|
From: "PUBYAC: PUBlic librarians serving Young Adults and
Children" <pubyac@prairienet.org>
To: "PUBYAC: PUBlic librarians serving Young Adults and Children"
<pubyac@prairienet.org>
Sent: Friday, February 09, 2001 9:37 PM
Subject: PUBYAC digest 364
PUBYAC Digest 364
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) Re: "Drop In" Storytime
by "Reference Librarian" <blfs_ys@hotmail.com>
2) Re: "Drop In" Storytime
by lwagner@sdln.net
3) Re: "Drop In" Storytime
by "Vicky Smith" <vjsmith@mcarthur.lib.me.us>
4) Re: Nursing rooms in the children's dept.
by "Vicky Smith" <vjsmith@mcarthur.lib.me.us>
5) RE: Sleepy adults in the YA Area
by ILefkowitz@aol.com
6) RE: Daycare Books in Bins...
by "Smith, Barbara" <BSmith@mail.sppl.net>
7) RE: "Drop In" Storytime
by "PJ Capps" <pjcapps@leavenworth.lib.ks.us>
8) Re: Arthur Party...
by "Karen Holz" <easternlibrary@smithville.net>
9) Re: donut inventor stumper
by Sharon Lavine <slevine@nslsilus.org>
10) wilderness program
by dmoran@mindless.com
11) Re: "Drop In" Storytime
by rebecca stutzman <rastutzman@yahoo.com>
12) RE: "Drop In" Storytime
by Raewyn Adams <raewyna@TAURANGA.GOVT.NZ>
13) Re: "Drop In" Storytime
by mary jo smith <msmith@gateslibrary.org>
14) Re: Nursing rooms in the children's dept.
by "Shalar Brown" <SHBROWN@iowa-city.lib.ia.us>
15) Library Sleepover
by "Roseanne Skelly" <rskelly@rochester.lib.ny.us>
16) children's reference sources
by Sylvia Jadczak <sjadczak@mhs.sad59.k12.me.us>
17) Program Policy
by "Susan S. Smith" <ssmith@Connect.bedlib.org>
18) Re: Nursing rooms in the children's dept.
by "Michelle Gabbard" <smgabbs_2@hotmail.com>
19) RE: "Drop In" Storytime
by "Keener, Lesa" <LKeener@acmail.aclink.org>
20) RE: "Drop In" Storytime
by WLPL <children@wlaf.lib.in.us>
21) Automated Summer Reading Clubs
by Karen Siwak <siwakk@sslic.net>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Reference Librarian" <blfs_ys@hotmail.com>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: "Drop In" Storytime
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 22:28:51 CST
Sandy,
We do a drop-in storytime and it works out fine. We do a craft with
each
storytime, so we have to be sure to have plenty of crafts, but other than
that, there's not much difference between a sign-up storytime and a drop-in.
Oh yeah, with a drop-in, you do have some anxiety about whether
anyone
will show up or not...they usually do. We are a small rural library,
but
other libraries in our library system use drop-in storytimes, even the
busiest branches.
Hope this helps!
Chris Accardo
Children's Librarian
Fort Bend County Libraries
Bob Lutts Fulshear/Simonton Branch Library
Fulshear, TX
>From: Sandy Belfi <sbelfi@monarch.papillion.ne.us>
>Reply-To: pubyac@prairienet.org
>To: pubyac <pubyac@prairienet.org>
>Subject: "Drop In" Storytime
>Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2001 21:52:17 CST
>
>Hi all:
>
>We are planning to change from a pre-registration system to a "drop
in"
>storytime session. Has anyone else adopted this format, and if so,
has
>it been successful?
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Sandy Belfi
>Sump Memorial Library
>Papillion, NE
>
_________________________________________________________________
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------------------------------
From: lwagner@sdln.net
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: "Drop In" Storytime
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 22:29:12 CST
Our format has always been a "drop-in" format. I did try
pre-registration
during one summer session, and was completely frustrated with those who
didn't
show up while others were on a waiting list. Within a few weeks of my
program's onset, I find I can count on the "regulars", so
attendance is
pretty
consistant, yet does not rule out the opportunity for newcomers to join in.
Granted some storytime sessions have a larger crowd, but that doesn't seem
to
intimidate anyone. I do have a sign in sheet, so we can keep
statistics on
numbers. Lori Wagner
Quoting Sandy Belfi <sbelfi@monarch.papillion.ne.us>:
> Hi all:
>
> We are planning to change from a pre-registration system to a
"drop
> in"
> storytime session. Has anyone else adopted this format, and if
so,
> has
> it been successful?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Sandy Belfi
> Sump Memorial Library
> Papillion, NE
>
>
------------------------------
From: "Vicky Smith" <vjsmith@mcarthur.lib.me.us>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: "Drop In" Storytime
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 22:29:29 CST
On 7 Feb 2001, at 21:52, Sandy Belfi wrote:
> Hi all:
>
> We are planning to change from a pre-registration system to a
"drop
> in" storytime session. Has anyone else adopted this format,
and
if
> so, has it been successful?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Sandy Belfi
> Sump Memorial Library
> Papillion, NE
>
We did this a number of years ago and I have no regrets. I
understand that there are some libraries with populations such that
drop-in story times could draw such enormous crowds that the
experience would be difficult. However, my library ain't one of
them. I suspect there are many more libraries like mine than like
the former.
We now have a variety of drop-in story times for different ages every
blessed week of the year, with no hiatus. If a parent gets a sudden
day off, they're able to bring their child with no administrative
hassle about registration--and maybe they'll have a good enough
time that they can rearrange schedules and make it a habit (this
has happened).
I feel very strongly that erecting as few barriers as possible and
providing absolute consistency results in more and more children
being included in story times and other library activities. Sure, the
program might be a little more chaotic if little brothers & sisters are
allowed in, and new kids who haven't been socialized to story time
yet drop in on a seasoned crowd--but so what? I'm willing to
compromise a little bit to make the library as welcoming as
humanly possible to children and their caregivers, and not punish
folks for not being organized enough to register at the "right
time".
Libraries in general are not secure enough that we can afford to
turn away children because "this is the way we've always done it".
Vicky Smith
vjsmith@mcarthur.lib.me.us
Children's Librarian
McArthur Library
270 Main Street
Biddeford, ME 04005
------------------------------
From: "Vicky Smith" <vjsmith@mcarthur.lib.me.us>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: Nursing rooms in the children's dept.
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 22:30:01 CST
On 7 Feb 2001, at 21:44, Sandy Farmer wrote:
> You object to a room without a door for your privacy but many of
the
> mothers I have encountered would be offended by having to go
into a
> room with a door. They would feel ostracized by something they
see as
> quite natural. Sandy, Houston
>
I believe that the original poster hoped that the room could also be
used by a nursing mother using a breast pump. NOT an activity
one would want to pursue in the middle of the children's room.
Nursing mothers who feel comfortable nursing in the middle of the
children's room could presumably continue to do so--many states
have laws guaranteeing that right--but those who are shyer, who
have more distractable babies, and those employees who might be
pumping could use the nursing room. Someone suggested a key
that could be obtained at the desk; this seems a good solution.
(And make sure there are electrical outlets for the pump!)
Vicky Smith
vjsmith@mcarthur.lib.me.us
Children's Librarian
McArthur Library
270 Main Street
Biddeford, ME 04005
------------------------------
From: ILefkowitz@aol.com
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>,
<sheehan@noblenet.org>
Subject: RE: Sleepy adults in the YA Area
Mime-Version: 1.0
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Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 22:30:25 CST
<I also tried self-service ongoing activities that teens could drop in
and
do, and staff would either post them later, or the kids could post them
immediately. The goal was to appeal to lots of the kids, and to keep
them coming back often. Which they did. >
I'm interested in what types of activities you used for self service in the
YA area. Could you post a few examples to the list? Thanks!
Ilene Lefkowitz
Youth Services Librarian
Mount Olive Public Library
ILefkowitz@aol.com
------------------------------
From: "Smith, Barbara" <BSmith@mail.sppl.net>
To: "'pubyac@prairienet.org'"
<pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: RE: Daycare Books in Bins...
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 22:30:37 CST
I'm not sure if I was the person who responded earlier but our library
circulates boxes of books to daycares in our town so here goes! The
first
thing we did was to figure out how many classes we needed to distribute to
and what different age levels there were (infant, toddler or preschool. When
we had decided on how many sets of books we needed then we set out to
purchase them. We shopped at both Barnes and Noble and a local
independent
bookstore which both gave us a good deal. (25% at B&N and 30% at
the
independent )Next, we stamped all the books with our library label and
wrapped all those with covers, board books were stamped but not wrapped.The
books also have a color label denoting the appropriate age level. This
helps the workers at the centers keep the books in the right box. Then came
the huge task of sorting the books into the boxes. We set up 28 boxes
and
each box has 22-24 books in it. An inventory sheet was prepared for
each
box (which is a covered Rubbermaid style storage box). Each box has
been
marked as to its age level. The boxes are rotated once a month.
A daycare
center gets as many boxes as it has classes. We have a small number of
boxes with mixed levels which go to small home daycares that we serve.
These books were not catalogued and we count them in our circ stats as honor
books. So far (we've been doing this since August) we haven't lost a
single
book! The response from the daycare workers has been very positive and has
made the effort worthwhile. Good luck with your project!
Barbara K. Smith
Southern Pines Public Library
170 W. Connecticut Ave.
Southern Pines, NC 28387
(910)692-8235, Ext. 234
bsmith@mail.sppl.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Christina Johnson [mailto:marionthelibrarian@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2001 10:50 PM
To: Pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Daycare Books in Bins...
I would like to hear from the librarian who posted
awhile back about the program she does with the bins
of books that circulate to area daycare facilities.
I have been given a portion of money to start such a
program. Do you have any advice/suggestions?
I don't know where to begin with questions.
Thanks in Advance,
Christina Johnson
Lebanon Public Library
Lebanon IN
__________________________________________________
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Yahoo! Auctions - Buy the things you want at great prices.
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------------------------------
From: "PJ Capps" <pjcapps@leavenworth.lib.ks.us>
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: RE: "Drop In" Storytime
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain;
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 22:30:52 CST
sandy-
when i first came here, the librarian was using a pre-registration system
for storytime. i have since changed to drop in. we are getting over 100
people a week (includes moms). they like it because you can start in the
middle of a session and you can come to the session that is most convenient
that particular week.
we have four storytimes a week and they are all alike. this makes it easier
for moms to choose. most parents do come on a regular day, but they can come
anytime they want.
it does make it a little more complicated, but over all it evens out.
pj capps
leavenworth public
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pubyac@prairienet.org
[mailto:owner-pubyac@prairienet.org]On
Behalf Of Sandy Belfi
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2001 9:52 PM
To: pubyac
Subject: "Drop In" Storytime
Hi all:
We are planning to change from a pre-registration system to a "drop
in"
storytime session. Has anyone else adopted this format, and if so, has
it been successful?
Thanks in advance,
Sandy Belfi
Sump Memorial Library
Papillion, NE
------------------------------
From: "Karen Holz" <easternlibrary@smithville.net>
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: Re: Arthur Party...
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain;
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 22:32:57 CST
Hi,
I am also planning one in March. I would love any games that people
send
you.
Thank-you
Karen Holz
easternlibrary@smithville.net
----- Original Message -----
From: "Barbara Scott" <barbarascott@hotmail.com>
To: <PUBYAC@prairienet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2001 10:45 PM
Subject: Arthur Party...
> Pubyaccers,
>
> With Arthur's 25th birthday coming up, we are planning a program for
> sometime in April. I am doing to order the party pack from Demco,
as well
> as the glasses and bowties for participants. We plan to limit to 75
kids
and
> do crafts, etc. I also found a few ideas (maze, coloring page, and word
find
> online, as well as some other coloring sheets). If you've done an
Arthur
> party before, what type of craft ideas did you use? We want to
have
> stations that the kids will rotate to. I'd like any and all ideas!
>
> Please respond directly to barbarascott@hotmail.com
>
> TIA!
>
> Barb Scott, Children's Librarian
> Bucyrus Public Library
> Bucyrus, OH 44820
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
>
------------------------------
From: Sharon Lavine <slevine@nslsilus.org>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: donut inventor stumper
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 22:33:17 CST
Hi,
There have been several questions lately about inventions and
inventors. There's a good website inventors.about.com that has a little
info on the donut.
Sharon Levine
Lincolnwood (IL) PL
slevine@nslsilus.org
------------------------------
From: dmoran@mindless.com
To: pubyac <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: wilderness program
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: Text/Plain
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 22:33:34 CST
why don't you try the local girl or boy scouts. they do lots of
outdoor
programs and the older scouts may need some community service hours for
gold/silver or eagle scout awards. as an ex-girl scout leader, there
were
many cute outdoors activities we did, like making an edible campfire.
Children's Librarian
Riverhead Free Library
Riverhead, NY
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------------------------------
From: rebecca stutzman <rastutzman@yahoo.com>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: "Drop In" Storytime
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 22:33:54 CST
--- Sandy Belfi <sbelfi@monarch.papillion.ne.us>
wrote:
> Hi all:
>
> We are planning to change from a pre-registration
> system to a "drop in"
> storytime session. Has anyone else adopted this
> format, and if so, has
> it been successful?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Sandy Belfi
> Sump Memorial Library
> Papillion, NE
>
We began a similar storytime recently. We still have
our regular registered story hour sessions but the
weeks in between, when we are planning for new
sessions we started drop-in sessions. The response
has not been wonderful and it takes more librarian
time than we had hoped. However, we have accomplished
part of our goal which is to bring circulation up.
Any more questions let me know.
Becky Stutzman
North Tonawanda Public Library
North Tonawanda, New York
__________________________________________________
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------------------------------
From: Raewyn Adams <raewyna@TAURANGA.GOVT.NZ>
To: "'pubyac@prairienet.org'"
<pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: RE: "Drop In" Storytime
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 22:34:12 CST
We have always had an open Toddler Time session. Sure our numbers do vary
but it certainly works fine for us. Ours is a language based programme with
heaps of action rhymes and finger plays so do not have to be concerned about
quantities for a craft based activity.
Marie Gradon.
Tauranga District Libraries, New Zealand.
email mariegra@tauranga-dc.govt.nz
-----Original Message-----
From: Raewyn Adams
Sent: Thursday, 8 February 2001 17:59
To: Lee Rowe; Diane Taggart; Rosalind Vlietstra; Marie Gradon; Michelle
Anderson
Subject: FW: "Drop In" Storytime
> ----------
> From: Sandy Belfi[SMTP:SBELFI@MONARCH.PAPILLION.NE.US]
> Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 4:52:17 PM
> To: pubyac
> Subject: "Drop In" Storytime
> Auto forwarded by a Rule
>
Hi all:
We are planning to change from a pre-registration system to a "drop
in"
storytime session. Has anyone else adopted this format, and if so, has
it been successful?
Thanks in advance,
Sandy Belfi
Sump Memorial Library
Papillion, NE
------------------------------
From: mary jo smith <msmith@gateslibrary.org>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: "Drop In" Storytime
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 22:34:27 CST
At Wednesday, 7 February 2001, you wrote:
>Hi all:
>
>We are planning to change from a pre-registration system to a "drop
in"
>storytime session. Has anyone else adopted this format, and if so,
has
>it been successful?
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Sandy Belfi
>Sump Memorial Library
>Papillion, NE
>
We pre-register for our storytime sessions, but have a once a month
drop-in storytime, called Time for Tots, for 1-5 year olds. I like
having both options available, because then I can offer the drop-
in to those people who can't get into the pre-registered sessions.
Mary jo
------------------------------
From: "Shalar Brown" <SHBROWN@iowa-city.lib.ia.us>
To: <sfarmer@hpl.lib.tx.us>,
<pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: Re: Nursing rooms in the children's dept.
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
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Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 22:34:45 CST
Hi Sandy-
I just wanted to clarify that we would never tell mothers they HAD to use =
the nursing room. If anyone ever wanted to nurse ANYWHERE in public it is =
certainly their right to do so. We have just had many mothers asking us =
for a private space to nurse so wanted to provide that service for those =
who prefer it. Without a dedicated space, we've offered our office, the =
storytime room, etc., which is not ideal for anyone.=20
Thanks,
Shalar
------------------------------
From: "Roseanne Skelly" <rskelly@rochester.lib.ny.us>
To: <PUBYAC@prairienet.org>
Subject: Library Sleepover
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain;
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 22:35:04 CST
I am planning an sleepover at our library for children ages 9 & 10.
I plan
to have a storyteller, craft, refreshments, games and a movie. If you
have
had a sleepover at your library, can you give me any additional tips or
ideas that were successful. I am especially interested in knowing how
you
registered children for the program. Was registration open to anyone
or was
a group targeted - for example a girl scout troop?
Thanks for your help. Roseanne
Roseanne Skelly
Children's Librarian
Greece Public Library
Two Vince Tofany Blvd.
Rochester, NY 14616
rskelly@mcls.rochester.lib.ny.us
(716) 723-2488 or
(716) 225-8951
------------------------------
From: Sylvia Jadczak <sjadczak@mhs.sad59.k12.me.us>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: children's reference sources
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 22:35:22 CST
I am posting the responses I received to my request for suggested
children's reference sources to purchase for elementary school students.
Thanks to all who responded.
Sylvia Jadczak
Madison Area Memorial HS
Madison, ME
Maps on File -excellent black and white reproducible maps on every
country in the world.
Culturegrams-Country info
Background Notes-Country info
Some sort of animal encyclopedia with every animal imaginable
Animal Guidebooks (Peterson's First guidebooks are neat)
World Book Encyclopedia
Scholastic Children's Almanac
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Atlas
Guiness Book of World Records
New York Public Library Desk Reference
What Do Children Read Next. Vol. I & II
What Do Young Adults Read Next.
Best Books for Children Preschool - Grade 6
Young Adult REaders Grades 7-12
Senior High School
UXL Series:
Native American
Healthy Living
Body By Design
Sick
Land And Peoples
World History Vol. 1 & 2
American History Vol. 1 & 2
World book #1! We also have the World Book Student Discovery
Encyclopedia,
which is useful for younger children (had a 4th grader who needed to do
a
report on the atom!)
An almanac, but two different ones are better. A student dictionary,
and a
regular collegiate one.
For Endangered Species, the Grolier Encylopedia is okay; there was a
better
series at one of my other workplaces, but unfortunately can't remember
the
name.
For Country Reports, Grolier's Lands & People is good, as are BYU's
Culturgrams.
For Native Americans, UXL Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes is
pretty
complete, but also written at a high school level. Facts on File
Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes is easier--no pictures!
New Book of Popular Science is pretty good at explaining the hypotheses
of
the science projects, but is written at a junior high/high school level.
Your school district probably has other assignments particular to your
place
(Ancient Rome, Middle Ages, Olympics, fairy tales), so will have other
specific needs.
------------------------------
From: "Susan S. Smith" <ssmith@Connect.bedlib.org>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Program Policy
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 22:35:41 CST
This message is being cross posted:
Our library is trying to establish a program policy on the use of
business
or professional persons who provide library-sponsored programs. We do
currently use people like this to provide programs with the understanding
that they will provide information, but not "sell their product."
Generally this works well, but we have had some difficult situations.
Please send me your thoughts or policies on this subject.
Thank you!
Susan S. Smith
Children and Young Adult Services Librarian
Bedford Public Library
1323 K Street
Bedford, IN 47421
ssmith@bedlib.org
812-279-4824 voice 304
fax 812-277-1145
------------------------------
From: "Michelle Gabbard" <smgabbs_2@hotmail.com>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: Nursing rooms in the children's dept.
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 22:35:55 CST
Why not have a glass door, seating, and a curtain that can be pulled around
for those that desire a little more privacy.
No one is saying that nursing mothers must use the room, I think it is just
being offered as a courtesy for those who would a little more privacy.
Also, I think privacy isn't just for mothers but also for the babies.
Some
do better in a more quiet and private environment also.
------------------------------
From: "Keener, Lesa" <LKeener@acmail.aclink.org>
To: "'pubyac@prairienet.org'"
<pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: RE: "Drop In" Storytime
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain;
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 22:36:14 CST
Hello I am a new poster from Brigantine, New Jersey (next to Atlantic City).
We have recently adopted drop-in story hour. With two new preschools that
are full time we did not have the attendance we had before. It has worked
out well. I did stop doing crafts (except for coloring sheets) it is
impossible to plan for anywhere between 5-20.
-----Original Message-----
From: ali j. [mailto:ali_kat007@hotmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 12:41 PM
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: "Drop In" Storytime
all my regular programs (school year) storytimes are drop-in. not only have
all my storytimes been successful, they tell their friends that there is no
need for pre-registration. i find this helpful, especially in toddler
time.
please feel free to email me with any other questions regarding this matter.
ali
ali_kat007@hotmail.com
>From: Sandy Belfi <sbelfi@monarch.papillion.ne.us>
>Reply-To: pubyac@prairienet.org
>To: pubyac <pubyac@prairienet.org>
>Subject: "Drop In" Storytime
>Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2001 21:52:17 CST
>
>Hi all:
>
>We are planning to change from a pre-registration system to a "drop
in"
>storytime session. Has anyone else adopted this format, and if so,
has
>it been successful?
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Sandy Belfi
>Sump Memorial Library
>Papillion, NE
>
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From: WLPL <children@wlaf.lib.in.us>
To: "'pubyac@prairienet.org'"
<pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: RE: "Drop In" Storytime
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 22:36:33 CST
Here at West Lafayette Public Library we always use a "drop in"
format =
for everything. We tried to use tickets to some of our summer reading
=
programs a few summers ago. Since a children's librarian is not always
=
on duty, the circ desk had to handle them. They were very confused -
we =
use a lot of volunteers who are here once a week. The parents didn't =
like them - they had to come in to the library to get the tickets. =
Also, if something came up and they couldn't make it, the parents felt =
guilty of taking space that someone else could use.
There are real disadvantages of not using pre registration. I never =
know how many kids to prepare for. For my normal storytimes I usually
=
plan for 10-15. Sometimes there are only 4 or 5, and every once in a =
while there will be over 20. I've adjusted and things so fairly =
smoothly. I don't know how this would work in a larger library that =
could get crowds that are too big to handle. The only time we've had =
too many kids was at a puppet show and a magic show. Those time
parents =
were upset that they couldn't get in (these are the ones who are always =
10 minutes late) - they got over it. Hope this helps
Pam
children@wlaf.lib.in.us
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From: Karen Siwak <siwakk@sslic.net>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Automated Summer Reading Clubs
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 22:37:00 CST
Thanks everyone who responded to my query about automated summer reading
clubs. I've pasted the responses I received below. It seems a
lot of
people are happy with Access, but many others are quite content with
Excel and other software. I'm not sure what we'll end up using here,
but I am feeling more hopeful that this venture will be a success.
Happy planning, everyone!
Karen Siwak
Head of Youth Services
Tinley Park Public Library
(708) 532-0160, ext. 125
siwakk@sslic.net
*************************
>From Nicole Reader:
I've used Microsoft Access for the last three years to create a flexible
database to crunch the numbers after our Summer Reading Program is
over. When kids sign up for the SRP they fill out a small sign-up card
that remains on file at the library throughout the summer. We work
with
the cards all SRP long, and at the end of the summer (or after a child
reads her maximum of 25 books) the information on the card is entered
into the database for statistical manipulation. We based the format of
the database on the information collected on the file cards, which we
had already been using for several years. The fields of entry are:
Last
name, First name, Grade, School, "Did you do this last year?",
Date
signed up, and Number of books read. A dependable teen volunteer does
the data entry. Sure, a few things are spelled wrong, but we have
nearly 1,000 sign-up cards to enter. Usually the data was wrong on the
sign-up card in the first place, so it isn't an exact science. I think
it's worthwhile. I had always used the SRP statistics to help promote
the program to the media, lobby for a budget increase, etc., but now it
is so much easier and flexible. I can find out a lot about the success
of the program from the statistics (for example, now I know the average
number of books read by each child drops off at third grade), and the
raw information is useful too. It helps promote the program with
school
principals, for example: I sort a list of names by school so they can
find out what children participated, and I compare the schools' success
rates (our school district is very competitive). Sure, I used to do
this by hand, but it was time-consuming and I had to do a lot of math!
>From Steffi Smith:
We have been registering directly to the computer for many years now.
We currently use Access from Microsoft Office 2000. We have used
previous versions of databases before this. MO2K is just great.
You
can add new fields from year to year, or delete fields. Once you get
your stats from the finished year, just go to edit, select all, and hit
the delete button, and VOILA, you have cleared the database for the next
year, with all your fields intact. You can see at a glance how many
you
have currently registered, sort on various fields, depending on what you
want to know (how many from each school, grade, etc.) clean out
duplicate registration (by sorting on last names, then checking first
names for duplicates). We usually register about 1500 kids, and we
haven't run into any problems for size of database yet. You can run
reports for each school and let the schools know who registered for the
summer reading club.
Actually, we are currently running three database registrations at the
same time: Family Reading Club, State Reading Club, and Chicago
Wolves'
Read to Succeed Club for independent readers. It only takes literally
seconds to change from one database to another, once Access is up. I
can't say how much this has simplified our life, not to mention making
it so easy to get stats of all kinds.
The last two years we have had 8th grade volunteers manning our program
desk, because of budget cuts (we used to have two college students for
three months full-time) and by this time they all have keyboarding
skills to rival ours. I do periodic checks on the databases no matter
who is inputting the info, just to make sure that everything is going
OK.
We stress having the input person spell back the name as they are typing
it in the computer, as well as the school, for accuracy. We had 10
kids
helping us the summer before last, and the time at the program desk was
prime time, way above doing Ellison Die cuts, or any other jobs we came
up with. They really feel important, and when they are inputting into
the computer, it seems more like a REAL job!
>From Dorothy Williams:
Our systems administrator used Microsoft Access. It was a breeze.
It
changed everything. She programmed it to print out the reports we
needed. It totaled everything automatically. It will streamline,
but
it won't stop the inaccuracies. The people inputting the data still
make mistakes. Our program required that all data be entered exactly
the same way. Most software programs do, but when you have several
people inputting it's difficult to make sure they are all doing it the
same way. Whatever the human errors they were fixable and it was worth
it.
>From Faith Brautigam:
We have done automated SRP sign-up for the past few years. It really
helps for some of the end-of-summer stats we run. Ours is an in-house
program set up on Access. The one thing we've learned to do is to make
as many things as possible click-only. With multiple staff (who have
varied spelling ability), we found we were having variant spellings put
in for fields such as school name. Imagine all the possibilities for a
school called St. Laurence. Once we set it up so that only children's
names can be typed and other fields (such as age, school, etc.) are
click-only, it has worked great. We can sort by school to print out a
list of participants who completed the program for each school, and have
stats at our fingertips all summer--number of registrants total to date,
number who have completed the program, etc., are updated with each use.
If you have other questions, please contact me. Our Automation staff
would be glad to help, too, if you have a technical question.
>From Kay Bowes:
I used Microsoft Access last year and it worked very well. The key is
figuring out what info you really need in the database, so that you have
it set up properly. I used the kid ID# as a common thread to tie it
all
together. If you are interested I can email you all the categories I
used but each program is different. I hope this helps.
>From Char Taber:
We used a database last summer to register the readers. Actually we used
two databases because we used a separate one for teens. We used Access.
It was on several computers and each night they talked to each after we
closed the programs. You can see that I am not the person that designed
the program. One thing that was especially good was the drop-down menus.
We used these for school names adding "Home school" and
"Other." The
drop down menus would work well with the staff using it as the entries
are uniform for when the statistics are printed out. A typo in the name
of the school won't cause a problem. With our statistics we started to
look at the response from different schools. We also created a mailing
list for teens from this database, and we asked for e-mail addresses for
them. Our prize order for the next year can be quickly made with the
report. We found a big time saver of not having to re file the cards
that we use to use for registration. Many thought that it was doomed
from the start, but we had no problems. We register about 2000 children.
I highly recommend it.
>From Jennifer Baker
In the past I have used Excel to keep track of participants' progress. I
still ran into the same problems with inaccuracy when using volunteers.
Whenever there was a question in the computer we always deferred to the
hard copy but having it in the computer did allow you to play with your
stats more easily. If you want to know more about the way our files were
set up I can send you an example. It sort of depends on how your club is
set up as to whether it would be useful to you.
>From Lynda Gamble:
We did this a few years ago and it has been worthwhile for statistics
and reports etc. It does take time entering the data but we use the same
file each year just erasing old data.
We had a VISTA worker for Summer Reading a few years ago and we
developed it with her. We used Microsoft Works and basic fields like
name, age, location (we have outreach at playground daycamps), and a
column for each week as well as prize given column so we could check off
who received their final prize, etc. Every week whoever had time would
enter a check in the week's column for those who had read the required
time. We are very flexible and allow kids to catch up if they miss a
week. I can send you a paper copy or maybe the file by email if its not
too big.
>From Sarah Cofer:
Here at Northwest Library an Access Database for the Young Adult SRP was
created before I started. All of the information staff takes turns
entering the data throughout the summer while they are on desk. We have
2 separate databases - one for participant info and another for book
reviews. I have not had any problems compiling statistics. I get
several figures from it. I can do queries of multiple year participants,
I get an exact number of people who joined and how many are from each
school and a lot more.
When the Teens sign up, we ask their name, phone, school, and the date
they are signing up. Then in the database there is a place we can
check
if they finish the program. It works well and everyone is happy
>From Sally Ickes:
The Patchogue Medford Library in Patchogue, NY has used a computer
program to record names and statistics for our summer reading club for
the last 10 years. We used a program specifically written by our
computer technician. We record "biographical" info--name,
address,
school, grade on one list and the other part of the list contains the
date and number of books reported on. We used to add this information
daily (we could tell how many books were reported on day by day) but
found we didn't need this information so we changed to adding the
information after the SRC was over. We have over 1000 members of the
SRC each year and because most of the biographical information is there
and only the grade and school may need updating we can accomplish the
updates in about 2 days. We use pages to do this. Please let me
know
if you need further information.
>From Carol Heinz:
I am a Children's Librarian in New Jersey and for the last two years I
computerized our summer reading club. The program I chose was
Microsoft Office Excell. I attended computer workshops and learned the
excell software program. From the kid's reading log, I was able to
track the kids' school, age, number of books read and continuing
progress from the previous year. If I had to do it over again I would
have chosen Access. I'm told that is an easier program. On the
children's reading log I had them write a goal of how many books they
wanted to read in addition to how many books they did read, plus I had
them write down their favorite book. I could record the number of books
for their goals compared to number of books read, but I could not track
their favorite book, even though I typed it in the cell. With Access I
could have. The first year we did this my stats showed 537 kids who
joined our summer reading club who collectively read 9,077 books. In the
summer of 2000 we had 509 participants who read 12, 827 books, less kids
who read more! It was a huge success. I was able to write to the
superintendent of our school system and report the number of readers by
grade for each of the four elementary schools.
The first year I recorded all the data myself. The second year I had a
college student help me. We would be changing data every other week
and
we kept each other constantly informed on what the other recorded and
when. Accurate record keeping is so important.
I wonder how a reading log could go on the internet because there would
have to be a confidentiality issue. Each log has personal info, like
name address, school, grade, age, etc. so it would not be good as an
unsecured document. The other problem would be accurate record keeping,
with the kids involved too. It's fun to imagine a computer generated
reading club, though.
>From Allyson Goodwin:
I have not used a database program, just Microsoft Excel. The
volunteers fill out a 3x5 card with name, phone, school and grade.
Staff would input into Excel each day the previous one's card. It made
it real simple at end of srp for total registrations as well as letters
to the school acknowledging students participation.
>From Lisa Sauer:
I have had a lot of success using MS Excel for Summer Reading Program.
It is user-friendly for my computer illiterate volunteers (who are
wonderful at what they do). I wouldn't recommend MS Access unless you
had a small group of trained individuals using it because it is very
easy to get off track and lost within the program.
MS Excel has allowed me to sort participants by school, by age, and many
other fields that have helped me design future programs. The names and
addresses can be used with a Microsoft Word Mail Merge to create
individual letters or address labels.
>From Mari Hardacre:
We do use a web-based program. I have emailed my tech guy to ask him how
he created it. He may answer you directly. Actually, our children's
dept. also uses it and someone from there may email you. Sorry if
duplication. But I did want to let you know that our teen volunteers had
no trouble using it to help run the young adult program.
>From Carol Chatfield:
I have used Microsoft Excel for the past two years, and it works pretty
well. It has enough fields so you can put in enough stuff to make it
useful, and when I go to hand out certificates in the fall I can sort it
in a way gives me a list to work with that helps me find the kids. I
have also used it to generate vouchers for the kids to use to get free
books and tee shirts as rewards. You do have to go over it if volunteers
enter the data, as they don't
know the spelling of names (important on certificates) and they aren't
as careful as we sometimes wish they might be. I use fields like Last
Name, First Name, Grade, School, Town of Residence, Library Card Holder
(we only give shirts to kids who are registered borrowers, as we
discovered mothers from out of town were rounding up reading
certificates and bringing them in...), and the Teacher's Name is also
useful if you hand out in classrooms. We had 551 kids last year, and
it
saved a lot of time for me.
>From David Kondo:
I don't have a template for a Summer Reading Club but I have used
database software for tracking participants in our reading help program.
If you do not own database software already, I would strongly recommend
examining FileMaker Pro (www.filemaker.com).
I believe that it's #2 in
database software sales (after MS Access). It's a relational database
that's very powerful. In my opinion, FMP is far easier to learn and
manipulate than Access. FMP's simplicity in creating new layouts makes
printing certificates, invtations, mailing labels, etc. very easy. I
have no connection to FileMaker; I just think that it's excellent
software.
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End of PUBYAC Digest 364
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