I had many parents and caregivers call in and ask what the recommended age for the program was. I find this question difficult to answer because children develop at their own rate. Compatibility is not a question of age, but of interest and focus. Instead, I explained to parents/caregivers the nature of the tasks, the need to be methodical, and the ability to think both
abstractly and concretely. The day of the program, I was shocked to see toddlers signed up to participate. Since there was no hard age limit, parents and caregivers felt comfortable bringing children of all ages. The majority of participants’ ages ran from 10-13, which felt like a good match. Before starting, I separated parents and small children from the program and had them play with building blocks. This left me with 20 participants with the youngest being eight and the oldest 15. I was surprised to discover that they weren’t ready for this kind of program and pretty much just wanted to stick
their hands into cake and eat it. Apparently being filled with seeds and the germs from 19 other people did not deter the consumption of sugar. I definitely did not have the right age for my program.

I look at this experience as a reminder of two different and equally important programming problems; setting hard age limits on programs and finding the right level of difficulty for the desired age range. This program would have done best with adults and some teens who were already interested in learning more about archaeology. Instead, my open-ended-age allowed toddlers to excitable tweens to come in wanting to eat cake, making the program less attractive to older teens and overlooked by adults who would assume they could/should not participate in a teen program.

As much as I did not want age to keep participants away, setting a firm age range is necessary for a program. Historically, I had problems getting teens into my teen programs, so turning anyone away felt painful, but leaving things open-ended put me in a bind. Toddlers are not able to do this program the way that it was setup and it would have saved a lot of headache to just clearly state that. If there is a lot of interest outside of that range, it is time to reconsider who this program would appeal to. A lot of tweens and some teens were very interested in this program, or at least
the cake in this program, but they were outnumbered by preschool and kindergarten-aged children, who were possibly more interested in the cake in this program. Every solid program idea can be geared toward different ages and abilities.

If I consider this from a who-is-interested-in this-program perspective, it becomes clear that I needed to make a larger cake with large and simple non-edible objects that toddlers can just crumble away and discover. Like eggs hidden in Easter grass only with cake. If I consider this from a who-I -wish-to-reach with my program perspective, it becomes clear that I need to market to young adults who are either decided on collegiate education or who are considering collegiate education or deciding on a major. If I consider this from a how-to-get-tweens-to-a-library-program perspective, it becomes clear that I just need a lot of cake.

The post Age as a Factor in Programming first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

When I thought about why exactly this situation made me so angry, I hit upon what seems to me a universal truth: so many of our problems are caused by a lack of education and public awareness. Here was a fantastic innovation: a low-cost, equitable alternative to fossil-fuel based transportation that required little to no skill to operate, and yet this opportunity was being squandered by misuse. The problem was in the implementation: the scooters had appeared on the sidewalks without explanation, stirring up instant curiosity and inspiring instant misuse by a public uninformed about usage guidelines and basic safety measures. I was angry at the gap between what was possible and what was happening. As a public librarian, a public educator, what tools did I have to tackle this problem?

I contacted scooter companies in the area and invited them to partner with us on a safety-training information session at the library. I also invited the county’s transportation department, which oversees the Shared Mobility Device (SMD) program to answer patron’s location-specific questions. We cleared out the auditorium and created a small indoor track. After signing multiple waivers, patrons were allowed to test drive scooters and e-bikes inside the library. It was a great opportunity for patrons to air grievances and ask questions of the parties responsible for the Shared Mobility Device program – scooter companies and local government.

Did a single information session/fun scooter party solve the problem? Of course not. But the goal of library programming is not to effect instant and radical change. Whereas teachers working within the formal education system have five days a week to instill new ideas in their students, public librarians often have only one-off sessions to get people thinking. And those of us working with the general public know that few things bring people through the doors like a common complaint.

So much of library programming is determined by library staff’s personal preferences, but what if our personal pet peeves could inform our programming just as easily? Chances are, if you’re angry about something, some of your patrons are as well. I call it “rage programming” using anger as a starting point for examining a problem and developing programming around it.

Popular wisdom tells us that anger is a negative emotion, and one of many that are inappropriate to express in professional settings. Historically female-dominated professions like librarianship are populated with professionals who are accustomed to grinning and bearing any number of daily micro and macroagressions. The notion of openly acknowledging and naming our anger in a professional setting can seem counterintuitive.  

But anger can also be unifying, as evidenced by the recent resurgence of popular protests throughout the United States. From the Women’s March to the March for Our Lives, protestors are brought together and inspired to organize by a common anger. According to the Dalai Lama, “There are two types of anger. One type arises out of compassion; that kind of anger is useful. Anger that is motivated by compassion or a desire to correct social injustice, and does not seek to harm the other person, is a good anger that is worth having.”¹

The act of releasing anger can be unifying as well. From contact sports to mosh pits to the recent popularity of axe-throwing and rage/smash/anger rooms, some of our most memorable social activities are constructed around this sort of collective catharsis.

Library programming can present opportunities to channel anger into creativity and self-improvement. Self-defense classes teach us that anger can be a source of strength. Anger Management teaches us to recognize and remedy when our anger becomes harmful. Hapa-zome, the Japanese art of pounding flowers to create designs on cloth, is an easy craft program and a great stress reliever. Whether you’re making DIY stress balls or gathering to make protest signs, the common, all-too-human experience of anger can inspire useful and powerful programs.

As public librarians, we provide services to some of our community’s most vulnerable populations. We witness, on a regular basis, the extent to which life can be unfair, unjust, cruel and scary. Anger is a natural reaction to these conditions, and examining the causes and remedies of our anger can inspire novel library programming.

Reference

1. XIV, Dalai Lama, and Noriyuki Ueda. 2019. Be Angry. Newburyport: Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Incorporated.     http://public.eblib.com/choice/PublicFullRecord.aspx?p=5662730.

Further Reading

1. “Anger Management.” San Francisco Public Library. Accessed May 04, 2019. https://sfpl.org/?pg=1020645701.
2. Fetterly, Anne. “Free Art Workshop on Hapa-Zome / Flower Pounding.” My Creston  ow. Accessed May 04, 2019. https://www.mycrestonnow.com/event/free-art-workshop-hapa-zome-flower-pounding/.
3. “‘Rage Rooms’ Let You Smash Away Stress.” NBC Southern California. March 14, 2019. Accessed May 04, 2019. https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/national-international/Rage-Rooms-Let-You-Smash-Away-Stress-507142592.html.
4. “Self Defense Class for Women.” District of Columbia Public Library. July 28, 2017.  Accessed May 04, 2019. https://www.dclibrary.org/node/57709.
5. “Throw an Axe for the Stacks.” EveryLibrary Action. Accessed May 04, 2019.  https://action.everylibrary.org/axes_for_the_stacks.

The post Rage Programming: Anger as Program Inspiration first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

I began by speaking with staff about religious faiths that they would like to know about or which we knew nothing about. We asked ourselves what don’t we know or believe others don’t know.  As a result, I put together a three program series. The first session featured a local Wiccan who runs a small store and teaches classes at the local community college.  For the second, we partnered with the local nonprofit again for a program on  Baha’i and Sikh faiths and for the last, I have sought out different Christian groups to explain denominational differences.

Within a few weeks, the Wiccan program registration reached capacity. I also heard through the grapevine that the local politicians were concerned. The rumor mill told me that at least some did not think religion belonged in the library.  I agree completely. The challenge to our programs did not come to fruition. In some ways, I find this a shame, as it would have been a good ‘teachable moment’ as they say in education.

First, one must point out that many libraries do in fact include a lot of religion, almost all of it Christian. Many offer Christmas  and Easter programs. They put up Christmas tree displays and have the Santa Claus come visit. Others sponsor Easter Egg Hunts and feature a poor soul in a bunny suit. My library does not, but religion does dictate some of our holidays. I believe most  libraries close on December 24 and 25 and many on Good Friday, though we do not for any other religious holidays.

Second, it is important to note that our planned programs on religion do not involve any proselytizing. It is not solicitations for funding, recruiting, or converting. These programs are for educational purposes only.

This raises an important distinction. While the series is on the topic of religion, we are not engaging in religious programming, but theological programming. That is, we are pursuing an academic discourse on the nature of belief in the divine and the various rituals that might display this belief for particular groups.

I truly believe it is education, communication, and open discussion that will make our world a better place. While I do not relish any kind of ‘challenge issue,’ I still wish I had opportunity to explain religion is to theology as salaries are to financial planning. We can talk about things without treading on personal toes. There are many weighty topics for which this is needed. I have always heard one should never discuss religion or money, yet libraries have been running financial programs for years, maybe it’s time for us to offer theological programs as well.

The post Religion Versus Theology in Library Programming first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Start your Recipe Club with a theme; gather recipes that pertain to that theme and make copies to be handed out at your first meeting. For example, start with lemons. Search for recipes that contain lemon, and it doesn’t just have to be desserts. Just googling Lemon Recipes, I found several places to go for reliable recipes. Braised Chicken with Artichokes, Olives, and Lemon  is from Martha Stewart. Basil Shrimp is from allrecipes.  And of course, my favorite, Lemon Bars from Ree Drummond at The Food Network. As a courtesy, I also like to print out information on the ingredient featured, like how it is grown, any unusual features about it, where you can get it if it is a more difficult to find ingredient, and the nutritional value. But the best way to showcase a food is to bring samples of it for members to taste.

Graduate to a Recipe Cookbook Club, where you can pick out a popular cookbook, bring copies in from other libraries for your members to check out, and create some of the recipes featured. Be sure pick a cookbook that you can get copies for. Many times, good cookbooks aren’t always the popular cookbooks and other libraries don’t stock them as much as they do the ones in high demand. Keep a list of cookbooks that you can get readily so you don’t have to hunt for them every month.

When you have a constant attendance of regulars, think about starting your own recipe cookbook. A community recipe cookbook is always sought after by locals and tourists. You can make your cookbook into a fundraiser for your library’s friends group or for the club itself. One thing I’ve always wanted to do was to invest in bakeware that patrons can check out. For our cookbook, we went with the Morris Press Cookbook company. There are other places out therethat you can investigate too, but this one had the best prices for the amount of books we wanted.

And as always, Happy Eating!

The post Recipe Club: The Most Delicious Library Group first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Make sure your “kitchen” has the necessary tools for a successful class: measuring cups and spoons, bowls-small and large, sharp knife, cutting board, spoons, forks, plates, napkins, cups, wax paper, baggies, and towels. Any small appliances you may need like a blender, food processor, grill press or slow cooker you can find at almost any thrift store for a fraction of what a new one would cost. Remember, you aren’t going to be using them daily like at home.

Somethings will need to be prepared for class. Make sure everything is chopped, peeled and ready to use so you don’t have to waste time during class. Have everything, as the chefs on the FoodNetwork say, mis en place (in it’s place).

A lot of items I usually just bring from my home kitchen because buying even a small jar of mayo can be wasteful if you only need a few tablespoons for a recipe. Buying non perishable items, however, can be worth it, especially when you have classes on a regular basis. These items include olive oil, salt and pepper, vinegar and other spices. You’ll be able to plan other classes around items you already have on hand.

Sometimes buying packaged food can be costly, check with the deli if they have any sales going on that you can take advantage of and plan your class around. You don’t need to advertise precisely what you plan to make, but rather list your theme and create your menu around the ingredients you can get. And you don’t have to make three course meals. A smaller scale version of your menu is fine, because people aren’t going to be eating plates of food, but they will want a taste. Talk to your local grocer and ask if they would be willing to donate a small amount from the deli to your class in exchange for a free advertisement with your patrons.

Always have some recipe books on hand, too, for your patrons to checkout.

And always encourage tasting. My tag line is: Come Hungry. Tasting is Mandatory.

The post Adult Programming: How to Have Cooking Demos Without Cooking first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

The Jefferson County Public Library in Colorado is currently partnering with nearly 20 local breweries for a six-week program called Stouts & Stories, Ales & Tales. A program “passport” provides coupons to participating breweries; using coupons earns stamps, which in turn earn beer-related prizes like a bottle opener and an etched pint glass. The passports also direct patrons to beer-centric programming as part of the program, including trivia nights and talks by local brewers.

Staff at Jefferson County (CO) Public Library had noticed that their library system experienced a persistent decrease in use by adults 18-35, and thought that a tie-in with local beer was a good way to hook those underrepresented patrons. “There’s this 10- to 15-year age gap that we really want to reach back out to and re-engage and help them rediscover everything the library is,” said Cindy Matthews, the system’s promotions and marketing manager. “The library is not the library they remember from their childhood. It is so very different — so much more vibrant.” Connecting a public library card to discounted beer is one creative way to illustrate that point.

In Kentucky, the Louisville Free Public Library will soon begin the second year of its adult winter reading program that encourages patrons to read and attend programs, both at library branches and at the locations of community partners: a local brewery, coffee shop chain, and fitness consortium. Beer, coffee, and fitness themed events attract both new and existing library users, and tying multiple local entities together is mutually beneficial for the library and partnering businesses.

Other examples of beer-themed programs around the country include a book club hosted at a local brewery in Massachusetts, beer brewing class in Ohio, and beer & book pairings in Chicago.

It is important to note not all beer-themed programming necessarily involves the consumption of beer at the program itself. But for those that do, partnerships with local breweries can facilitate programs that might otherwise be hindered by a library’s alcohol policy.

Whether or not beer is your library’s cup of—um—tea, there are some helpful tips to keep in mind when planning programs to attract Millennial patrons. Try to create library programs that imitate events patrons would normally have to pay for, and ask yourself: Would I want to come to this program? Promotion is also key, as always. To enhance your promotions for Millennials, ask what they want, be responsive, and (skillfully) utilize social media.

Cheers!

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Promotion of the event usually starts in August/September in most libraries, so now is the time when libraries are hosting prep events and finalizing plans to be Come Write In (CWI) spaces. Last year, NaNoWriMo had almost 400,000 participants and close to 1,200 participating libraries and bookstores.[i]

NaNoWriMo is not just for adults. NaNoWriMo’s Young Writers Program[ii] is like the main program, but specifically geared for teen/young students. Young writers have the flexibility to set their own word quota and do not have to adhere to the daunting 50,000 words in one month goal. Young Writers are given motivation to keep their quotas by earning badges for accomplishing certain writing goals. Another cool feature for young writers is the Dare Machine, which populates story ideas/twists to encourage creativity and challenges into the writing process.

While others only host activities until the end of November, some libraries host events into spring with workshops on editing and publishing. But it doesn’t have to end there. NaNoWriMo has an option for those wanting to keep the writing love all year round. Camp NaNoWriMo hosts writing sessions in April and July. What makes these sessions special is that you set your own writing quota and join a “cabin” with nineteen other writers. Your cabinmates can share encouragement, pointers, and act as a sounding board for ideas that you are unsure of. It’s like actual camp, but online and with novelists. You can use this time of collaboration to write something new or edit a current work. If you meet your writing goals during Camp NaNoWriMo, you are eligible to win prizes.

NaNoWriMo, the Young Writers Program, and Camp NaNoWriMo serve as tools in a librarian’s kit of programming and learning for people of all ages and abilities. We need to use what is available to us, especially when the resource is free and programming costs are low. If your library is not participating next month, that does not mean that you cannot start planning for an April Camp NaNoWriMo event. Everyone has a story to tell, but some may find expressing themselves to be challenging, or need help finding inspiration. Being around other writers and being held accountable are great ways to overcome these obstacles.

References

[i] https://nanowrimo.org/press

[ii] https://ywp.nanowrimo.org/pages/for-writers

The post National Novel Writing Month Is Not Just for November first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Three times a year, library staff do end up talking specifically about what is happening in the library. This can be new activities and services, but more often it is reminding people of the many resources available at the library. This is often a more interactive presentation because people are asking questions throughout or adding bits of information to what is being talked about that they think is particularly important for the other audience members to know. Sometimes the questions are quick but sometimes they are philosophical. “Why are you doing _______,” or “What was the rationale for doing ________?” Not everyone in the audience wants to ask these questions or hear what turns out to be the long answers, but each question is equally important. Often it is the people who ask these questions that staff end up seeing in the library days or weeks after the presentation.

The remainder of the year, two types of presentations occur. Some are technology-based. Either a staff member with a technology background comes to answer individual questions about devices or they talk about helpful websites and apps. The other type of presentation can loosely be described as “saving money or extending your budget with library resources.” The idea with these programs is that a staff member takes a library resource, either a material to circulate or a service we provide, and presents it to the group to help them save money. There is always a handout with websites on the topic, but there is also a list of books or other items people need their library cards to use.

Sample presentations include:

• What else can you do with a cake mix? Discussion centered around the library’s Cake Mix Doctor cookbooks.
• Container Gardening – Highlighted gardening books available at the library as well as the books on upcycling.
• It’s Time to Insulate –  This program focused on the library’s the home improvement books and DVDs.

Finding books to fit different topics is always a challenge, but it can be fun for staff to find ways to relate different materials to each other. Again what makes these presentations enjoyable for the presenter and the audience is when audience members participate, adding their knowledge and insight to the presentation. Regardless, attendees are always invited to visit the library and are always welcome. It is gratifying to library staff when people they met at the food center seek them out in the library to say hi or to ask about where to find items mentioned in presentations.

The post Food Center: Meeting Food Insecure Patrons Outside the Library first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Public libraries have a tremendous opportunity to supplement STEM programming with the event before and after. Possible classes/workshops include viewing eclipses safely, the history of NASA, how stars form, how to operate a telescope, and how to identify constellations and other celestial bodies. Inviting local astronomers and university professors to talk to the community is also a great way to engage a library’s community and network for possible future collaborations.

Kenton County Public Library (KY) is using the opportunity to engage its community by distributing free eclipse viewing glasses obtained through STAR_Net. According to STAR_Net, they have distributed over 2 million free pairs of glasses and more than4,000 education kits to 7,000 U.S. libraries. The Erlanger Branch of the Kenton County Library began offering programs at the end of July, and will continue through August 15^th. The first of three classes was geared toward children and included space themed art, discussion, and book resources. The second and last classes are for general audiences and include history of eclipses, crafts, games, and distribution of free safety glasses.

What about libraries who are not able to participate in next week’s eclipse activities? There are still opportunities to use the eclipse and the publicity it’s been getting to benefit your library. You don’t need a large budget or access to free safety glasses. Resources for the eclipse and STEM activities are available on the STAR_Net website. In addition, your library can host post-eclipse discussions with local astronomers, and offer astronomy themed crafts and programming with normal STEM activities.

Resources

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-prepares-for-aug-21-total-solar-eclipse-with-live-coverage-safety-information

https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-prepares-for-aug-21-total-solar-eclipse-with-live-coverage-safety-information

http://www.fox19.com/story/35906498/local-libraries-offering-free-glasses-to-view-the-solar-eclipse

http://spacescience.org/software/libraries/map.php

http://www.kentonlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/meowmeow-page-001.jpg

The post Get Your Library In On the Eclipse Action first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

To limit participants and raise some money for the library’s Friends group, spellers pay a $5 fee to enter the bee. Audience members get in free, but can donate money to sponsor spellers who cannot afford the fee.[iv] Spellers can also purchase cheats at the time of registration, ranging from a $3 ‘Ask a Friend,’ where a friend in the audience can spell the word for them from their own knowledge, to a $15 ‘Mulligan,’ where a speller can stay in the competition after misspelling a word.[v] A “Big Cheat Deal” package gives contestants several cheats at a discount, and was so popular in the second year of the event that nearly everyone bought it, said Bonnie Brzozowski, a reference librarian at the library and one of the spelling bee coordinators.[vi]

These fees brought in enough money to allow the event to break even in its first year, after the Friends donated the proceeds back to the library’s programming budget. In its second year, with a change in venue, the event ended up costing the library $1000.[vii]  This year, the event cost between $500-750, Brzozowski said.[viii]  Although the event doesn’t raise as much money as it costs, the library will likely continue doing it in the coming years as it attracts a hard-to-reach demographic.”People react to the event as something to keep going because it brings people to a library event that we never see at a library event, the 20-  to 30-somethings,” Brzozowski said.[ix]

With the bee’s large number of contestants and the benefits of the cheats, a big challenge has been timing. In the second year, Brzozowski said the event lasted nearly four hours before a champion was crowned. This year, an “end-of-bee” round was introduced, in which 20 words are given and all remaining contestants at the end of the round are declared winners. This allowed staff to limit the event to two hours.[x]

Another important consideration is the bee’s word list. Official Scripps spelling bee lists are difficult to come by, so the library’s spelling bee committee makes its own list of about 500 words per year to challenge contestants.[xi] Committee members ask for suggestions of difficult words from friends and coworkers, look up lists of frequently misspelled words, and use their own leisure reading time to collect words. “Any word I find that’s a great spelling word, I write it down and keep a list all year long,” Brzozowski said.[xii]

References

[i] “Sip & Spell: An Adult Spelling Bee | Programs That Pop.” Library Journal.  Accessed June 22, 2017. http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2017/05/opinion/programs-that-pop/sip-spell-an-adult-spelling-bee-programs-that-pop

[ii] Bonnie Brzozowski, Reference Librarian at Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, in an e-mail interview with the author, June 22, 2017

[iii] Bonnie Brzozowski, Reference Librarian at Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, in a phone interview with the author, June 20, 2017

[iv] “Sip & Spell: An Adult Spelling Bee | Programs That Pop.” Library Journal.  Accessed June 22, 2017. http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2017/05/opinion/programs-that-pop/sip-spell-an-adult-spelling-bee-programs-that-pop

[v] “Sip & Spell Official Rules.” Corvallis-Benton County Public Library. Accessed June 22, 2017. https://cbcpubliclibrary.net/pdf/SipandSpellOfficialRules2017.pdf

[vi] Bonnie Brzozowski, Reference Librarian at Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, in a phone interview with the author, June 20, 2017

[vii] “Sip & Spell: An Adult Spelling Bee | Programs That Pop.” Library Journal.  Accessed June 22, 2017. http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2017/05/opinion/programs-that-pop/sip-spell-an-adult-spelling-bee-programs-that-pop

[viii] Bonnie Brzozowski, Reference Librarian at Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, in a phone interview with the author, June 20, 2017

[ix] Ibid.

[x] Ibid.

[xi] Ibid.

[xii] Ibid.

The post Library Spells Success with Sip & Spell Event first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Reading during the summer provides communities with many benefits. According to the American Library Association, “The benefits to readers in a summer reading program include: encouragement that reading become a lifelong habit, reluctant readers can be drawn in by the activities, reading over the summer helps children keep their skills up, and the program can generate interest in the library and books.”[1]

Statistics and research have proven time and again that those who participate in summer reading programs benefit tremendously from a literacy standpoint and children do not fall behind by just kicking back at home all summer. For students who may be struggling during the school year, research has shown “one advantage of public library summer reading programs is that they are not located in school buildings, which helps reduce the negative perception about summer learning for students who are struggling.”[2]

But the most important reason summer reading programs are so important and effective are for the opportunities they provide to families who are impoverished or held at a disadvantage for numerous reasons. “Numerous studies have shown that reading over the summer prevents ‘summer reading loss.’ Children living in poverty are more likely to lose reading skills over the summer than children whose families are more affluent. Some researchers estimate 50-67% of the achievement gap, for children living in poverty and for children of color, is the result of summer reading loss.”[3] Public library summer reading programs help bridge those gaps for families who are not as fortunate.

This is why it is important for libraries and librarians to get out into the community and promote their summer programming. This reminds community members that instead of having their kids watch television all summer, they can be reading and participating in library programming that will advance them in their studies and literacy. So if you have not signed your kiddos up for the summer reading program at your local public library, please do so and help them participate in as many programs throughout the summer.

References

[1] American Library Association. “Summer Reading Programs: Benefits,” Last updated May 15, 2017. http://libguides.ala.org/summer-reading/benefits. May 30, 2017.

[2] “Why Public Library Summer Reading Programs Are Important.” http://libraries.idaho.gov/files/SRPResearchPoints2015.pdf. May 30, 2017.

[3] Ibid.

The post Build a Better World: Collaborative Summer Reading Program 2017 first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Content:

In February 2017, Pokémon GO released eighty new second generation Pokémon into the game. With this new content came a 50 percent increase in use, though it has faded over time.^[2] Expect a similar shot in the arm, as there are plans to release “legendary Pokémon” into the mix. These are suspected to be a social activity where numerous players will need to wear down the most powerful of Pokémon.^[3] Libraries should be prepared to create fandom events around future major releases. If legendary Pokémon do indeed require groups of players working in tandem under a deadline, then their appearance at your library should be met with a social media blast that allows you to quickly advertise a pop up program.

Events:

From May 5-8 a Worldwide Bloom event took place, whereby Pokémon of a certain (grass) type appeared at a dramatically higher rate and lures used to attract Pokémon lasted six times longer.^[4] Prior to this, the developer has employed holiday events, such as their Valentine’s Day and Holiday Season promotions. While it’s probably too much to hope for a 2018 National Library Workers Day special, it is reasonable to expect other seasonal events, so keep an ear to the ground and plan accordingly!

Features:

Niantic is working to push new social aspects in its game. There remains the long-promised Pokémon, which would allow a pokéstop (think of them as a resupply area) to be augmented with special features. If these augmentations take the form of in-app purchases, take the opportunity to use them as inexpensive ways to drive traffic to your library. A trading option appears likely,^[5] and may be tied to a pokécenter, meaning individuals will need to be in proximity to each other in order to conduct their business. As someone who has witnessed children (and adults) arguing over Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, this feature comes with mixed emotions! Expect your library to become a hub of such activity. PVP (player versus player) features are also forthcoming, and with it, the possibility of a library hosting a tournament, if the game mechanics allow.^[6]

While there remains some uncertainty regarding the future of Pokémon GO, it seems clear that there is a real effort to rekindle excitement. Warm weather in and of itself encourages Pokémon hunting, and this summer seems primed for several major updates that could cause a second outbreak of Pokémon fever! So go, cultivate a relationship with the Pokémon diehards who never left the game (they may be your co-workers) and use them as an early warning system! Assess your location; is it a pokéstop/pokégym or in proximity to one? Finally, sketch out some programs that you can roll out on short notice.

Resource List:

Pokémon GO Glossary: Learn all the common game terminology!

https://support.pokemongo.nianticlabs.com/hc/en-us/articles/222049307-Glossary

25 Pokémon Crafts for Kids: Great ideas for kids and teens, particularly for use in a fandom event!

25 Pokémon Crafts for Kids

Niantic Labs Blog: Get official updates straight from the source!

https://www.nianticlabs.com/blog/

Program Model: Pokéthon : A multi day fandom event organized by the Obion County Public Library, with reproducibles.

http://www.programminglibrarian.org/programs/pok%C3%A9thon

References

^[1] http://bgr.com/2017/04/03/pokemon-go-popularity-2016-users/

^[2] https://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2017/02/28/gen-2-caused-a-huge-spike-in-pokemon-go-play-but-its-fading-fast/#181007ec193d

^[3] http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-04-18-pokemon-go-legendary-pokemon-articuno-mewtwo-mew-zapdos-moltres-raikou-entei-suicune-lugia-hooh-celebi

^[4] http://pokemongoinformer.com/pokemon-go-worldwide-bloom-event/

^[5] http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/pokemon-go-updates-everything-you-need-to-know-about-what-s-coming-next-1330140

^[6] ibid

The post Will There Be Another Summer of Pokémon GO? first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

We can’t say that this is an activity that would work everywhere. It seems quite situation-dependent. For example, ours Adult Library Lock-In consisted of a core group who grew up attending lock-ins and other library programs. However, this time they brought their college friends, roommates, co-workers, and significant others to meet the librarians and former classmates they spent hours with at the library sometimes as long as five years ago.

How does an adult lock-in look different from a high school lock-in? Instead of large coolers filled with lemonade and water there is a carafe of very strong coffee and some 2 liter bottles of soft drinks. There isn’t a litany of rules to go over at the beginning so everyone behaves because everyone is an adult now. Anyone can leave when they want because most have cars, so there isn’t a need to call an over-sleeping parent and remind them to come get their child in the morning. There is more talking among the participants at the beginning of the event as they catch up with each other on what they have been doing since the last time they saw each other. Even in the age of social media it seems like talking face-to-face is still the best way to get information. There are also new friends from outside the community. It isn’t just kids from the local schools in the area.

How does an adult lock-in look the same as a high school lock-in? There are current and retro-gaming systems set up around the building. Tables are filled with board games ready to play. One television is ready for movie-watching. There is still pizza to eat, and someone still wants to organize a game of capture the flag. There are still people who decide to curl up in a niche on a comfy chair and read during the night, and there are still one or two people who decided to sleep for an hour or two during the event.

Why an adult lock-in? Whether these new adults are attending some type of post-secondary education in the area or farther away, they still want to come home. For many of them the library was their home during high school. This was their third place other than school and home. They could be themselves here. Now they want to share that with their significant other, their college roommate, or their co-worker who likes the same things they do. It is also a time to show the important adults in their lives, the librarians, that they have grown up and become something. Now they tell the librarians about their jobs, their classes, and their internships. And just like during high school, the librarians listen attentively, praise their efforts, and remind these young adults that they still believe they can do anything.

These kids aren’t kids anymore. They are now able to vote for library levies and generally support or ignore libraries. Soon they will have kids of their own, and hopefully they will bring their babies to your library for storytime!

The post Library Lock-ins for Adults first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

At this point, public libraries function as community centers where people come to convene, learn and grow, not just check out books and study. And it seems like the next logical step is to not just bring the community into the library, but to reach out to the community itself. This can be done in new and sometimes surprising partnerships. Reaching out to a local humane society or shelter, for example, where cats waiting to be adopted need to develop social skills, is a perfect union for public libraries looking to do something creative to encourage children’s literacy skill development. Cat and child enrichment, increases in adoption, and community engagement are all fostered through a program like this.

You may have heard of different Book Buddies programs. The most common ones usually involve dogs that come to the library and are read to by children who sign up ahead of time. Both child and dog receive a positive experience. Wilmette Public Library in Illinois has a K9 Reading Buddies program where children can sign up for a 15-minute slot to read to a trained therapy dog. This is just one example of countless popular programs like this and it does bring patrons into the library.

Because some patrons have allergies to cats, it might be easier to bring animal/cat-loving children to a local shelter than have the local shelter come to the library. Although, at the beginning of April, Wilmette Public Library held a program where a therapy cat named Max came to the library to educate patrons on their therapy animal program. But in case your library doesn’t want to bring animals in, going out into the community to find a space for patrons with an itch to hang out with animals provides a suitable scratching post, if you will. With the popularity of cat cafes sprouting up in big cities in Japan, the UK, and the US, this seems like a winning program idea to bring to the public library.

Link to source article: http://www.messengernews.net/news/local-news/2017/03/reading-to-the-cats/

Additional Sources used: http://aspcapro.org/resource/saving-lives-behavior-enrichment/cats-kids-reading-enrichment-adoptions-compassion

Wilmette (Illinois) Public Library  http://www.wilmettelibrary.info/

The post A “Purrfect” Literacy Program first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Photo Courtesy of Jenny Adams Perinovic.

Jenny Adams Perinovic is taking public library outreach services to another level at the Free Library of Philadelphia. As the outreach coordinator for The Field Family Teen Author Series[1], she has the enviable job of working closely with trending authors and students of Pennsylvania’s school system. The program works by bringing authors into a school for a face-to-face discussion with students. Participants are given free copies of the author’s book, and get to ask the author questions. After attending a Teen Author Series session, many students discover a love for reading. The inspiring Teen Author Series is a rarity in the public library world. Outreach programs are fossilizing and bookmobiles are rusting. Perinovic’s work helps to reach kids who may have never had the opportunity to visit a library, let alone a chance to speak with an author about his or her book.

Perinovic is a recent graduate of Drexel University’s Master of Library & Information Science degree program. In addition to her role as an outreach coordinator since September 2015, she is an accomplished YA author. She published her debut novel A Magic Dark and Bright in 2015. Recently, it was an Amazon #1 bestseller for Teen Sci-Fi & Fantasy/Horror. Below is an interview Andrew Hart did for Public Libraries Online via email with Perinovic on April 8^th, 2017.

PL: What is The Field Family Teen Author Series, and how long has it been in operation?

JP: The Field Family Teen Author Series is an invite-only program at the Free Library of Philadelphia intended to connect 7^th-12^th grade students in Philadelphia public, magnet, private, and charter schools with authors of books for young adults. We’ve existed system-wide since 2002, and we’ve been funded by Joseph and Marie Field the entire time. In addition to having the opportunity to meet an author, every single student who attends one of our programs receives a copy of the author’s book, which is theirs to keep. Our events are generally an hour and a half long (including an author talk, a Q&A, and a book signing!), and take place during the school day. There is no cost to participating classes besides their transportation to and from the library.

This is my second year as outreach coordinator, and in that time, we’ve hosted over 4,000 students and an amazing and diverse array of authors, including Becky Albertalli, Angie Thomas, John Lewis, Ta’Nehisi Coats, Matthew Quick, Colum McCann, Andrea Davis Pinkney, and Daniel Jose Older.

PL: What are the goals of the program?

JP: Our goal is to promote a lifelong love of reading by enabling a connection between students and authors. We also want the students who participate to become familiar with the Free Library of Philadelphia as a system, and we try to spread our events out across our 53 neighborhood libraries.

Another unique aspect of the Teen Author Series is our school outreach. A few weeks before every event, I visit each of our participating classrooms. During my visit, I introduce the book with a short booktalk, start a discussion about the book’s topic, and answer any preliminary questions they might have about the author or the event. These visits are probably my favorite part of my job – I get to know the students and build a relationship with them.

PL: What sorts of challenges do you face as the program’s coordinator, and how do you overcome them?

JP: In the beginning, the biggest challenge was trying to figure out how to schedule all of my events, classroom visits, and deliveries without driving myself crazy. Our events generally include between 100-400 students, which can be anywhere from three to twenty classes. I visit every single one of them, and depending on the discussion we have, they can take anywhere from twenty minutes to the entire class period!

The other challenging aspect is also related to my classroom visits. We don’t shy away from tough subjects in the Teen Author Series—one of my goals, as coordinator, is to provide our teens access to books that both accurately reflect the world we live in and make them think. This means that sometimes, during my classroom visits, we have to talk about these difficult subjects, and it’s my job to provide these students with an open, safe, and non-judgmental space to have these conversations. In the 2016-17 school year alone, I’ve held classroom discussions on topics including human trafficking and teenage prostitution (for E.R. Frank’s DIME), gentrification (Renee Watson’s THIS SIDE OF HOME), sexual assault (E.K. Johnston’s EXIT PURSUED BY A BEAR), anxiety and depression (Claire Legrand’s SOME KIND OF HAPPINESS), gender identity (Alex Gino’s GEORGE), and racism (Angie Thomas’ THE HATE U GIVE and John Lewis’ MARCH).

As uncomfortable as it can be for me to stand in front of a room of 15-year-olds and rattle off statistics about human trafficking, I’ve witnessed some incredible and thought-provoking conversations.

PL: How are authors chosen to participate in the Teen Author Series?

JP: Our team—which includes myself, two amazing teen librarians from the Youth Services and Programs department, our teen materials selector, and our Author Events staff—have two meetings a year where we sit down and talk about books we’ve loved that we think will resonate with our students. We then compile list of authors we’d love to host, and see who says yes to us!

PL: Are authors familiar with the program when they are contacted? (if that is how the process works). If not, what is their reaction when they discover the program’s mission? Is finding willing authors difficult?

JP: Our Author Events office handles booking our authors and arranging their travel. I’m not sure how it was in the beginning, but we haven’t had trouble finding willing authors since I’ve been here. The authors we’ve hosted over the last 15 years are incredible: John Lewis (twice!), Laurie Halse Anderson, Jerry Spinelli, Lois Lowry, Matthew Quick, Sharon Flake, Linda Sue Park, Kwame Alexander, the late Walter Dean Meyers, and many, many others.

PL: Are all schools in Philadelphia eligible to participate? How are schools chosen?

JP: Teachers and administrators who work with 7^th-12^th graders in public, private, charter, diocesan, and magnet schools located within the city limits of Philadelphia can join our mailing list by emailing me at teenauthors@freelibrary.org. Once they’re on my mailing list, they’re automatically invited to our upcoming season. We generally send out two registration emails per year – once in the fall, and once in the spring, as soon as our lineups are finalized. Registration is first-come, first-serve, and our events fill up quickly. Our event with Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, for their book Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin, filled up within 18 hours!

PL: What kind of responses do you get from students and teachers?

JP: It’s been overwhelmingly positive. Of course, I think it’s best to hear from the students and teachers themselves. Here are some responses collected from our surveys:

• Teacher, on the event with Angie Thomas for The Hate U Give – “It brought to light aspects of our society that are hushed and finally gave my students a character they can relate to. Angie was REAL. She spoke to my students as humans and was personable. I would love to be friends with her! I thought it was great all around. I hope to teach this book!”
• “I now know that it is okay to stand up for what is right-peacefully. And I will continue to do so for the rest of my life.” -12th grade student, after meeting John Lewis at the event for March, Book 1
• “This book portrayed the saying ‘there’s beauty in the struggle’ very well.”  -10th grade student, on Dimeby E.R. Frank.
• “Thank you for having us. I love to go get books signed and talk to the author, and I hope we come here again for another event.” -10th grade student, after the event for Becky Albertalli’s Simon Vs. The Homo Sapien’s Agenda
• “It was amazing to hear about the book and meet an author who is a grown-up LGBT person. I’m in seventh grade and LGBT, too.” – 7^th grade student, on meeting Alex Gino at the event for George

PL: What do you consider the most beneficial product of the Teen Author Series?

JP: Oh, I have a few. It’s so hard to pick just one thing!

First and foremost, I think the kids really benefit from the books themselves. There’s a lot of economic inequality in Philadelphia, and so many kids don’t come from homes that can afford things like books. So it’s really special to be able to give every single participant a book, regardless of what neighborhood they live in or what school they go to or what they can afford.

It’s really incredible to be able to enable this connection between author and reader. Hopefully, this will inspire some of our students to go on a write themselves—a lot of them already do, and I think it’s important for them to meet someone who can provide an example of how to build a creative life.

It’s also special to be able to geek out with the kids over the books, and build a relationship with some of them. It’s gotten to the point where I’ll walk into a school and I’ll hear, “Hey, do we get new books today?” or I can’t leave the classroom without being asked about other books they might like. But I think the best moment so far happened a few months ago: After a visit, a senior boy was helping me find my way back to the office. He said, “I’m going to be real with you miss, I don’t really like to read, but that book sounds pretty good.” He promised to give it a chance, and when I saw him at the actual event (for Randy Ribay’s An Infinite Number of Parallel Universes), he came up to me and said, “Miss, you were right. That book was dope.” We high-fived and I gave him a list of a few more books he might like. And when I saw him the time after that, he’d read them all and asked for more suggestions, and just like that, he was a reader.

PL: What advice would you give to libraries interested in implementing a similar program?

JP: I realize that our endowment makes us a pretty unique program, and we’re so fortunate to have the support from the Field Family that enables us to host this incredible program and provide every one of our students with free books. But I think the heart of the Teen Author Series comes from the connections it enables—both the connection between students and authors and the connection between the public library and local schools.

Start small. Talk to the teens, teachers, and booksellers in your community and see what they’re reading and who they’d like to meet. Sometimes schools host authors on their own – see if there’s an opportunity for your library to get involved.  Approach a local bookstore that hosts authors and see if there’s a way to collaborate. Reach out to local authors, or see if you can host a virtual visit via Skype, and see if your school contacts would be interested bringing a classroom of students to participate.

Jenny can be reached at jennyperinovic@gmail.com.

Reference

[1] https://libwww.freelibrary.org/programs/teen-author/

The post Promoting a Lifelong Love of Reading: PL Talks With Jenny Adams Perinovic first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

A recent CNN article^[1] by Robert Jimison details this trend. The first component of a stuffed animal sleepover is a story time, often featuring animal-related stories such as Mo Willems’ Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. Afterward, the children leave their toys behind for the evening. Librarians or teen volunteers take photos of the animals around the library—the more mischievous, the better. Children may pick up their fluffy friends the following day.

Jimison notes a recent study published by the online journal Heliyon that discusses the value of such programs. The study focused on 42 Japanese children who attended an event with their toys. The results were positive, displaying an increased interest in picture books. Some of the preschoolers also exhibited brand new behavior of reading to their stuffed animals afterwards.

Photo Courtesy of Gretchen Kaser

The crux of this program is it makes reading fun for its participants. Further, photos of the stuffed animals “reading” model positive behavior for the children. Jimison quotes William Teale, professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago and president of the International Literacy Association: “[Kids will] look at pictures in a book, and they’ll start to use some of the words in the book”. Getting into this habit at such a young age helps children become lifelong readers.

Teale also notes the importance of adding literacy to everyday activities in the home. Stuffed animal play is a perfect example of this. Making reading part of a child’s daily routine is “crucial” to the development of a “curious mind”.

Over the last four years, I have run several stuffed animal sleepovers, and they have been consistently well received. Children delight in seeing what their toys did overnight, and my staff and volunteers enjoy taking creative photos. Parents have also stated leaving the animals behind helps foster a sense of independence in their children, along with a love of reading.

Have you offered stuffed animal sleepovers at your library? Let us know in the comments!

References

^[1] Jimison, Robert. “After a night at the library, stuffed animals help kids read.” CNN. February 28, 2017. Accessed March 5, 2017. http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/28/health/stuffed-animals-reading-study/.

The post Trend Alert: Stuffed Animal Sleepovers first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

The Sonoma County library system is not the first to include fitness classes in their programming. Jessica Zaker, a 2015 Library Journal “Mover and Shaker” and supervisor at the Sacramento Public Library’s Arcade branch, created their popular Punk Rock Aerobics class and a Zombie Survival Fitness class. The Alamance County Public Libraries in North Carolina have had an extremely successful adult Zumba class in the evenings, as well as a dance and exercise class for kids called “Moving and Grooving.” The Programming Librarian discusses this growing movement as kinetic or physical literacy. “Physical literacy gives us an awareness of our bodies in time and space; it allows us to ‘read’ what is going on in any given environment and figure out how to respond…This self-awareness can go a long way toward empathy for others and self-acceptance.”[1]

Taking your library in a health-minded direction can also offer new partnership opportunities. Many of the libraries mentioned in this post, including Sonoma County, partnered with outside groups including the YMCA, a junior college, and the Northern California Center for Well-Being. Public libraries already practice outreach and often connect with outside groups to enhance their programming and broaden their reach, so this is simply another avenue with a different focus. You don’t need a $30,000 federal grant to get started, although it certainly helps.

References

1. (1)http://www.programminglibrarian.org/blog/kinetic-literacy

Additional Resources:

http://sonomalibrary.org/events/programs/healthy-living-at-your-library

http://www.alsc.ala .org/blog/2016/06/yoga-storytime/

http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2015/03/people/movers-shakers-2015/lori-easterwood-jessica-zaker-movers-shakers-2015-innovators/

https://publiclibrariesonline.org/2014/02/getting-fit-the-library/

https://sonomalibrary.org/about/strategicplan

http://www.sonomahealthaction.org/content/sites/sonoma/cnha_2016/Sonoma_CHNA_FINAL_Report.pdf

Link to source article: (1)http://www.pressdemocrat.com/lifestyle/6121752-181/get-fit-healthy-at-sonoma

The post Promoting Health and Fitness Literacy at the Library first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Passport Processing and Photo Services
Every Cuyahoga County Public Library branch  is an official Passport Acceptance Facility for the U.S. Department of State. The library offers passport processing and photo services every day of the week from opening until one hour before opening, and no appointment is necessary. The passport application process usually takes from 20-60 minutes per applicant. Routine application processing takes 4-6 weeks. The library can also provide expedited service for an additional fee, which reduces the processing time to as little as 2-4 weeks. All details about how to apply for a passport are available on the library web site, at the circulation desk, and by calling a CCPL branch. The service is very popular, and there are many people coming to the library to apply for a passport. They come to the library because it is convenient to come to the local branch instead of driving downtown where most of the official facilities are. Library staff is very helpful, and all passport forms are available.

Recording Studios
Two of the Cuyahoga County Library branches feature recording studios. Warrensville Heights Branch has an audio recording studio while the Garfield Heights Branch has an audio and a video recording studio. Customers can make their own videos or cut their own CDs. Both are free and open to the public. The Garfield Heights branch features more opportunities to use their recording studios through their Broadcasting Club and Video Production Camp. The Broadcasting Club helps students take advantage of the new audio and video recording studios. Kids ages 8-12 learn broadcasting basics and share ideas for group projects and activities. Video Production Camp allows students to produce their own digital video program. Children ages 11-18 learn all the phases of the video production process. Attendees form production teams and storyboard, script, shoot, and direct a video while using professional video, lighting, and audio equipment.

Cuyahoga Works: Cuyahoga County Public Library Job & Career Services
The Job & Career Services at Cuyahoga County Public Library is a nationally recognized Adult Career Planning Resource Center. Cuyahoga County Public Library has been serving the community with job and career services assistance since 1976. Cuyahoga Works: Job & Career Services offers extensive job and career services to the customers. Services include individual appointments, workshops, and a Job Seekers Series dedicated to the education and training of current job search skills and techniques. Library Career Counselors offer free job search advice. Cuyahoga Works: Jobs & Career Services are located in Maple Heights Branch and Fairview Park Branch. One-on-one counseling sessions with  a certified career counselor are available at no charge in the Library Career Centers at the Maple Heights, Fairview Park, Solon Branch, and the North Royalton Branch libraries. Also, Cuyahoga Works offers free classes and workshops at branches throughout the Cuyahoga County Public Library system and one-on-one counseling sessions with certified career counselors.

These are just a few examples of the library services that provide help in new ways to extend typical library services to the communities. What unique service is your library providing?

The post Libraries Branching Out first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Our committee is a cross-section of talented staff from all departments and all levels, with a vibrant interest in our ACL MakerSpace project. We convened at the end of last year, and began by sharing what we knew. We first focused on gathering information, bringing examples from other libraries who have successfully built their MakerSpaces. After a month of envisioning where our MakerSpace would physically fit best and how we could finance it, suddenly we were stymied. We found ourselves considering a detour from our original direction. Why did we move from a project focused on Come-Do to one that invited How-To?

We couldn’t answer a major question: what would our adult patrons really want in the ACL MakerSpace? We already have some MakerSpace activities in both the Children’s and Young Adult Departments, like squishy circuits and Lego® challenges, but an adult-centered MakerSpace would be far too expensive to mount if based entirely on the philosophy of build-it-and-they-will-come. Our staff reflects the demographics of adults, ages 30 to 50, that we wanted to target, so months earlier we polled them about what they thought our MakerSpace should be. We found that although they showed a high interest in 3-D modeling and other technology-based activities, the majority chose more craft-based topics, more prescriptive and dependent on a set of ordered rules or directions. Would those activities lead to collaboration and experimentation inherent in an ideal MakerSpace? Again we wondered if we were heading in the wrong direction.

How could we reach our patrons easily to find out what they want to see in our library? One of our committee members suggested we hire someone to build a revolving, free-standing, four-sided, white dry-erase board kiosk, on which we would write questions to solicit patron input. It now stands in the space across from the Circulation Desk, and our Adult Programming Librarian monitors it. As appropriate messages are posted, she captures the input digitally and then erases the posts. She writes new questions on each side on a regular basis. We have gleaned a lot of patron opinion this way.

But what about our wider Anderson community? How could we reach them? A new business incubator project, e-Merge@The Garage, was coming to life in the remodeled City of Anderson garage. Its focus is to build and grow local and regional entrepreneurs, and is heavily funded with heavy-duty sponsorships. We invited the founder of e-Merge to share his vision with our committee. He offered his Grain Ideas, an open forum at his local pub, to help us find out what his clientele—who fit our targeted demographics—would like to see in ACL’s future MakerSpace. The forum was fun, and we established another community business ACL supporter, but unfortunately we did not gather enough representative feedback.

Each committee member had been searching for ideas as to what other libraries are doing to attract more residents to come to the library. Among all the interesting information we gathered was the article in American Libraries about Louisville (Ky.) Public Library’s first How-to Festival. Their schedule of presentations inspired us. If we held a similar venue, would it draw a large attendance? We could use our “How-To” to ask citizens what they thought a future ACL MakerSpace should be. “Yes!” we all agreed. “Let’s stage a How-To-Fair.”

Then cold reality hit us. The ACL calendar was already heavily booked with upcoming major events for the year: our Friends of the Library Spelling Bee, the Children’s Book Carnival, the Summer Reading Programs, the ComiCon, and our Friends of the Library annual three-day Storytelling Festival in the early fall. The only time when all our conference and meeting rooms were available on one day was in late April. We had less than two months to get it accomplished!

What did we need to do first? Find presenters to donate their time and talents? Advertising? Scheduling? All of it! One committee member quickly developed flyers to explain the nature of the event and to solicit presenters. Other members delivered them personally to community businesses as ACL ambassadors of the How-To Fair. We sent out emails to all staff members for suggestions as to anyone who knew someone who could do such-and-such. We made hundreds of phone calls and inquiries throughout the community. Key members of the committee created a presenter application form, a patron survey, the events schedule, plus a mapping of tables and locations, inside and outdoors. Within a month over 30 community presenters made firm commitments, and in less than two months our program was written in stone. With some trepidation and great anticipation, we held our first ACL How-To Fair on April 23^rdfrom 2-8 p.m. .

A local blacksmith set up his forge and made square nails. A local dog trainer demonstrated canine handling. The beekeepers association gave tips on local bee husbandry. Our genealogical staff helped visitors use online databases for family research. Reference librarians in our computer lab showed how to use Novelist and Mango. Rabbits cuddled in a conference room and chickens clucked in the Children’s patio area, as their breeders offered their expertise. Master gardeners talked compost, flower arranging, pruning, and heirloom seeds. Home Depot demonstrated cordless tools, how to make a sink backsplash, and summer garden preparation. Backpackers shared their love of trail walking. Lowe’s helped DIYs with deck treatment. AnMed Health sent a representative who spoke on advanced directives planning. There were demonstrations on making balloon animals, quilting, crocheting, origami, fabric bracelets, scrapbooking, how to brew the perfect cup of coffee, digital photography, how to pack a suitcase, how to repurpose junk, and how to jumpstart your creativity. The local theater group showed how to audition. Yoga sessions, kicking a soccer ball, and salsa dancing lessons added to the excitement! The Teen room ran continuous activity stations, like underwater painting, and the Children’s Department had Lego® challenges. Committee members were assigned areas to direct traffic, answer questions, and provided a hospitality room with refreshments for the presenters. It took every staff member who wasn’t at a service desk—our library maintained normal operations!–to work the Fair.

As one committee member commented, “We didn’t know where we were going, but we sure had fun when we got there.”

But, to where?

In our post-event analysis, we found that we had these positives:

• a collaborative and talented committee, seriously dedicated to staging the event, and newly emerging leaders;
• a successful and fierce social media blitz to advertise the event;
• enthusiastic presenters and attendees—a good start to amplifying community relations;
• a wide-variety of sessions of interest to a large cross-section of attendees;
• encouraging survey responses from both attendees and presenters, with calls for “do it again” next year!

But what about any 2^nd Annual ACL How-To Fair? What should we do the next time?

• Establish a How-To Fair Committee.
• Brand our How-To Fair and develop a logo for advertising, and even emblazon it on staff T-Shirts.
• Consult/contact other library systems that have held a How-To event. There is a lot of practical advice online from other libraries, but we reinvented the proverbial wheel. Learn what they learned.
• Plan far in advance. . . at least six months. Two months is not enough time to advertise effectively, communicate with potential presenters, and allow for last-minute scheduling adjustments.
• Appoint or elect a committee member to be the clearinghouse for presenter applications and contacts.
• Restructure the schedule to avoid clumping events in too narrow a time frame.
• Allow attendees more time to get from one presentation to another.
• Refine the presenter application and questionnaire.
• Encourage presenters to give multiple sessions.
• Consider soliciting local business sponsorships, perhaps to help with advertising, the hospitality room, etc.

Did we find out what our community wanted for the ACL MakerSpace? No, not really. We made the assumption that the public-at-large would know what a MakerSpace is, because we librarians know. MakerSpace terminology is so much a part of our active vocabulary that we neglected to provide something at the How-To Fair to explain it to our public. When we asked our attendees to fill out a survey as they left the venue, their focus and emotional involvement was with this How-To Fair and not necessarily with providing input for a future MakerSpace. We do know, however, that this sort of event truly appealed to them, and that alone was worth the effort.

And our ACL MakerSpace Committee’s future plans? We have refocused and are considering. . . ah, but that’s for me to tell you in a future blog.

References:

1. Kristin Fontichiaro & the Michigan Makers, University of Michigan School of Information, “What’s In Your Patron’s’ Dream Makerspace?” accessed May 20, 2015, http://fontichiaro.com/uploads/2014/booklist-makerspace-list.pdf.

2. “Grain Ideas-Growler House, Anderson,” accessed May 20, 2015, https://roundtown.com/event/2712891/Grain-Ideas-Growler-Haus-Anderson-Anderson-SC.

3. Judy Rosenfield, “Barbecue? Flamenco Dancing? Learning Gets Interactive in Louisville,” American Libraries, October 30, 2012, accessed May 20, 2015, http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2012/10/30/barbecue-flamenco-dancing-learning-gets-interactive-in-louisville/.

4. “eMerge @ The Garage: Driving entrepreneurship,” accessed May 20, 2015, http://www.emergeandersonsc.com/#!about_us/cjg9.

5. Website for Anderson (SC) County Library System: http://www.andersonlibrary.org

6. Link to Anderson (SC) County Library System’s How-To Fair: http://www.andersonlibrary.org/how-to-fair/

7. Facebook event page for Anderson (SC) County Library System’s How-To Fair: https://www.facebook.com/events/1593649477548555/

8. Facebook album for Anderson (SC) County Library System’s How-To Fair: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.952981931400316.1073741828.354814934550355&type=3

The post From Come-Do to How-To first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Attending the seminar New Uses of Public Libraries (organized by the Province of Barcelona with the Library Consortium of Barcelona, the IFLA Section on Public Libraries and the IFLA Section on Library Buildings and Equipment), I learned that these two libraries had kitchen and cooking programs. I emailed both library directors a few questions. [1]

Children’s Mexican Cooking Workshop at the Central Library of Castelldefels

Public Libraries Online: What made your library decide to start activities about cooking?

Mariona Chavarria Domingo (Biblioteca del Fondo): Seeing the multicultural context of the neighborhood, the municipality, [and] aiming for social cohesion, [we] thought about the idea of “cooking” as a central point to all cultures, and as an excuse to bring diversity together and build a community by creating mutual trust.

Marta Granel Dalmau (Central Library of Castelldefels): Our library specializes in cooking, [so] these activities are the ideal complement for our specialty. We complete our cooking programs with a collection of books about cooking, for kids and adults.

Children’s Mexican Cooking Workshop at the Central Library of Castelldefels

PL Online: What information, tools, and processes did you need?

Mariona: One of the halls of the library has a complete kitchen installed, prepared to cook and to perform cooking shows. It is equipped with a hotplate, electrical oven, microwave oven, fridge, [and] dishwasher. It is also equipped with enough kitchenware (a list of which was provided by a local Restoration School). We have gathered information about legal points to take into account (related to health and food security, hygiene, and first aid). A Commission has been established in order to think about the project named “Cuines del Món” (Cuisines of the World), which includes the kitchen and a section of the library collection (books and other document types).

Marta: We need professionals to do the activities, normally local collaborators, [as well as] multipurpose spaces and users interested in activities about cooking.

Children’s Mexican Cooking Workshop at the Central Library of Castelldefels

PL Online: How did you determine what activities to organize?

Mariona: The above mentioned Commission “Cuines del Món” (which includes: representatives of the municipality – politicians and technicians; representatives of social, educational, and cultural entities of the neighborhood; representatives of the University of Barcelona Campus de l’Alimentació – Food and Nutrition  and representatives of Fondo trading association as well as a well-known Chef, Víctor Quintillà, whose restaurant La Lluerna has been awarded with one Michelin Star during the last three years). The overall objective of the “Cuines del Món” Project is to be a tool helping to bring together diversity; bringing down walls of lack of trust; and, being a public library, to promote reading habits and skills. We have oriented the activities in three main directions or levels:

a) Academic level – about food, nutrition, science and cooking – inviting cooks as well as university lecturers;

b) Informative level – bringing together people from different backgrounds to share a cooking session while explaining similarities and differences of cooking, for instance about rice, potatoes, or about the use of species or different kinds of oil, etc.; teaching to cook nutritive meals to people with low incomes; teaching children cooking habits, etc.

c) Reading Promotion: the library, in collaboration with educational and cultural entities of the neighborhood, organizes activities connected to its own activities (storytelling for children and families, a reading club for adults, people learning Catalan or Spanish, etc.).

In some cases we offer the kitchen space for activities organised by others: i.e., by a psychiatric center nearby, or by other similar associations; by groups working with children with social risks, etc.

Marta: First we contact the collaborators and look for the activities, we want the activities to be attractive, easy, and possible to be done in the library, without fire. Normally we try to organize the activities in cycles, for kids and for adults.

Cooking Workshop at the Biblioteca del Fondo

PL Online: What challenges did you face?

Mariona: The main challenge is to implement good projects that keep the kitchen lively and used at its best. Linked to that, another challenge is trying to keep with a regular activity in the kitchen while not having enough library staff for that, having to work with volunteers (good on one side, but unstable on the other). Also the follow-up after the activities in the kitchen (the washing up and putting back stuff in the cupboards) is an unsolved problem. I wouldn’t call it a challenge but it’s challenging.

Marta: The challenge is making programs varied, attractive, and cheap.

PL Online: What kind of positive results have you had? (And, any negative ones?)

Mariona: We are “young,” yet the fact that this library, situated in such a popular neighborhood, has a kitchen, has put this place in the newspapers for something good and unseen before. It gives a new/better status to the surrounding area. The kitchen opens us easily to different collaborations (for instance with market stall holders or other commerce in the area, or the University Campus, lecturers, and students).

Marta: The results are very positive, the users are very happy and thankful about these activities. The are usually no vacancies in these type of activities.

Cooking Workshop at the Biblioteca del Fondo

PL Online: About how much time does it take?

Mariona: It takes a lot of time: meetings, contacts, preparation of the space, being close during the activities in case of any need, and collecting and washing the kitchenware.

Marta: We spend a lot of time to program these activities. First we look for the possible collaborators who could do the activities, and sometimes we have to pay for the activities. Then we have to do advertising and registration. Afterwards we send the participants an assessment questionnaire, as we want to know their feedback.

PL Online: What advice would you give a library wanting to do something similar?

Mariona: I feel it is too soon to be able to give any good advice. The only one I can think of is: don’t be afraid to start a similar project!

Marta: At the end of the activities the users are so thankful and happy!!

Sources:

[1] Mariona Chavarria Domingo’s e-mail to author (03/19/2015); Marta Granel Dalmau’s e-mail to author (03/25/2015). The interview questions were inspired by Kate Theimer, Web 2.0 Tools and Strategies for Archives and Local History Collections, Facet publishing 2010

The post Kitchens in Libraries first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

The MVPL Seed Library launched in April 2013 with a plant exchange. Patrons were invited to bring culls, clippings, and spare seedlings to trade with their neighbors. A blurb on the flyer let people know that we were also accepting donations for our new seed library. Over the course of three hours on a Saturday, more than 120 patrons exchanged over 400 plants, and we received enough seeds to start our library.

How the Seed Library Works

We accept all kinds of seed donations, of both commercially packaged and saved seed. If the donation is saved seed, we ask donors to fill out a form, providing information such as variety, harvest year and location, contact information, and growing notes. We repackage donations into coin envelopes, cramming as much of that information as possible onto a mailing label and sticking it on the front.

Based on practices at other seed libraries, I decided that each envelope should contain enough seed for three to five plants. Given that not all seeds germinate, that means there are generally between nine and fifteen seeds in each packet. Some seeds are incredibly tiny––dust sized even––and for those we generally disregard the rule and just put a pinch in each envelope. Conversely, some seeds are quite large, and consequently those  envelopes will contain fewer seeds.

When we first started, we put the packets in a Tupperware container and stuck it underneath our stairs. Nearly a year later, we have enough seeds for two containers, and large metal recipe file drawer. We’re in the process of moving to a larger standing file cabinet.

Due to lack of time, we don’t strictly monitor what is being “checked out,” but we do have a sign-out sheet where people write their name, the seeds they’ve taken, and can include an email address if they are interested in our gardening programs or in volunteering. I currently have a list of nearly 150 names.

Staffing

When we started, we had the notion that we would find interested volunteers to run our seed library. Our model was based on the Potrero Hill branch of the San Francisco Library, whose seed library is primarily stocked and maintained by a local gardening organization. While nearly a year later we have a core group of about six volunteers that help with stocking and programming, we are still managing the library ourselves. This is because it has proved to be an excellent way to reach out to gardeners and grow community interest in the library. Also, keeping control has let me add resources and re-envision operations in response to our community.

I am still the sole staff member working on the library. The time commitment varies on my end. Last year, after the initial setup, I spent an hour or so each week on maintenance and stocking. This year, our success will probably increase the amount of time needed on my end. Right now we’re ramping up for the growing season, so I’ve got a group of volunteers meeting for an hour and a half each week, and then I’m probably spending an additional two hours each week prepping labels, doing website maintenance, and planning programs. This total time will most likely scale back in fall and winter.

Programming

Programming has been integral in building interest and community. As mentioned earlier, we used a plant exchange to collect the donations used to start the library. The success of this event also created an initial pleasant buzz (apparently our plant exchange was more civilized and friendly than another local plant exchange).

A few weeks after launching the library, Patrick O’Connor from the Bay Area Seed Interchange Library (BASIL) came to the library to give a talk about saving seeds. Before the event we were thinking that seed saving was an activity we could get everyone to participate in, and that the seed library would eventually be entirely stocked with saved seeds. However this talk, which attracted twenty-one attendees, helped us to realize that seed saving was an activity that very often required skill and a large amount of square footage, in addition to desire and enthusiasm. We started to think about adjusting our plan for restocking.

Next I found a local ally in Patricia Larenas, through her lovely blog, Urban Artichoke. In her blog, Larenas talked about seed saving––she does seed trials for Seed Saver’s Exchange, and for local bean company Rancho Gordo as a “bean buddy.” Larenas’s knowledge and enthusiasm helped build our understanding of the needs of local gardeners and seed savers, as well as attracting new seed library patrons. Larenas gave two talks for us. In early May, a few weeks after O’Connor’s seed saving talk, she presented to twenty-one patrons on starting plants from seeds. Then in mid-August, she spoke to sixty patrons about planning, growing, and eating a kitchen garden.

Our city has a local hero, Firefighter Mike. In addition to helping keep our city safe, Firefighter Mike has a love of vegetable gardening. He has built gardens at two of our city’s fire stations. His current post is just under three-fourths of a mile from the library, so one morning in mid July we invited patrons to walk or roll over there for a tour of his garden. Our garden visit let us connect with our community in a new way. We took a leisurely stroll through the neighborhood, chatting about the gardens we passed, and then heard an inspirational story from a passionate gardener. We saw some great looking plants and some cool fire trucks, too. We had thirty-two patrons of all ages join us for this event, the littlest one in his own firefighter suit.

At the end of the season, we put on two final programs. In August, our crop swap ended up being much smaller than the plant exchange, with only twelve attendees. However, there was a lot of delicious produce exchanged, and one woman even made homemade jam. In October we put on another talk about seed saving, given by Santa Clara county master gardener Hillie Salo to twenty-one attendees.

Our library is also lucky enough to host ongoing programing by two other groups––the Santa Clara County Master Gardeners, who come in every eight weeks, and the Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency, which presents talks on water-wise gardening and landscaping.

In 2014, we have found more opportunities to interact with the gardening community. Our second annual plant exchange took place at the end of March. We are partnering with five other seed libraries and Hillie Salo to present Silicon Valley Grows, a seed-saving program modeled on One Book, One Community programs. We’re talking to a group that works to create school gardens and kid gardening programs. I have hopes of doing a handson tomato planting, followed by a tomato tasting at the end of the season. Seed Saving versus

Seed Sharing

Seed libraries have a strong association with seed saving. Seed saving is exactly what it sounds like: the practice of preserving seeds from plants in order to grow them next season. When we started, our vision was that the library would be restocked with primarily saved seed. However, seed
saving can actually be quite complicated! Some plants, such as beans and tomatoes, are fairly easy to save, but others, such as corn, require that a large number of plants be grown in order to preserve genetic diversity. And some plants, such as squash and melons, need to have their flowers bagged in order to ensure that the next generation will be viable and, well, edible. Education in seed saving has been part of our mission, but for new gardeners who just want to see if they can grow a pumpkin, seed saving may be too complicated, time-consuming, or confusing. And for urban and suburban gardeners, who may have smaller plots, growing the minimum number of plants
may be impossible.

Additionally, a slight majority of our donations are actually opened commercial seed packets. For those smaller plots in urban and suburban gardens, a packet may contain too many seeds. So, instead of letting open packets languish in the shed, gardeners bring their leftovers to share. Some of these packets are actually hybrid varieties, and hybrid plants don’t create seed that will give you the same lovely plant the next year. We still put these hybrid seeds into the library, although we do label them. So the focus of our seed library is more on seed sharing, rather than seed saving.

Why Seed Libraries Belong in Public Libraries

Just as traditional libraries enrich a community by providing a way to share books, seed libraries enrich the gardening community by allowing gardeners to share seeds. There are many parallels.

Seed libraries offer a more efficient way to deploy community resources. They encourage experimentation, affording gardeners (or aspiring gardeners) a low-risk way to try something new. They provide a supported entrance into the gardening world for novices. And seed libraries support
a kind-of botanical literacy, teaching people what different plants look like and how they grow.

Seed libraries also support information sharing and preservation. Gardening is a localized knowledge, built through experience. While written guidelines can be helpful, person-to-person information sharing is how gardeners can learn how to be successful in their own unique environments.
Localized knowledge can tell a gardener what the fog in San Francisco does to tomatoes, for example, or when to actually start seeds if your region never experiences a “first frost.” As our climate changes, it will be even more important to preserve and share this understanding of how to garden in a range of conditions.

Start It Up!

For a minimal initial investment, a seed library creates a new way for the community to engage with your library. While some seed libraries are comprehensively indexed, elaborate affairs, a simple box of seeds is enough to sow interest in both veteran and novice gardeners.

Resources

In addition to this article, there are a number of excellent resources that will help create the seed library that’s right for your community.

• The backbone of our seed library community is Richmond Grows! The website includes information on saving seeds and on starting a seed library, and has a Spanish translation available.
• The Richmond Grows! network includes two essential resources:
  1. The Seed Libraries page has videos explaining different seed library systems, a page of featured libraries as examples, a resource page, and a discussion forum.
  2. The Seed Library Social Network has a member map, blog, and drop box with documents that can be repurposed in new seed libraries.
  3. The Center for the New American
• Dream hosted a webinar on starting seed libraries. If you’re looking to run a more elaborate seed library, the librarians who present give helpful information for a more detailed planning process and organization.
• In addition to selling seeds, Seed Saver’s Exchange is a well-established resource for information on saving seeds, sustainable agriculture, and preserving our food heritage. Their series of webinars is particularly illuminating.

The post Simple Steps to Starting a Seed Library first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

January is resolution time. Everywhere you turn you’ll find tips and tricks for making — and keeping –resolutions to make you your best self ever. The New Year gives us an opportunity to make changes, firm up resolve, try new things, and generally set off into the future on the right foot.

But while you’re pondering “Diets that Really Work” and “10 Great Ideas for Organizing Your Home,” why not look at ways you can resolve to make this year the best ever for your library? The New Year is a perfect time to look at what you’re doing, what you want to be doing, and how you can get there. It is a great opportunity to try new things and to reconsider the way you, and your community, view your library.

We’ve developed the following twelve “resolutions” to help you start thinking about your library in new ways. Our goal is to create more community-centered libraries and librarians, and the focus in the resolutions below is on how you can continue turning your library into a vital and involved community institution.

We’ve organized these resolutions so that they start with a reorientation of the way we approach our jobs; move on to specific ways to do our jobs, and then end with advocacy and attitude. They all take work, and some take a radical rethinking of how we see ourselves and our institutions, and how we prioritize our day-to-day jobs. In some cases, adopting a resolution in order to make your library thrive as a community-centered institution will mean reconsidering job duties, reorganizing your structure, or reevaluating your mission. In other cases, adopting a resolution will mean getting out of your library and into your community in new ways. Often, it will mean venturing out of your comfort zone, challenging your employees, or pushing your local politicians.

All of this is hard work, and we know that some libraries are already struggling with budget cuts and staff shortages, among many other challenges. If your library is stretched thin, get creative in how you approach these resolutions. You may need to reconsider what you’re doing and let go of what is obsolete or doesn’t serve your community anymore. That way, you can make room for what is relevant and truly beneficial to the people you serve. Remember, just like all the diet and fitness advice we see this time of year, there is no one-size-fits-all approach for libraries. Give yourself permission to only do what works for your community.

So, let’s start this New Year with energy and vision! A great way to begin is to check out these suggestions for moving your library forward one month (or step) at a time.

1. You’re not in it for the information. Libraries will always be about information, but we need to start prioritizing the fact that we’re also in the community building business. Feed kids, collaborate with local organizations, help people find jobs, consider how you can affect the social climate of your community. Yes, we offer books and computers but we offer a heck of a lot more, and our worth will increasingly be in what we can offer our communities to help them grow and thrive.
2. Worry less about trends and more about your community. In our struggle to make libraries’ relevance evident to all, we need to be sure that we are not hopping on (and off) ever bandwagon that shows up in library journals and conferences. Not every library needs a makerspace or an e-reader lending program. But every community does need thoughtful librarians who take the time to assess their community and discover creative ways to serve their patrons. It’s good to be aware of current trends in libraries so you can imagine the possibilities, but just because something is getting a lot of buzz doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for the unique collection of people who make up your community.
3. Stick the surveys in a drawer and get out into the community. Surveys are one tool for gathering feedback, and when used judiciously they can be helpful. But if we depend solely on surveys to paint an accurate picture, we will end up with a narrow and shallow view of our communities. Surveys also limit the potential responses you can solicit and do little to encourage creative thinking. A better option is to combine your survey results with robust involvement in the community. Join organizations, serve on committees, and talk to people whenever possible. Librarians who are embedded in the work and concerns of a community have a much better view of their patrons’ lives, needs, and interests than those looking at statistics collected from a survey.
4. Hire for vision and fit, not skills. In our experience, it is much more important to find library staff members who believe in the mission and vision of the library, and who can adapt easily into the culture of public programming and outreach, than it is to find someone who perfectly matches the technical skill set you want. New hires can always be trained to do library tasks. So in interviews, look for the softer skills like ability to think creatively and critically, willingness to work flexible schedules in order to accommodate outreach, and a true belief in the philosophy of libraries as community engagement institutions. These qualities, not just a technical understanding of libraries, are the most important when it comes to creating community-centered institutions.
5. Make programming a job requirement. To create a truly community-centered library, you need to provide opportunities for people to connect, explore, and learn together. Assigning this job to one person won’t work. It takes a team to offer the variety and volume of events that should happen in a library, especially if that library wants to be a true hub of the city or town. Some libraries have dedicated programming librarians, and we are huge supporters of having someone in that role to plan the majority of events and coordinate other staff members involved in programming. Still, we feel that it is essential that every librarian hired for the library’s full-time staff be eager and willing to participate in these activities. Perhaps your reference librarian would like to offer some technology classes, or your head of circulation would love to share his or her gardening knowledge. Time off the desk to do different things is good for your staff and benefits patrons too. With a greater number of programmers, programs can happen at a wide variety of times, and cover a broader selection of topics. Both of these things add up to reaching more community members.
6. Use what you have…and find what you don’t. Limited funding, space issues, constantly changing technologies…so what? You have what you need: staff, patrons, and community. Among them are grant writers, creative minds, and specialized skills for sharing. All you need to do is ask, make a plan, and get to work. In other words, stop getting hung up on those things that are a struggle for all libraries, and do something!
7. Learn a new skill. Just because you don’t know how to do something now, doesn’t mean you can’t learn. Sign up for an introductory class, attend a workshop (and we don’t mean at a library conference or library consortium!), or develop a new hobby. Learn to do something that will help make your library the best it can be. For example (directors, we’re talking to you), allow your staff members the time to do things like take graphic design classes to improve library publicity; get certified in yoga instruction so that they can teach classes to kids at the library; or attend weekend classes to learn things like silk screening or quilting, so that they can offer library programs on those topics. Why outsource web design and PR, or hire presenters multiple times, when you can train staff members once and get these jobs done in-house? In addition, staff members will stick around longer because with the variety of skills they get to explore at work, they will never get bored with their jobs! This is a move that is good for your community and also generates enthusiasm in your staff.
8. Remember the magic. Remember watching Sesame Street and learning about community helpers? Looking at libraries through the eyes of a child can help bring you back to basics in terms of both what we do (introduce people–including kids–to books and the world) and why it is so important (is there a more magical time than story hour?). It is so easy to get overwhelmed with the day-to-day operations of a library not to mention the budgetary and political pressures often involved in our work. Why not organize a “community helper” day in your library for kids and their parents. Invite teacher, firefighters, postal workers, bakers — anyone who contributes to your community. Encourage them to talk about not just what they do, but how what they do contributes to the community…and join in. It will be a great way to remind yourself of the good work you’re doing, share that enthusiasm with other “community helpers,” and reconnect with the essence of library services.
9. Be political. One of libraries’ greatest strengths is that they are non-partisan. However, they can’t afford to be apolitical. Librarians need to be involved in local politics, not to negate their role as equitable institutions, but to join in the critical conversations of their communities. Develop relationships with politicians and don’t be afraid to let them know how their actions affect the people you serve. When a sticky community issue presents itself, offer the library as a partner to help tackle it. In addition to serving your community in a valuable way, if you are seen as a problem solver, you will be much less vulnerable when it comes to budget cuts and will have more leverage if you need community support for a capital project. Be proactive now so that the groundwork is in place when you need it.
10. Claim your seat. Once you get political, make sure that you are advocating for libraries all the time. And when you have a spot at the table, don’t waste the opportunity. Always make sure you have something to say, and be willing to say it! Get yourself on agendas — at city council meetings, one-on-one meetings with the mayor, business council or Chamber of Commerce meetings, and social organizations. Give updates about the library, even if no one asks for them. Show up prepared, highlight what you do for the community, and don’t be afraid to ask for support.
11. Send library advocates out into the world. It can be a great morale booster to hear someone from outside the library rave about how wonderful libraries are. But every time one of these speakers presents the keynote at a conference, we can’t help but think it would be more valuable to libraries to send these super fans to talk to stakeholders, funders, and others who aren’t librarians. Librarians already love libraries. Let’s send our supporters out into the world to spread the gospel of libraries far and wide.
12. Don’t be content with just patting yourself on the back. Libraries are great. Your library is doing wonderful things for your patrons and your community and you are changing lives. But don’t be satisfied with where you are today. Resting on our laurels won’t get us anywhere. We must continue to grow with and for our communities. Challenge yourself to go farther, do more, and do it better. Be willing to be critical of the way things are. We’re not talking about being negative and nitpicking, but rather about honestly assessing the ways libraries can improve. Be attentive when you receive constructive criticism from patrons and stakeholders. In face, seek out those who can tell you the truth about what the library could be doing better. Community-centered libraries must be forward thinking. Enjoy today’s success, but always ask yourself “What’s next?”

The post New Year, New Library! first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

We’ve always known that food brings people together, but we didn’t know that Lunch at the Library would build such a strong bond with our community. And, it’s only been a few weeks since our library began this exciting new program.

Kids up to age 18 munch on daily delectables, feast on books, and eagerly eat up story times in the library. The consumption of lunch and books is perfectly paired with summer reading activities—all of which promote the healthy cycle of borrow-read-return-repeat. Fresh, delicious lunches arrive daily, while volunteers and/or school food service personnel take care of delivery, distribution, and leftover pick-up. Attendance at our library’s Lunch at the Library grows each day, adding to the number of lunches ordered and the number of kids served. The kids eating at our libraries are delighted with their very own tray of treats, often giggling with excitement over their favorites.

Summer lunch programs are popping up in public libraries around the country, and are made possible by partnerships with federal or state hunger organizations, food banks, foundations, and other nonprofit organizations. Our library was invited to participate by Patrice Chamberlain, Director of the California Summer Meal Coalition (CSMC), and Natalie Cole, Associate Executive Director of the California Library Association (CLA), who both co-direct “Lunch at the Library.” “Lunch at the Library” began in 2013and is funded by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.  Everything is provided:  training, meetings with meal sponsors, evaluation tools to analyze data; resources such as recruiting, working with volunteers, and support for developing programs to complement the service.  As a result of CLA and CSMC involvement in expanding Lunch at the Library in California, the program has expanded to nineteen library systems throughout the state.

Similar programs have sprouted up throughout the country. Ypsilanti District Library, Michigan hosts Lunch and Listen; The Public Library of Cincinnati hosts Summer Learning-Summer Lunch; and at St. Louis County Library, Free Lunches at SLCL;  Miami-Dade Public Library, Lunch is @ the Library;  and Prince their George (Maryland), Meet Up and Eat Up. Public libraries are joining to fill the hunger and reading void that occurs during the summer months with nutrition for both body and brain.

Kristin Sorth, director of St. Louis County Library stated, “Studies show that hunger is a barrier to learning.”¹ If hunger is a barrier, then summer lunch programs are breaking down that barrier and encouraging young readers to come inside, be nourished and grow at the public library. The lunch table is a good place for all of us to grow.

To read more about summer lunch at public libraries:

California Library Association, “Lunch at the Library: Program Information,”

California Summer Meal Coalition, http://www.summermealcoalition.org/about-us/

Blythe Bernhard, “Free Summer Lunches provided for children at libraries, other sites,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 4, 2014,

Kimberli Buckley, “Summer Reading Festival 2014: Summer Lunch @ the Library,” Contra Costa County Library, June 2014,

Matt Durr, “Free Summer Lunch Program for Kids being hosted at Ypsilanti District Library,” Ypsilanti News, June 23, 2014,

Jane Henderson, “3 County Libraries to offer Free Lunches for kids,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 27, 2014,

Katy Murphy, “Food for Thought: This Summer Oakland Libraries are serving free lunches to children, five days a week,” San Jose Mercury News, August 3, 2012,

Suburban Life Media, “West Chicago Library, D-33 Team up for Summer Lunch program,” mySuburbanLife.com, June 26, 2014,

Resources

1. 3 County Libraries to offer Free Lunches for kids

The post Calling Kids to the Library Lunch Table first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

The Dangers of Success
You would think that if your innovative program is a success, you are problem free. However, our advice is watch your co-workers and supervisors. They may not be happy. We are not saying end your successful program. Just be mindful of your colleagues who either are not as “out of the box” as you are or are just treading water until retirement. Listen to their concerns. For your supervisors, make sure you are not causing your co-workers to run to your supervisor about the new thing you just did that has “ruined” their work environment. Our bottom line advice is do your awesome new program, but be sensitive to what is going on around you.

When New is Nothing Special
You are carrying through on your innovative idea. Some patrons are participating. Your program or service is not a failure, but it is not a run-away success either. What do you do? Can you advertise it better to get more patron buy-in? Do you need to convince your co-workers to talk it up? What is your threshold number of participants to consider the program a success? How do you get to that number?

The Positives of Failure
Your amazing idea bombed. No one came to your program, or no one used your new service. It was not a complete failure. You learned things. Did you learn that a particular time of day or day of the week isn’t a good choice in your community? Did you gain a new friend or collaborative partner because of your experiment? In addition, here is the secret some people will not tell you…sometimes it is good for your colleagues to see you fail. It may make them feel better to know that you are not the perfect person they think you are.

Everything Has a Lifespan
Your program is the greatest thing since sliced bread. The world is beating a path to your door. Even awesome programs need to have an end. Maybe your program goes on hiatus. Maybe it just needs to stop. Our experience has been that by giving programs lifespans, it gives other programs a chance to grow as well as giving us time and space to try something new.

Regardless of what happens with your innovative idea, we hope you learn things. Right now, we try to give each new idea (program or service) at least a school year (8 months) to a year and a half. We also try to get our innovative programs and services funded as often as possible through grants so we are not spending tax dollars on experiments. However, most importantly, we are not hung up on ideas that fail. Every failed idea has had some interesting kernels of success that we take forward to the next experiment. In the words of the wise television cartoon hero, Ms. Frizzle in The Magic School Bus, “Take chances, make mistakes, get messy.”

The post Take Chances, Make Mistakes first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Several people – collogues from neighboring libraries and patrons alike – recommended one teacher so much that it became hard to ignore after a while. Towards the end of 2013, I decided to book her for four “mommy and me” classes for 2-4 year-olds; all four classes combined cost less than most performers I bring to my departments, so I figured it was worth taking a chance on. I am glad I did!

The first class was so well received that parents and children alike were disappointed they had to wait three weeks for the next one. I also noted that every participant – regardless of age – bonded with his or her peers during the workout. Our teacher was just the right mix of silly and serious, and patrons truly had a blast experiencing this together. As an added bonus, she incorporated picture books into her lesson, which created an even stronger literacy connection. Based on this program’s success, my director and I plan to expand our offerings to include older kids, teens, and adults without children in tow.

Why should a public library offer yoga when so many studios and gyms have it on their schedules? First of all, not everyone can afford a pricey gym membership, and some patrons like to test out classes before enrolling in a long-term contract. Moreover, it reinforces a library’s branding as a community center, not just a receptacle for books and media. By offering yoga, we hooked a population that was not necessarily aware of the other programs and resources we have. Getting these new patrons in the door has turned them into library users, which is a win-win for us and them.

Yoga also offers an impressive array of health benefits, from increased flexibility to better balance and even muscle tone. Of course, it is also a great form of stress relief. In this sense, it is not actually all that different from the meditation classes or health and wellness seminars my library already offers. At its very heart, it teaches patrons about another way to achieve an inner balance and protect their health; is this not the very spread of knowledge a public library seeks to embrace?

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