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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: Monday, August 05, 2002 11:01 PM
Subject: PUBYAC digest 822
PUBYAC Digest 822
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) Re: Training Pages complied
by "Amy Blake" <amybob59@hotmail.com>
2) Re: Mascots
by Martha Simpson <msimpsonmls@snet.net>
3) Re: Follow-up question from SLJ on incentives
by "Sean P. S. George" <seanps@george.net>
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From: "Amy Blake" <amybob59@hotmail.com>
To: PUBYAC@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: Training Pages complied
Mime-Version: 1.0
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Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2002 18:51:07 CDT
Dear Great Minds,
I have been having computer problems but hope this e-mail finally makes it.
THANK YOU to everyone who sent faxes with examples of their test. This
assisted us in creating our own. Thank you also to the members who sent me
e-mails below. You guys are the BEST!
Amy Blake
ablake@kcpl.lib.in.us
Knox County Public Library
Vincennes, IN
>From gcplcr@lilrc.org Thu Jul 11
08:52:48 2002
Children's Room Garden City Public Library Amy - Several years ago I made up
what is now known as the Page Test, = which we give to all applicants. I
just put 25 names and 25 Dewey = numbers in random order and ask people to
put them in order. I can fax = one to you, but I just used things that tend
to be confused here, even = by long-term pages - 973.7, 973.3, 793.7, and
names like St. Martin, = McElroy, MacEllis. In spite of my written
instructions at the top of = the page that we shelve abbreviations as if
they were spelled out, and = Mc and Mac as if they were all Mac - many
people don't do it correctly = on the test. I always tell people we don't
require a perfect score, or = even a particular score - it's just to give me
an idea of where they are = now, and it also gives them an idea of how
they'll be spending much of = their time if we hire them. =20 Your subject
heading was "training pages" and this really isn't training = (we
don't have
any real manual, just train people on-site) so I hope = it's what you
wanted. Nancy
>From bkirkend@ci.hurst.tx.us
Wed Jul 10 16:06:39 2002
About a year ago, we started using a sorting exercise that checks how well =
they read and follow directions as well as how well they can alphabetize/pu=
t things in numerical order. It isn't timed, but it has been rather =
effective! It consists of two pages of instructions that they read =
concerning putting a given set of cards (similar to card catalog cards) in =
order. They may keep the directions with them the whole time; I think they =
can even ask for clarification, but I'm not sure. It's been helful, I =
think! Beverly Kirkendall Hurst Public Library
Vicky Smith:
We do not use forms, but we do present applicants with a cart full of
mixed-up books and ask them to sort them. Gives us a very good idea of who
is trainable and who just hasn't got a clue. I think many listmembers would
be interested in a compilation of testing methodologies, if you are able to
put one together. I certainly would be happy to hear what others are doing.
Good luck!
Vicky Smith vjsmith@mcarthur.lib.me.us
Children's Librarian
McArthur Library
270 Main Street Biddeford, ME 04005
Sheilah O'Connor <soconnor@tpl.toronto.on.ca
At our branch, we explain the Dewey system, then have a variety of books on
a book truck and ask them to put them in order. We do more than that but
it
is quite an eye opener.
_________________________________________________________________
Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com
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From: Martha Simpson <msimpsonmls@snet.net>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: Mascots
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Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2002 22:09:02 CDT
Hi,
We held a contest in February for children to come up with a name and a
character for the Children's Dept. mascot. We sent letters to to art
teachers at the schools, but we got only 16 entries. We would have
liked more, but we were able to choose a winner. A six year old girl
came up with "Joey the Giraffe." We have a talented artist on
staff
(otherwise we never would have attempted this) who took the idea and
created our mascot. So basically, the child came up with the name and
animal, and our staff member designed it. We held a party in April to
announce the winner and present the mascot. We gave certificates to
everyone who submitted ideas and a t-shirt with the mascot's picture to
the winner. (Some of our staff members got t-shirts, too!)
Joey
appears on our web page and we have hired someone to make a puppet of
him. We also are in the process of getting him copyrighted. You can
see him at: www.stratford.lib.ct.us
- click on the Children's page.
Martha Simpson, Stratford (CT) Library
Linda J. Fields wrote:
>Hi,
>How many of you have a library mascot? Can you tell us about it?
Did
>the children help choose it? Or, did the children name it only?
I'm
>interested in one that will deal with children mostly and some kind of
>costuming.
>Thanks,
>Linda Fields
>Richfield, UT
>
>
>--
>This message was sent with an evaluation (unlicensed) version of the
>Novell Internet Messaging System (NIMS).
>
>
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From: "Sean P. S. George" <seanps@george.net>
To: pubyac@prairienet.org
Subject: Re: Follow-up question from SLJ on incentives
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Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2002 22:09:09 CDT
Hi Walter,
Actually, I didn't reply to your initial inquiry because I have just changed
library systems. As a result, I didn't want to step on my successor's toes
in
the system I just left, and I am still learning about how we do SRC in my
new
system. I will go ahead and respond now because I figure the person who
filled
my previous position probably feels a lot like I do regarding what is so new
to
her. Anyway, here goes...
First I should say that this does not exactly meet the criteria you asked
for in
your follow-up question but, based on the odd looks I frequently get when
describing it, it may be closer than other responses you received. I
recently
left the St. Charles Parish Library system, a public library system serving
a
semi-rural population of about 50,000 in the Greater New Orleans metro area.
Four years ago, we decided to make some major changes to our SRP:
1. We stopped counting how many books the kids read and began basing our
incentive structure on time spent reading. I know that is not really what
you
were looking for but hopefully the other will be of more interest.
2. We stopped giving junkie little toy prizes and began giving only awards
(i.e., certificates and medals). I met some initial resistance from staff on
this idea, because they thought that "awards" would not be much of an
incentive,
but I insisted that they give it a try, believing that what we offered as an
incentive should only be praise for developing the reading habit.
3. Along with the end of "prizes" as reading incentives, we also
eliminated
the
big end-of-summer drawing for bigger merchandise donated by local
businesses,
etc. Again I met some resistance from a few staff members, who objected that
I
was taking all the fun out of it, but again I insisted that we at least try
it
for one summer.
Two years later, we took the further step of eliminating "door prizes"
at
program activities & events (which is what we had been doing with those
donated
merchandise items we were no longer giving away at the end-of-summer
drawing).
Now, as I said at the outset, I know the decisions I described above do not
meet
the ultimate bare bones model you are looking for. I did however implement
them
with the intent that our program would become less focused competition for
prizes, and more focused on the value of reading as a habit and a hobby that
is
worthy of recognition for its own sake. Yes, we counted minutes, giving
certificates after 6 hours of accumulated reading time and medals after 24
hours
accumulated. Those goals however, were based on the model of a
30-minute-per-day
reading habit (an idea swiped from the federal "America Reads
Challenge" in
shameless librarian fashion) and easily attainable within a 10-week summer
program.
It may not be as altruistic as it could be but it is by far the least
materialistic SRP I have ever heard of among my colleagues in various
libraries.
If it's different enough for you let me know and I would be happy to give
you
more info. If not, no biggie. With a new job and a new city to get used to,
I
certainly have no shortage of things to keep me busy. At any rate, I thought
it
was worth mentioning.
<><><><><><><>
Sean P. S. George, Senior Youth Services Librarian
Memphis/Shelby County Public Library & Information Center
Raleigh Branch Library
3157 Powers Road
Memphis, TN 38128
901-386-5333
georges@memphis.lib.tn.us
The views expressed above are not necessarily representative of the
Memphis/Shelby County Public Library & Information Center.
"Minkel, Walter (RBI-US)" wrote:
> Folks-- Yow! I've had a tremendous response to my request for information
on
> summer reading program incentives; thanks. After looking them over I see
> that I'm going to need to approach the topic differently, though. As far
as
> I can tell, everyone is happily giving out incentives, & nobody really
> objects to them (although not everyone is convinced they motivate kids
&
YAs
> to read).
>
> (Imagine crusty old voice): When I was a younger librarian, in the 70s
&
> 80s, there seemed to be a lot of controversy & debate whenever we
brought
up
> the topic of SRP incentives. Many librarians at the time said that they
felt
> that no child would become a reader by being given a plastic lizard, &
they
> wouldn't _do_ incentives in their program. That viewpoint, so far as I can
> tell, is gone. Is there anyone out there who still feels that way?
>
> _Is_ there a library out there that runs an SRP without prizes? If so, I'd
> love to hear about it. Does someone run a program that isn't "record
the
> number of minutes (or of books) you read during the summer, & every so
often
> we give you a prize"? or "put your name in the hopper every time
you read
> ___ minutes (or books) & you have a chance at the big prizes"?
>
> Again, please send responses directly to me at wminkel@reedbusiness.com.
> Thanks, W
>
> ------------------------------
> Walter Minkel, Technology Editor, School Library Journal
> www.slj.com * wminkel@reedbusiness.com
* 646-746-6721 * fax 646-746-6689
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End of PUBYAC Digest 822
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