offering books and standard library programs.