CLEL Rising Star Award Given to HPLD Librarian Carolyn Valencia

November 5, 2020

(Greeley, Colorado – November) Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy has awarded High Plains Library District (HPLD) Outreach Librarian, Carolyn Valencia, the Rising Start award. These are awarded to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional work in early literacy. This person may be newer to the field and a rising start who inspires others to do outstanding early literacy work.

Carolyn has been an Outreach librarian at HPLD since 2017.  During this time, Carolyn has made huge strides in bringing early literacy services to our underserved communities.  She focuses on making our community and organization more diverse and inclusive.  Carolyn trains all our MOVE (Mobile, Outreach, Virtual, Experiences) staff on early literacy skills and storytime procedures, preparing them for storytimes at partner sites. Carolyn also maintains our largest early literacy partnership with our Colorado Early Education Network (CEEN). 

“Carolyn cares about bringing diversity and inclusion to all communities and is a role model of librarianship that is especially important for children in our community to see.” said MOVE Manager, Brittany Raines. “Her dedication and attitude of bringing access, evaluation, diversity and inclusion to early literacy is a bright star in our profession. “