Libraries as Pillars: Q Hollins on King County Library Systems' Community Impact
Hkwaua'Que'Jol Hollins, also known as Q, the Youth and Family Services Manager for King County Library Systems (KCLS), recently chatted with Trae Holiday on "The Day with Trae" about his inspiring journey and passionate advocacy for children, and how that path now informs his transformative work at KCLS.
Hollins' commitment to youth stems from deeply personal experiences. He recounted a childhood where he "didn't have the most appropriate upbringing" and "didn't make the best decisions," leading him to alternative school. However, his academic journey continued through a small Christian college and culminated in a master's degree in education from the University of Oregon. After two decades in education, Hollins solidified his career primarily focused on providing more options for kids who don’t feel like they have a variety of life choices.
Hollins sought a different capacity to work with children, finding his calling at KCLS. "I'm loving every minute of it," he said, a sentiment clearly reflected in his enthusiastic approach to expanding the library's resources for youth.
At KCLS, Hollins is dedicated to creating inclusive and responsive programming. "We're trying to make sure that we encompass the whole community, and not just that, but asking for feedback and wanting to know what they might want and need," he said.
This community-centric approach has yielded remarkable results, notably the surge in KCLS's summer reading program, which saw sign-ups jump from approximately 12,000 to 35,000 in a single year, according to Hollins.
The KCLS representative also championed the organization’s Study Zone program, which began in 2001 with five branches, and now operates in 38, providing both in-person and online tutoring, reading buddies, and math clubs to young learners. He also shed light on Talk Time, a unique program designed to help students who are looking for more practice using the English language through real conversations and social interaction.
Hollins made clear that libraries are more than just repositories of books; they are dynamic community hubs. "Your libraries…they're always doing amazing programs. We have the most wonderful librarians in the world,” he said passionately. “Get your kids engaged... and come out and support your local libraries."
Hollins consistently underscored the importance of community involvement, particularly through volunteering. While the adult volunteer program is being revitalized with the upcoming hire of a volunteer coordinator, student volunteers are already a crucial part of the Study Zone program. He encouraged interested individuals to visit kcls.org/backtoschool or kcls.org to learn more about volunteering opportunities.
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