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Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 22:48:37 -0400 (EDT)
To: pubyac-digest@nysernet.org
Subject: pubyac V1 #779
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Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 16:32:45 -0500
From: jeffie@vorlon.d0gz.net
Subject: Re: end of summer reading program
That always happens each summer and you also have
parents and children who get panicked when the end of
the program is looming on the horizon and they are a
few books short of their goal. I keep the prizes, etc.
out for an extra week and then pack everything away.
If someone comes in after that, other members of the
staff will come get me and I'll get them something out
of storage. Generally very few people come in that
extra week, a dozen or so. I personally don't find it
that much of a hassle. As a whole, our patrons are
very nice to us at the library and I don't mind
returning the favor. However, I'm talking about a
dozen or so children and you're talking a "plethora of
patrons," I imagine I would get annoyed quickly if
there were more patrons and if I felt they were
deliberately ignoring the deadline.
Jeffie Williams
Children's Librarian
Pelham Public Library
*All opinions are my own, etc.*
> hi -
>
> i am experiencing a lot of frustration with the ending of our summer
> reading. the program ended aug. 7. this fact was well posted and
> frequently mentioned from the start over two months ago, but of
> course, we still have a plethora of patrons who "were never
told," or
> who missed the end due to vacation, camp, etc, etc. and are
> begging (demanding) to be allowed to finish.
>
> does this happen everywhere?
>
> how do you deal with it in your library?
>
> our director is a proponent of the "give them what they want"
theory
> of service, but it is frustrating to give in all the time to the squeaky
> wheels while the majority of patrons (or customers, according to
> our director) follow the guidelines without a peep. just venting and
> asking for advice. thanks all.
>
> kristin hawksworth
> kristinh@nslsilus.ORG
> children's librarian
> algonquin area public library district
> algonquin, il
>
> "These are my own personal opinions and do not
necessarily
> reflect those of my co-workers or of the library."
>
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Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 18:26:10 +0000
From: "Vicky Smith" <vjsmith@mcarthur.lib.me.us>
Subject: Re: end of summer reading program
> From: "Kristin Hawksworth" <kristinh@nslsilus.org>
> To: pubyac@nysernet.org
> Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 13:07:51 -0500
> Subject: end of summer reading program
> Reply-to: pubyac@nysernet.org
> hi -
>
> i am experiencing a lot of frustration with the ending of our summer
> reading. the program ended aug. 7. this fact was well posted and
> frequently mentioned from the start over two months ago, but of
> course, we still have a plethora of patrons who "were never
told," or
> who missed the end due to vacation, camp, etc, etc. and are
> begging (demanding) to be allowed to finish.
>
> does this happen everywhere?
Don't know about everywhere, but it sure happens here.
> how do you deal with it in your library?
We've established a sort of "window of reason"--about 1 week--to
allow latecomers to finish. This is kept way, way, way under the
rose, and we always make clear to the late kids that we're making an
exception, that the club ended last week (or whenever), etc.
We also blitz people with the information that the club is about to
end about 3 weeks ahead of time. (The end date is always included in
bold on the calendar/rules everyone gets, of course, but who reads
rules?) We send out press releases to the local rags, post signs,
and make up little reminder slips that we press on every living soul
who enters the Children's Room: TICK...TICK...TICK...Time is running
out....
> our director is a proponent of the "give them what they want"
theory
> of service, but it is frustrating to give in all the time to the squeaky
> wheels while the majority of patrons (or customers, according to
> our director) follow the guidelines without a peep. just venting and
> asking for advice. thanks all.
It is mighty frustrating, but remember that in most cases, the kids
we're serving are at the mercy of their parents for transportation to
and fro, and we really shouldn't be punishing them for having
slovenly parents. If we're able to bend the rules for them, they'll
be more likely to keep coming back--and that's what we want.
Since we're venting: how about the woman who called to complain that
her neighbor's children didn't get their prizes because they were
too late!
Good luck.
Vicky Smith
Children's Librarian
McArthur Public Library (207)284-4181
270 Main Street http://www.mcarthur.lib.me.us
Biddeford, ME 04005 vjsmith@mcarthur.lib.me.us
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Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 17:57:04 -0400
From: "Earl and Kirsten Martindale" <earlmart@bellsouth.net>
Subject: Re: end of summer reading program
Kristin,
I understand your frustration, but I'm wondering if some of it might be
alleviated by a "softer" ending. Perhaps you could have a "final
program"
which would be the FIRST day that the kids could turn in their reading
records. Children who miss the final program could turn in their records any
time after that, and still receive any rewards you have to give them, as
long as your supply lasts. What about the child who turns in his summer
reading folder in November? Yup, I'd still hand him the prizes I had left
and congratulate him on his reading. I'd maybe even point out what he missed
out on by turning it in so late. But I'd leave him feeling PROUD of his
reading accomplishment.
It's been my experience that honoring families' schedules ALWAYS pays off in
patron satisfaction. Some children are unable to attend any programs, but
still want to (or need to) read over the summer. I can't see any benefit to
either the library or the children in not accommodating their needs.
Kirsten Martindale
Buford, GA
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Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 15:11:47 -0700 (PDT)
From: Kirsten Edwards <kirstedw@kcls.org>
Subject: Re: saying goodbye
On Sat, 7 Aug 1999 susand@ci.hillsboro.or.us wrote:
> Am hoping for some help from creative souls: I'm leaving my current job in
> about a week and moving to another state and a new library. During my time
> here I've become very close to several children and families in particular.
> I would like to do something special for them to say goodbye before I go,
> but I'm not sure what. I am going to bring my camera to work and plan to
> try and get photos, but I'm wondering if any of you have been in a similar
> situation and what you did?
I invited them to my wedding reception, but I guess that's not an option
for you. :-)
Kirsten
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Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 16:12:00 -0700
From: Linda_KENTON@city.palo-alto.ca.us (Linda KENTON)
Subject: Stumper--flannel board story
Hi everyone,
A patron recently acquired a flannel board at a preschool yard sale but
there was no story included. She asked if we could locate the story.
The flannel board consists of a gray mouse and 5 different colored
houses. Each house is identical in door and window and varies only in color.
I suspect that this was used for learning colors and/or counting. I
checked the Fairy Tale index and the Storytellers Sourcebook and found
nothing remotely resembling this.
If this rings a bell for you, please email me privately. Thank you for
your time!
Warmly,
Linda M. Kenton
City of Palo Alto Library
linda_kenton@city.palo-alto.ca.us
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Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 15:50:24 -0700
From: Laura Whaley <WHALEYL@santacruzpl.org>
Subject: RE: end of summer reading program
Kristen,
It happens here as well. This year our YS director and summer reading
committee determined that the ending date (Aug. 14th) was IT! We are in
partnership with the local paper and the newspaper provides "gold
certificates" (to go w/ this years Gold Rush theme) equal to $1.00 for each
"claim" completed. Unlike last year where each branch kept some
certificates
for the "I forgot the date, we were out of town" folks, each branch is
to
send all left over certificates to the paper on the day after summer reading
ends. What is scary is that we stressed and stressed and stressed that
August 14th was IT and now we are having the slowest return rate in years.
Either the 14th is going to be incredibly busy or I'm going to have a mob at
my door monday morning.
Good luck!
Laura
Boulder Creek Branch Library
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Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 19:42:09 -0400
From: Josie Parker <parkerj@aadl.org>
Subject: Re: Autographed catalog cards
Kathy,
I did this about four years ago and the authors I corresponded with were very
gracious. We did a March is Reading Month Newbery Marathon so I worked with
Newbery winning (honors counted) authors for the project. The Friends of the
library paid to have the signed cards framed. Names were included in a drawing
for the signed cards if the reader had read at least 6 Newbery titles during
the month of March. It was fun and well received by the kids. Good luck.
>>> Kathy Graham <grahamka@sls.lib.il.us> 08/10 2:40 PM
>>>
Hello, Yakkers!
Although we've been on line for yrs., our card catalog has finally been
emptied. We've pulled award-winning author cards. Has anyone sent
these cards to the authors for autographs? If so, what kind of response
did you have? Also, what did you do with the autographed cards?
Display them? Raffle them? Any thoughts on the matter would be
appreciated.
Tia.
Kathy
- --
Kathy Graham grahamka@sls.lib.il.us
Youth Services
Broadview Public Library District
2226 S. 16th Ave.
Broadview, IL 60153
(708) 345-1325
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Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 18:55:11 -0500 (CDT)
From: Stephanie Smith <smsmith@ccs.nsls.lib.il.us>
Subject: Re: end of summer reading program
We follow the "give them what they want" rule, but the later you come,
the
more picked over the prizes. This lets us accommodate the patrons who
missed the ending for whatever reason, but not let the complaints about
the lack of prize choice get to us. The squeaky wheels may be annoying,
but it is the kids who get the prizes. I'd bend a lot of rules so the
kids come out on the winning side. We *do* want to encourage them to keep
reading, don't we?
Steffi Smith
Zion-Benton Public LIbrary
Zion, IL 60099
smsmith@ccs.nsls.lib.il.us
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Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 17:30:20 -0700 (PDT)
From: Susan Lafantasie <slafanta@kcls.org>
Subject: Aliens Books
Do any of you have the Aliens Books I, II, III in you YA collection?
(Earth Hive, The Female War, Nightmare Asylum). Has anyone read these?
Appropriate for older YA? Thanks!
Susan LaFantasie, MLS
King County Library System
slafanta@kcls.org
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 19:30:09 -0500
From: Carol Hoke <hoke@crpl.cedar-rapids.lib.ia.us>
Subject: Re: end of summer reading program
Yes, I believe this happens everywhere. There are some people who believe
that the guidelines should be bent not just a little, but in half for them.
Just today we had a mom come in with 2 kids to get prizes for summer
reading. Our program ended August 6. We had prizes up until today for
late ones, but have taken them apart to get things put away. She left
unhappy, telling my staff person that she "wasn't very nice" when she
had
been polite and gentle in her rejection. Sometimes you just can't win.
What is frustrating is that we become the bad guys for the kids when Mom
was the one who didn't have her act together and get them down here in
time. (And yes we tell them when the program is over and it is printed in
large, bold letters on the front of the folder!)
I guess I'm venting too.
Carol Hoke
Cedar Rapids Public Library
Cedar Rapids, IA
hoke@crpl.cedar-rapids.lib.ia.us
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 18:18:02 -0700 (PDT)
From: Becky Reichard <breichard@yahoo.com>
Subject: Library "club" for 5th graders
Hello all,
I am considering putting together a "library club" of 5th graders that
will act somewhat like a teen library council. My dream is this:
We'll do library activities, have fun, promote reading and they will
advise me on the collection and help keep me connected to "kid
culture." Has anyone out there tried anything like this with this age
group? If so, would you be willing to let me know about your program?
I'm interested in everything: how you structured it, scheduled it, how
did you pick the ages/participants, and what did you do?
Thank you very much!
Becky Reichard
breichard@yahoo.com
Librarian, Youth Services
Cedar Mill Community Library
Portland, Oregon
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End of pubyac V1 #779
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