Anythink Perl Mack youth services guide Brittany Jacobs has been named a 2019-2020 fellow with the National Afterschool Matters Fellowship (NAMF), a one-year professional development and leadership training program. Hosted by the National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST) at Wellesley College and funded by the Robert Browne Foundation, this fellowship represents some of the most experienced and talented professionals in the field of out-of-school time. One of 16 fellows selected nationally, Jacobs will spend one year researching and writing on informal pedagogies and best practices for student learning outside of normal school hours. This will include incorporating play, creativity and curiosity – key elements in Anythink’s approach to informal learning.

As a guide at Anythink Perl Mack, Jacobs provides hands-on literacy resources and educational opportunities for children in the community. As a NAMF fellow, Jacobs will draw from her professional experience with students to help develop new learning strategies for educators outside of the classroom. This is an especially unique opportunity to examine the role that libraries and library staff play in supporting youth education.

“It’s an honor to be recognized in the field of out-of-school-time learning, and even more so by such a prestigious affiliation,” says Jacobs. “My passion for informal learning is what brought me to Anythink, and it what motivates the work I do has a youth services guide. To be able to research alongside a cohort of talented professionals will better equip me to engage young learners while also supporting classroom initiatives and life-long learning. As a public librarian, one of my goals is to create environments and experiences that are wildly fun, highly educational and that spark curiosity in the world around us.”

“We’re proud of Brittany and look forward to the exciting role that she will play in contributing to the national conversation on informal learning,” says Anythink Director of Customer Experience Suzanne McGowan. “Brittany’s thoughtful approach to youth services, combined with her creativity and passion for learning, make her an ideal candidate for this prestigious opportunity.”